Toyger vs Cymric - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Cymric is a naturally tailless cat although having said that, not every Cymric is completely tailless.

It’s actually a long-haired Manx cat this and thought to date back to 1750. It is one of the oldest cat breeds.

Known also as rumpies or stumpies, the taillessness of the Manx an Cymric started as a mutation among the island's domestic cat population. Long-haired kittens were born to Manx cats on the Isle of Man, but in the 1960s, similar kittens were born in Canada and then specifically bred.

The Cymric became popular, even though it took years for the Cymric to be recognized as a breed of its own by cat associations. The International Cat Association (TICA) gave the cat breed status in 1979.

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 Cymric is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 and 6kg and he is round in shape and stockily built. The back legs are also longer than the front legs.

He has a short, arched back with a broad rump. The unusual but beautiful Cymric has long hair and a thick double coat that is glossy and vibrant. Some cymrics have tufts of hair on their ears and toes.

All colors of the coat are available and it can be solid or patterned - white, blue, red, black, cream, tortoiseshell etc.

The eyes are large and can be green, copper, or yellow. The ears are widely spaced with rounded tips.

Temperament:

The Cymric is described as a sweet-natured, placid cat that doesn’t get ruffled over much, though he does get excited about his human family.

He tends to be reserved around strangers. He is a loving cat and simply loves being around his human family. He is a strong cat and intelligent too and he is quite capable of watching you and then learning how to open doors and get into cupboards.

He is sociable and talkative too and enjoys ‘talking’ to you, especially when he has attached himself to one member of the family. He thrives on his human family's company and is a cat that provides lots of entertainment for you. Even though he becomes attached to one family member, he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

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.

Yes, the Cymric has quite a few health issues but many people choose to overlook these as they love the personality of the lovable cat breed.

It’s such an intelligent cat too but best of all it offers total love and companionship.

It is certainly an unusual domesticated cat breed that appeals to many different people and it is guaranteed that you’ll also find him one hang of a feline pet.

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?'

If you look after your Cymric well, he can live to a good age of up to 15 years. The lack of a tail is a genetic defect and the cat’s deformed spine can cause health problems including arthritis.

In fact, the cat’s lack of a tail causes some serious diseases. The defective gene responsible for the loss of the tail affects the spine and can actually cause spinal problems. In fact, when completely tailless Manx cats mate, the defects can be so severe that some of the offspring are born dead.

People often speak of these health issues of the cat as the Manx Syndrome.

Some cats have a narrowing of the anal passage and this can lead to bowel blockages. Make sure to get your Cymric vaccinated against deadly cat illnesses and ensure veterinary checks for parasite control and illness.

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.

Diet:

As a kitten, provide your Cymric with food appropriate to its age. Once your cat turns one, you can start feeding him adult cat food. There are a whole lot of excellent commercially manufactured cat foods – dry and canned foo – but always choose a high-quality one where the first ingredients listed are always meat. This is because the cat is a carnivore. Make sure the food has taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats.

This cat has a thick coat and he will need a brush at least twice a week, especially as he is a high shedding cat. While you brush your cat, look out for any problems such as red areas, hair loss, sores or irritated skin. Take note of any unusual lumps.

Some people take their Cymric to the vet once a year for a routine medical check-up. They have the nails clipped and the ears and teeth checked. It is also a great way to get your queries answered on the nutritional and health needs of your pet.

You will need to have your Cymric’s nutrition checked to keep him in tip-top condition. The Cymric cat has a good appetite and his build can allow him to put on weight easily. Obesity can put pressure on the spine and lead to all kinds of joint problems.

Provide your cat with a litter box and keep it immaculately clean.

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.