The Toyger, a pocket tiger, is a cat that carries with it all the power and grace of big cats, with the tenderness of a domestic cat.
The origins of the Toyger cat
The Toyger, a mixture of “toy” and “tiger”, was developed in 1980 by the American Judy Sugden, daughter of Joan Mill who created the Bengal. His goal was to find in a domestic cat all the physical characteristics of the tiger. So she began by crossing a Bengal with a domestic short-haired cat with very specific markings.
You should know that the Toyger is therefore not a wild-blooded cat, like the Bengal or the Savannah for example. Only the physical is sought. It was thus obtained from several breeds scrupulously selected for their physical characteristics, in order to be as close as possible to those of the tiger. Obtaining beautiful black stripes, very vertical on an orange background, as well as the facies of a mini-tiger, called “big cat”, such is the long and rigorous work of the Toyger breeder!
The Toyger was registered in 1990 by the TICA as in “evaluation”, then was accepted in the championship in 2007.
To this day, the Toyger remains a rare breed, with very few breeders in Europe. This is because it is a breed that is still evolving.
The ideal cat
The Toyger standard is still subject to change, since the breed is not yet fixed. The work is long and meticulous to obtain all the characteristics of a small tiger!
The Toyger, short and soft, has a well-built, muscular and elongated body, very athletic. Its muscles “roll” when it is in motion, like a big beast. Her shoulders and neck are equally muscular, her tail is long with rings, and she is carried low.
Its head is large, with a long nose; the leather of the nose is wide in the shape of an inverted V, up to the eyes. Its ears are small and rounded, its eyes are round and close together with deep color. He has a broad chin and a powerful lower jaw.
Hair color
The coat must be mackerel brown tabby . The marking must be contrasted. The “first” motif being the domestic mackerel , this has evolved in a few nuances: we now find the modified mackerel, the tabby bold mackerel (thick) and the braided mackerel (braided).
The character
The Toyger is a cat known to be very active, very intelligent and very affectionate at the same time. It is also very docile and stands up easily. With a good temperament, it is a cat which also has a very great capacity for adaptation and gets along just as well with adults, children or other animals.
Hug:
Affectionate, this cat enjoys company and cuddles.
Player:
It likes the interaction, so don’t be afraid to play.
Calm:
It is active, of course, but calm at the same time and will appreciate great moments of serenity.
Intelligent:
Very intelligent, it is curious and receptive to training.
Fearful / suspicious of strangers:
Known to be sociable, it enjoys human company.
Independent:
If it can take care of themselves, it still needs a lot of attention for its balance.
Behaviour
Talkative:
It has a powerful voice, but is not a great talker.
Greedy / gluttonous:
Robust and muscular, it is necessary for them to meet its energy needs.
Need for exercise:
The Toyger can be trained very well in wearing the leash and harness and will enjoy walks outside, in addition to playing, to burn off its energy.
Runaway:
The Toyger seeks more interaction than solo adventures, but beware of the call of the wild!
Compatibility
The Toyger and the Dogs:
Very sociable, it tolerates dogs very well if it has been previously socialized with the species. Nevertheless, it is always necessary to arrange high spaces and hiding places so that it can take refuge there if necessary.
The Toyger and the Other Cats:
The Toyger shows great adaptability and can cohabit without problem with its congeners as long as the presentation has been made in the rules.
The Toyger and the Children:
Easy-going, playful and curious, it will thrive in a family with children if they respect its moments of calm.
The Toyger and the Elderly:
It is a cat who can quite live with a calm person, but will need a minimum of exercise and stimulation to thrive.
Price
On average, the purchase price of a Toyger kitten in breeding is between 1419.45 USD and 2365.74 USD, the price often varying according to the line, the breeding, the age or even the sex. For the monthly budget, it will take an average of 47.31 USD / month to meet its needs, by offering them a quality diet and making sure to maintain them in good health.
Maintenance
Grooming:
Given its short coat, weekly brushing is sufficient.
Hair
loss : Scanty loss, even during the moulting period.
Food
A good quality diet adapted to the energy needs imposed by its muscle mass is necessary.
Cares
It does not lose much of its hair and does not require special care. At the present time, it is not known to have any specific health problems.
Health
Life
expectancy: The life expectancy of the Toyger varies around 12 to 15 years.
Resistant / Robust:
With thick fur, it is quite robust and adapts quite well to different climatic conditions.
Tendency to gain
weight: It is important to aim for a good balance in food according to your daily physical expenditure in order to avoid being overweight.
Frequent diseases:
In the course of evolution, it lacks the necessary hindsight in order to list the diseases specific to this breed. The only hereditary disease listed (according to the LOOF) is the deficiency in pyruvate kynase (PKDef): the deficiency in PK (enzyme) causes destruction of red blood cells, therefore anemia.
Reproduction:
Only intra-racial marriage is allowed.
Good to know
Although resembling a “mini-tiger”, this feline is not a wild cat, nor a hybrid (from crossbreeding with a wild cat), but a domestic feline.
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