Genetically Modified Cats: The Toyger

The Toyger is the latest in an array of “designer cats” to have flooded the pet market in recent years. Following hot on the heels of the Bengal - another pet that was designed to look like a miniature wild cat but behave like a domestic companion - the Toyger is basically a genetically modified tabby. So, the question is, have they got it right? Is the Toyger worth the money? Do they live up to expectations?

History:

The toyger is the result of an experiment, back in the 1980s, aimed at breeding domestic short-haired tabbies that would resemble “toy tigers”. The breeds creator, Judy Sudge - who is said to have stated the breed was developed in order to inspire people to care about the conservation of tigers in the wild - noticed some distinctively marked kittens amongst a litter she’d bred. The kittens displayed markings in an area on the head that would usually be devoid of them, and it was these markings that first inspired the idea of a tiger-like tabby. The next stage was to import a Tom with similar markings, which she did, in the shape of a feral cat found on the streets of India. Now that the head markings were achieved, the quest began to create the circular face patterns, also displayed by Tigers. The breeder then went on to bring the Bengal cat into the mix, in order to create a “big-cat body”.

Breeders have used computer imaging technology to develop a model for the Toyger (see above image) and hope to have achieved this look by 2010 - meaning they should be nearing that stage already. The initial aims were to round the ears and widen the nose-bridge. In the future they hope to create smaller eyes, a cheek ruff, and a white chest. There are still very few breeders in the world - located primarily in the United States, with just a few in the UK, and one in Australia - so the process will be a slow one and, consequently, the Toyger will be in great demand for some time yet, at least until enough breeders have been established to supply a sufficient number of kittens. This will probably mean the cost of a Toyger will be highly inflated for many years to come.

Toygers are said to make wonderful companions due to their great temperaments and above average  intelligence. Their glittered, pelted, and dramatic coat-pattern appeals greatly to city-dwellers with a taste for the wild, and some even say their big bones and long toes cause them to move differently; in a manner more associated with big cats. Their laid-back nature makes them easily trainable and perfect for families and apartment owners.

So far, the Toyger seems to be fulfilling the aims of the breeders, although much work needs to be done before anyone can truly say they resemble the Tiger facially. The coat is quite impressive, with its vibrant colour, velvety glitter and distinctive markings, but the face is still very much resembling a cross between a Bengal and a domestic cat, which is disappointing. With personalities very similar to many other domestic breeds, there’s simply very little yet to define the Toyger, certainly not enough to justify the heavy prices often charged for a well-marked kitten.

My opinion, as a pedigree cat-breeder: if you want a “real” minature tiger you’d be better off waiting ten years until they’ve introduced the neck-ruff and further adapted the face. If you’re happy with the look of a domestic cat with a tiger-like coat, the current model of the Toyger might be the perfect cat.