Toyger Cats

The Toyger cat breed is bred to resemble a tiger. This breed began with the crossbreeding of a Bengal cat with a striped domestic shorthair. The Bengal breeder who started the development of the Toyger breed painstakingly worked to develop a lineage of cats that would produce Toyger kittens with tiger-like markings.

Though the Toyger has not yet been accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) of the United States, the Toyger is an accepted cat breed of The International Cat Association (TICA). Toyger cats are in the championship class which means that they are eligible to compete for titles in TICA cat shows.

Toyger cats are medium-sized, shorthaired cats. These are heavily-boned cats. The tail should be long with a blunt end. The torso of a Toyger cat is long and muscular. Small, rounded ears are a preferred trait. The eyes are round and relatively small. Rich, deep eye color is desirable.

Though the body type is important, there is considerable emphasis on the markings of the Toyger cat breed. The hair should be thick and exceptionally soft. The shorthaired coat may have slightly longer hair along the markings. Longer hair forming a jowl ruff is preferred but not required. Contrast between the ground color and dark markings should be considerable. The only acceptable color is brown mackerel tabby. Some glitter to the Toyger cat’s coat is required. Glitter in cat’s coat is an almost metallic sheen to the hair.

Part of the goal in the development of the Toyger cat breed was to design a cat with the wild appearance of a tiger, yet having the disposition of a domestic shorthair cat. Ideally, Toygers should be affectionate and people-oriented. They were bred with the demands of city life and households in mind. Part of the breeding involved seeking to develop a domestic cat with the ideal characteristics for an urban pet.

Toygers are described as friendly, outgoing, and sociable. Toyger kittens retain much of their playfulness into adulthood. They are active and athletic. Toyger cats are intelligent with a laidback personality. Toygers are considered to be easily trained.