The Toyger: A Miniature Tiger Cat Breed

To me, there are few creatures in the world more overwhelmingly charming than house cats. It's not because of the cat itself that amazes me, but the fact that cats are such perfect, pint-sized counterparts to their wild, untameable cousins. Who hasn't looked at a stealthy black cat and seen a porch panther? Many of us have watched gold-colored kittens chasing butterflies, and envisioned lionesses on the prowl. My personal favorite example of a miniature big cat is the toyger, a newfangled breed specifically intended to resemble a toy tiger.

A breeder named Judy Sudgen was the first to develop the toyger. She noticed that two of her own cats had unusually prominent mackerel tabby markings. While most orange, or "red" tabbies have mid-tone orange stripes on golden-yellow fur, these cats had very dark stripes on a brighter orange background. Sudgen imported a cat from India who had remarkably tiger-like markings, and later introduced the Bengal-- a domestic cat/ Asian leopard cat hybrid-- to give the newly-formed breed a more "wild" body type.

In 2007, The International Cat Association, or TICA, gave the toyger full recognition as a breed. Fifteen breeders in the United States, as well as a few others throughout the world, are continuing to advance efforts to make the toyger even more similar to its wild counterparts. Within a few years, TICA-recognized toyger breeders hope that the cat will have a more athletic build, rounded ears, and a broader nose, but these traits are rare and difficult to successfully breed.

Currently, toygers are exceptionally rare, since few breeders are currently involved in the development of the breed. However, they may become more widely available in the future, especially as more cat enthusiasts take interest in the breed. Until then, I strongly advise people looking for toygers-- and other little-big cats--- to check with a local animal shelter. While you may not be able to find a TICA-approved toyger, you just might find an equally charming cat who can win your heart.