ToygerCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

In the 1980s, the American breeder Judy Sugden, daughter of Jean Mill (the creator of the Bengal), was trying to make the stripes of tabby cats clearer. She noticed small spots on the temples of one of her cats, a place where ordinary cats have no markings, and realised that the circular pattern of a tiger's face was possible in a cat too.

She brought a male from the streets of India with spots that broke up the stripes on his head. Over a few years she selected about 40 cats from several countries, including Bengals and non-pedigree tabby cats. TICA accepted the breed for registration in 1993, for shows in 2000, and gave it championship status in February 2007.

How the breed developed

• The 1980s – Judy Sugden starts breeding.
• 1993 – accepted for registration by TICA.
• 2000 – accepted at shows as a new breed.
• 2007 – championship status at TICA.
• 2024 – the Toyger Cat Society has 30 active breeders.

• Anyone who wants a tiger-like cat that is domestic.
• Families who spend a lot of time at home. French Wikipedia says it needs attention to stay balanced.
• Homes with other pets. It gets on well with them.
• Anyone who wants a rare cat. There are only a few dozen breeders in the world.

The TICA standard calls for a medium to deep body, long and muscular, with rounded contours, robust but not massive, and legs of medium length.

General appearance

The head is medium-sized and oval, with a long, broad, deep muzzle; seen from the front, the face recalls an upside-down heart. The ears are small and round, set towards the back of the head. The eyes are medium-sized, round and of intense colour. The nose is long and broad.

The coat has dark stripes, drawn as loosely and branched as possible, as in the tiger, on a bright orange background. On the head, breeders look for a circular pattern, as on a tiger's face.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Bengal was used to create the breed and shares the same family of breeders, but it has spots, not stripes. The Toyger is completely domestic, with no recent wild blood.

French Wikipedia describes it as sociable, fond of human company, intelligent and relaxed; it adapts easily to the home and enjoys games, for example fetching a ball. It is very close to its owner and needs attention to stay balanced.

Socialisation

It gets on well with other animals.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is moderately active and enjoys interactive games with its owner.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short, soft coat is easy to care for: one brushing a week.

Common health problems

The sources we consulted do not describe diseases specific to the breed. Because Bengals were used to create it, ask about the parents' heart ultrasound.

Recommended genetic tests

Ask for the parents' heart ultrasound and their health records.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, TICA).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• For the tigers. Its creator wanted the breed to draw attention to protecting wild tigers.
• Mother and daughter. Judy Sugden, creator of the Toyger, is the daughter of Jean Mill, creator of the Bengal.
• A cat from India. A male brought from the streets of India gave the pattern on the head.
• A pattern designed on a computer. French Wikipedia says breeders made a computer image of the “ideal” Toyger.

Does it have tiger blood?

No. It is a domestic cat, bred only to look like a tiger.

Why was it created?

To make people think about protecting wild tigers.

What is its character like?

It is described as sociable, relaxed, playful and attached to its owner.

Is it rare?

Yes, in 2024 there were only 30 active breeders in the breed society.