Toyger Cats and Kittens, A Rare Breed
I came across a cat breed that I really wasn’t too familiar with. The Toyger cat that has distinct markings of a a tiger. I did some research and came across this article for All About Cats.com. They describe in detail the characteristics of this beautiful cat. I will tell you one thing, they are very expensive!
The following is the article from All About Cats.com
In spite of its wild sounding name and exotic looks that lend the appearance of a toy tiger, the Toyger cat is 100% domestic. These kitties love their families, easily bonding with people of all ages. Not only do they love humans, they easily form friendships with other animals.
While Toyger cats are friendly and outgoing, they don’t mind being left on their own so long as their humans are gone for only a short while. If you’re someone who spends more time away than you are able to spend at home, this might not be the right breed for you. Of course if you’re open to having two cats, they’ll keep each other entertained and welcome you each time you return.
The Toyger cat has no special nutritional needs. At the same time, a quality diet is extremely important for good health and longevity. If you’re not feeding fresh food, we recommend choosing a brand that names real meat or fish as the number one ingredient.
History
Toyger cats are the results of breeding Bengal cats with domestic shorthair breeds with tabby markings. Developed by breeder Judy Sugden of California’s EEYAA cattery in the late 1980s, the Toyger cat is meant to display tigerlike features including a deep orange to red-brown coat with prominent stripes throughout and a wild looking face to match.
The breed got its start when Sugden noticed that her cat Millwood Sharp Shooter had circular facial markings similar to a tiger’s. With the help of a domestic shorthair tabby cat named Scrapmetal and a Bengal cat named Millwood Rumpled Spotskin, the Toyger breeding program was off to a good start.
In 1993, another founding member was added to the lineup. This time it was a street cat from Kashmir, India. The cat, named Jammu Blu, had spotted markings between his ears instead of tabby stripes. Approximately 40 other cats, many of them on pedigreed domestic shorthairs with striped coats, were selected for use as foundation stock.
1993 was a banner year for the Toyger cat, as two more breeders, Alice McKee and Anthony Hutcherson joined such then in working toward official recognition. That same year, The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Toyger cat breed for registration only. In 2007, TICA granted the Toyger championship status. Even so, it remains one of the world’s rarest cat breeds.