What To Know About The Toyger Cat, Which Was Designed To Be A Mini Tiger

Toyger cat on a cat show on golden glitter background
danilobiancalana - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

Have You Ever Wished You Could Have A Pet Tiger Without Running The Risk Of Becoming Its Lunch?

Meet the Toyger, a cross between a Bengal and a tabby cat. With bold stripes and a confident strut, this breed was designed to be a mini tiger. It has all the vibes of a big jungle cat but is totally apartment-friendly.

Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Toyger Cat

Toygers were created in the 1980s by breeder Judy Sugden, the daughter of Bengal breed founder Jean Mill.

In 1993, they were recognized by the International Cat Association. They do not actually have any tiger, leopard, or wild cat genes.

The Toyger has a coat with deep orange hues and dark stripes. It has a medium to large build. Toygers tend to be easygoing, playful, and intelligent.

They enjoy puzzle toys, playing fetch, and can even be trained to walk on a leash. They are also social and friendly, bonding with their owners, children, and other pets.

Toygers add a touch of the wild to your home but have an affectionate temperament, making them very beloved in the feline world.

They need a balanced diet and enough protein to support their active lifestyles. Their ideal meal is high-quality wet or dry cat food with real meat.

Toyger cat on a cat show on golden glitter background
danilobiancalana – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

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Toygers have a short, dense coat that doesn’t need much grooming, so they are relatively low-maintenance. They typically live for nine to 13 years.

However, they are at risk of developing the same health issues as Bengal cats, although the risk is much lower.

They may inherit the gene for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a condition that causes gradual deterioration of vision; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats that can often lead to congestive heart failure; and pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), a genetic condition where red blood cells break down faster than usual.

These cats are excellent for families due to their friendly nature. They thrive in all kinds of homes. But if boredom sets in, they will find ways to entertain themselves.

To prevent boredom and destructive behaviors, provide plenty of scratching surfaces, places to climb, and interactive toys.

Play with a Toyger for at least 30 minutes a day. Even though they are pretty active, they still like to curl up on laps when they are not busy playing. Since Toygers are fairly rare, they are quite expensive, averaging $1,500.

Similar wild-looking breeds include the Bengal and Savannah cats. They have exotic appearances, curiosity, and lots of energy.

They were also selectively bred to have certain traits and resemble wild cats. They require dedicated care and do best in a stable environment, just the same as Toygers.

Emily  Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a ... More about Emily Chan

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