Toyger vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

This attractive purebred cat is the first cat from Brazil to get international recognition.

It is amazing that this cat goes back to the streets of Brazil as a feral cat. Centuries ago, when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, they brought cats with them.

It was in the 1980s that a Brazilian cat breeder wanted to transform certain street cats into purebred cats and the Brazilian Shorthair emerged from these efforts. In 1998, the World Cat Federation gave the cat ‘approval breed’ status.

The Toyger is a domestic cat developed from breeding Shorthaired Tabbies to look like a small Tiger.

It has the striped coat of the Tiger. The person to develop the Toyger is Judy Sugden.

The unusual-looking cat has been recognized for registration by the International Cat Association in the 1990s. It was accepted as a full championship breed in 2007.

Today this designer cat is recognized by the ICA but not the Cat Fancier's Association.

The Brazilian Shorthair is a purebred, medium to large sized cat that can weight between 5 nd 10kg. He is a thick-set cat that is muscular and strong and elegant to look at. The short coat comes in a variety of colors and patterns such as grey, black, orange, white and tan. The coat doesn’t require much grooming, but it is always beneficial to your cat to gently brush him to remove any excess hair there is. This cat has got such beautiful expressive eyes that you feel as if he wants to communicate with you sized cat

Temperament

This is an adaptable cat that is able to adjust to the lifestyle you provide him with. He is an outgoing, intelligent, and inquisitive cat and enjoys the company of his human family, whether that includes children and other pets.

He gives a lot and expects lots of attention back from his humans. He is an inquisitive cat and loves to be going on his own adventures exploring.

He loves life and won’t enjoy a lifestyle where he is expected to lie around most of the day. He is intelligent and can learn tricks, and even though he is an elegant looking cat, he likes being active, spending time outdoors, and putting his hunting skills to the test.

The Toyger is a medium to large-sized cat that can weigh between 5 and 9kg. As with any cat, with these newer kinds of cats, the size of the cat can vary.

It is a shorthair cat that is quite a bit bigger than your regular cat. The coat of this mixed breed cat has markings similar to that of a tiger - vertical orange striping with rosettes.

The coat of the cat is short and he is a brown mackerel tabby with stripes being a dark brown to black. The eyes of the cat can be a blue, aquamarine, green, or gold.

Temperament:

These cats have a laid back disposition, and will comfortably slot into a busy household.

They are playful and intelligent and can be taught tricks and to walk on the lead.

This cat enjoys the company of people and will get on well with other pets too. People who have owned them say they are the most affectionate and loving cats there are and will enjoy being petted and pampered by their human family.

They get on well in busy households where there are children and other pets. They’re super smart and can be trained with ease.

Unlike many other cat breeds, he seems to also enjoy playing in water.

The Brazilian Shorthair makes a great choice for a loyal feline companion and he is a good looking cat too. They love human contact and love spending time with their human family, getting on well with the children in the home as well as other pets.

They don’t shed a lot either and therefore require little grooming. They’re adaptable pets too and become used to their different environments, loving to explore new places and even meeting new people.

They’re intelligent and can learn a few tricks that you’d normally teach a dog. As an intelligent cat, it loves to be challenged.

With so much going for him, no wonder the friendly, adaptable Brazilian Shorthair cat is such a popular breed as a domesticated house cat.

Toygers are expensive cats and there aren’t many breeders in the world. If you do decide to invest in a Toyger, he will need careful looking after, after all, you've spent a lot of money on him.

Diet is of absolute importance to keep such a cat healthy. The right environment is also important as cats and dogs for that matter too, can become ill and depressed if they find themselves in homes where they are unloved and abused.

Don't get a cat if you aren't prepared to love and care for him. Because the question is then 'why get a cat?'

The Brazilian Shorthair is a robust cat and doesn’t suffer from many health issues.

Like several other cats, one of the common health issues to watch out for with the Brazilian Shorthair is polycystic kidney disease, where cysts form on the kidneys and eventually lead to kidney failure.

Just like in human beings, obesity can reduce the lifespan of your cat. Make sure you keep your Toyger’s weight under control.

These cats are considered to be fairly healthy. He can be predisposed to some of the same cat conditions that the Bengal and Domestic Shorthair face.

When your Toyger shows any signs of illness, get him to the vet. Some of the common health problems your Toygers might have to contend with include obesity and heart murmurs.

A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound, and is caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart. When you vet examines your cat, a heart murmur is detected when the vet listens to your cat's heart with a stethoscope. The vet will discuss with you the way forward for your cat.

If you get a Toyger kitten, you will have to make sure he is up to date with his vaccinations. This is part of being a responsible cat owner.

The breeder will have a record of his vaccinations and will hand this over to you.

At 6 – 8 weeks kittens start with their first injections which include vaccinations for distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calici virus.

The Brazilian Shorthair has a short coat and won’t require too much grooming, although a gentle brush once a week is enjoyable. It becomes a bonding time with his owner and it keeps the coat free from dust and loose hairs.

Check inside your cat’s mouth and make sure that all his pearly whites are just that. Sometimes a rotten tooth that he can’t tell you about can be a tremendous course of discomfort and pain. Also, check inside the ears for dirt and infection.

You can learn to clean the inside of the ears yourself but if you don’t want to do it, your vet or pet groomer can do these things for you – clip the nails of your pet, check the teeth for dental disease and check inside the ears.

Diet:

Cats are carnivores, so they require animal protein for good health. Wet or dry commercial manufactured cat foods are super convenient and the best ones are excellent for your pet.

If you feel clueless about what to feed your cat, speak to your veterinarian who will guide you on the right food to give your pet. Certainly, your cat will need meat to get the nutrients he so badly needs.

The amount of food your cat needs to eat each day will depend on his age, weight, and activity levels. You want to get the correct amount of food right as obesity is a common health issue with cats and can contribute to a shorter life span. Always make sure your cat has access to fresh, cool drinking water.

Toygers should be brushed weekly and have their nails trimmed regularly. As with all domesticated cats, you should check inside his ears to make sure they don’t become clogged with dirt and wax.

These are smart cats so they will need to be provided with attention in the form of clever games and toys that get him thinking.

Toygers need to be fed much like any other domestic cat. The most important thing to remember when feeding a cat is that they are carnivores and they require meaty food high in protein.

Speak to your vet about the absolute necessity of getting your cat’s diet right. For your convenience, cat food manufacturers have brought out many excellent cat foods that cater to the time of life your cat is in.

Make sure your Toyger has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.