The title should read “domestic cat that looks like a tiger” because officially there is only one domestic cat that looks like a tiger (or is meant to look like a tiger) and it is a purebred cat called the Toyger, the “toy” “tiger”. I guess nowadays a lot of people have heard of this rather rare cat breed. It has been around quite a long time (over 20 years) but has not really caught on in popularity probably because it does not look much like a tiger (as yet)! I say “as yet” because the breeders of this cat are still developing it.
However, to be honest it is a bit of a waste of time, in my opinion. A really nice looking tabby cat that looks like the wild cat ancestor of the domestic cat (North African wildcat) looks just as impressive if not more so.
In fact you will see some random bred domestic cats that will have some of the features of the tiger by pure chance.
I don’t want to get into too much of a philosophical argument but it does strike me as a bit odd trying to turn a domestic cat into a miniature tiger. It is a bit commercial and it a bit Frankensteinesque; moulding a tabby cat into the shape, coloring and even having the gait of a tiger.
Perhaps the breeders noticed that people love tiger cubs and as tiger cubs are in short supply, the only option was to create a tiger cub from scratch. It is a bit like using chipboard or MDF wood and putting on a veneer for use in furniture manufacture. It all turns of creating a “product” which just happens to be a living creature.
Some facts about the domestic that looks like tigers:
- Creator: Judy Sugden (an American living in America)
- Inception of idea for a toy tiger 1980s?
- Judy imported street cat from Kashmir to beef up the breeding programme 1993
- Initial registration with TICA 1993 (TICA are more open to new breeds than the competing and more conservative CFA)
- Full recognition of the Toyger by TICA 2007
The wild cat hybrid breeds such as the Savannah and Bengal cats don’t look like the tiger because (a) the Savannah is far more rangy in conformation than the stocky, powerfully built tiger because the breed is based on the Serval while (b) the Bengal is based on the domestic cat-sized leopard cat which is similar to the domestic cat in conformation.
The tiger is heavy-set; much more so than the typical domestic cat. Although there are breeds which are stocky.
Ruth, you are right. In the end, it is all about the love.
Yes Cindy we can’t say we love cats then pick and choose breeds and colours, we either love cats or we don’t!
I have never seen an ugly cat. Some are prettier or better looking than some, but there is something beautiful about every cat I have ever seen.
I just love each and every part of every cat, from tail to claws 🙂
Well said Cindy. It is true what you say. I have found that the closer I become emotionally to my cat the more beautiful she is. The beauty is all inside and in a deep relationship.
All cats are beautiful, the colour or the breed shouldn’t matter one bit to a true cat lover, each and every cat has his/her own personality and shouldn’t be judged on their appearance.
Beautiful tabby. I have a special Love for Tabby Cats I know its just their markings on their Coat but I do believe they have a special Personality which sets them out from the rest.
This is the stray cat that lives in my building compound in Mumbai and has the temperament of a “Persian Cat”, very docile and tame.At the recently held “Mumbai Cat Show” in Mumbai there was a scheme to breed the local street cat of Mumbai like the one shown in the photo into a established cat called the “BILLI” breed. “Billi” means cat in Hindi language.Nice to know that the “Toyger” breed cat has its origins from Kashmir.Strangely most exotic cat breeds like the “Bengal Cat”, “Bombay Cat” and the “Toyger” have its origins in India and hope a few years or a decade down the line we have the “BILLI” from Mumbai.
This stray cat has a hint of the tiger about him with wonderful tabby stripes. You’re right that a few American cat breeders have travelled to India to find street cats to breed from back in the USA. There must be something about the Indian cats.
i have such type of cat.
i want to know which type of foods to give her for eat
please suggest me someone
Vijay, thanks for commenting. If you are looking after a domestic cat, then feed her/him with the best wet cat food you can get your hands on. Good luck.
Any breed would be good …. depends on the type of personality & characteristics you want in your companion. I think “any” that you can love or will love you back is what matters. I love all types of fur angels … to me. I don’t think it matters
Totally agree. At the end of the day the appearance is utterly secondary to the relationship which should be strong and loving.
Domestic cats with nice tabby stripes are pretty common. What might have been a good selling point would be to breed or out cross for a more reddish tone. But then they would look like Bengals. There is too much overlap with existing breeds and random-bred cats. There are many striped and spotted cats in Cyprus just as good-looking as any Toyger, and many are rather big.