The toyger (toy tiger) is a medium-sized, tiger-spotted, exceptionally rare short-haired cat that was developed in the United States in the 1980s and remains one of the newest, most unique-looking cat breeds. Much of the toyger's appeal lies in its wild tiger-like appearance while being a domesticated cat. The toyger is a designer breed that's a playful, intelligent cat.

Learn more about the history, characteristics, and care of the toyger cat.

Toyger Cat Characteristics

The toyger is a friendly, easygoing cat with an ideal temperament and personality. Toygers make great additions to families with children or pets, and are ready to play and offer affection.

If you're looking for a below-average amount of commitment to exercising your cat, the toyger's energy level may not be for you. Their intelligence makes them susceptible to boredom, so playtime is essential. Toygers are trainable and can be taught to do tricks.

History of the Toyger Cat

In the 1980s, breeder Judy Sugden (daughter of the original Bengal cat breeder, Jean Mill) worked with mackerel tabbies—cats characterized by their wild stripes and an "M" shaped marking on their foreheads. Sugden noticed that her Bengal cat, Millwood Sharp Shooter, bore round spots on the head instead of the typical "M" shape. The spots sparked the realization that designing a domestic cat closely resembling a tiger was within Sugden's reach. 

Sugden then started a breeding program using two cats: Scrapmetal, a domestic shorthair tabby, and Millwood Rumpled Spotskin, a big-boned Bengal. In 1993, Sugden proceeded to import Jammie Blu (a street cat from Kashmir, India with the characteristic, unusual spotting between his ears), added him to the breeding pool, and accelerated the program. Pioneering breeders Anthony Hutcherson and Alice McKee joined Sugden's project later that year. The International Cat Association accepted the toyger for registration, and, in 2007, listed it as a championship breed, cementing its eligibility for cat shows.

The Toyger is recognized by The International Cat Association but not the Cat Fancier's Association.

Toyger Cat Care

The care routine for a toyger is standard for most domestic cats. Due to their friendly demeanor, playtime and grooming should be straightforward for both owner and cat.

Grooming

Even though toygers are short-haired cats, they shed plentifully and should be brushed weekly. Tooth brushing, ear cleaning, and regular nail trimming are essential as well.

Exercise

Toyger cats are naturally active and require regular exercise. Because of their high trainability, you can train your toyger to walk on a leash and fetch. However, leash walking isn't a necessity. Toygers are usually active indoors on their own, so independent playtime can be adequate exercise.

Common Health Problems

The toyger is a relatively rare breed, so understanding of its health problems is limited. However, it's thought that toygers may be at an increased risk for heart murmurs. Be sure to follow a regular check-up schedule, preventative care measures, and immunizations for your toyger.

Appearance

Toygers have a distinctly tiger-like appearance, marked by broken, vertical orange and black or brown-bordered stripes. The International Cat Association describes the markings as "dark markings on a vividly bright orange background on the outer to top portions of the cat with a whited ground color on the undersides and insides...enhanced by the scatter of gold glitter over the top." Each cat's markings are distinct. Unlike the mackerel stripes or round rosettes of a tabby, a toyger's fur pattern is random. The ideal toyger head bears circular markings, which cannot be found on any other domestic cat breed. The short, uniquely patterned fur is non-hypoallergenic.

The shape of a toyger's head in profile is described as a "half-hexagon." Toyger cats are long, lean, and muscular but not bulky, with a long, thin tail with a rounded tip. They have round, small ears and bright green or blue eyes. The nose is broad at the base, with the jowl area correspondingly wider. Male toygers tend to be bigger, more muscular, and heavier than female Toygers.

Diet and Nutrition

The diet requirements for toygers are those of any domestic short-haired cat. Obesity can reduce your cat's lifespan, so work with your vet to determine the best diet plan. Provide your toyger with high-quality wet and dry food and access to fresh, clean water. If you want to give your toyger a treat, a small piece of meat (e.g., poultry, beef, fish, venison, lamb) is always a good option.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Toyger Cat

You may be able to find a purebred toyger cat through a breeder in your region, but there are under 30 toyger breeders in the world. The average price of a toyger cat is $2,000–$3,500. If you prefer to adopt, you may be able to find a toyger cat at a purebred rescue.

Certain states require owners to have a permit for toyger cats because of their relation to Bengal cats, which possess more genetic overlap with wild cats—this may be a consideration in adding a toyger cat to your family.

Toyger Cat Overview

Toygers are rare, beautiful, and well-mannered cats. While you may have difficulty finding a toyger of your own, they make great companions and require a standard level of care.

Pros of the Toyger

• No known major breed-specific diseases
• Good with other cats, dogs, and older children
• Active, energetic, and highly trainable
• Wild and exotic appearance with a sweet disposition

Cons of the Toyger

• Expensive and hard to find through breeders or adoption centers
• May be prone to heart murmurs

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you are interested in similar breeds, consider learning about these cats:

• Bengal
• Savannah
• Egyptian mau

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breeds.