News > Culture > What the Hell is a Toyger?

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MONDAY FEBRUARY 26 2007 10:00 PM

Love big cats, but lack the room in your one bedroom apartment for an actual tiger to cozy up on your lap? Well, you're in luck. Thanks to genetic pioneer Judy Sudgen, daugter of Jean Mill (who is credited with creating the Bengal breed of cats), you can now have your very own mini-Tiger or, as the new minx is more commonly referred to, a Toyger.

Initally bred in the early '80s from stripped Domestic Short Haired cats and the Standard Bengal Tabby, the not-so-ferocious felines' coats have patterns that resemble their wild African kin. And, while nearly 30 years later the evolution of the coat design is mostly complete, the Toyger is still a breed in development. Future generations will be attempting to create a more rounded and smaller ear, a more distinct white underbelly, and a longer and more angular nose to more closely resemble an actual Tiger.

The Toyger is an ongoing venture with each generation improving on the last to obtain the objective of a beautiful domestic cat with the look of the majestic wild Tiger.

Recognized by TICA (The International Cat Association) for Registration Only early in the 1990's, Preliminary New Breed in 2000 and lovely even now, the goals for the breed are long term and the prospect even more exciting!

I want one.

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Comments

Slocum

Dallas, TX

October 2005

FEB 27, 2007 11:34 PM

I don't know how to show the other quotes...

It was just a comment, similar to the part in Idiocracy where they said scientists, instead of spending their time fixing the world's problems, were more concerned with preventing hair loss and providing longer erections. Without using smiley faces or whatnot to express the tone, I think some of it gets lost. Mostly I just had a thought in the back of my mind where a kid interested in science is at some weird Scientist's Job Fair, and is enticed by the hipness of making baby tigers instead of hanging with the nerds at the cancer table.

I do understand that not everyone is qualified to do that kind of research.

As for my big life accomplishment: I'm twenty four. It's a bit early to call that.

Like I said, it wasn't a serious comment, especially considering that it was bookmarked with two humorous statements (the Monty Python reference I lost out on due to slow typing, and then the part about a scientist holding a housecat in front of a tiger for the sexing).

koerner

Spain

December 2005

OCT 01, 2008 05:20 PM

holy fuck... that is wierd. but yes, I do want one

wheezy_e

Boulder City, NV

April 2004

OCT 01, 2008 05:52 PM

I need to know what happened to all the mishap cats along the way to developing the breed.

"Oh, this little fella is really, really cute but he behaves just like a real tiger. He'll go straight for your throat while you're sleeping and rip out your jugular. If you have a baby he knows that the baby is vulnerable and will single it out from the rest of the family."

Darke

Columbia, MO

June 2005

OCT 01, 2008 06:24 PM

Wheezy_E said:
I need to know what happened to all the mishap cats along the way to developing the breed.

"Oh, this little fella is really, really cute but he behaves just like a real tiger. He'll go straight for your throat while you're sleeping and rip out your jugular. If you have a baby he knows that the baby is vulnerable and will single it out from the rest of the family."

Yes, this interbreeding process so people can have cats with a certain style of coat produces all sorts of offshoot mongrels that don't make the cut, and while some breeders will see that they are placed in homes that will care for them, some don't, and they end up destroyed or discarded. These aren't pets, they're lifestyle accessories, and there are plenty of pets you can adopt for $40, rather than paying $2000 so your kitty can look like a tiger.

Just waiting for the day people want children with naturally tiger-striped hair.