Has anyone heard of a Toyger?????

[Reynard]

nope, according to the website i visited it is a number of moggies bred to other moggies who have characteristic similar to a tiger. They mention a wild cat, but not a wildcat, so my reading would be a feral. But I might be wrong - are their wildcats in California??!

What our American friends from across the pond call wildcats is what we over here call ferals. I do believe there was an article in Your Cat on Toygers fairly recently.

I have seen two at shows this year, one on exhibition at a GCCF show and one at a TICA show, but I can't remember if it was in competition or not and i don't have a catalogue to hand.

FYI, some of what are classed as new breeds are just new colours / varieties introduced to old favourites. Where the confusion can arise is that they may be given a different breed number to the more established varieties - a case in point is the Siamese, where the basic breed number is 24, but the newer colours are breed number 32.

[tez2384]

The rescue that i got kitty from has got a devon rex and a siamese atm

[Gail Bengal Slave]

Agree Susanne.  A very famous Millwood bengal was the cornerstone of the breeding programme 

http://www.toygers.org/history.html

I prefer the Toyger in 1997

[Gail Bengal Slave]

To me this breed is nothing more than a stripey bengal (instead of spots)

But are not Bengals just spotty tabby's

*sharp in take of breathe*  NO


 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

You are right Smokey and thats how I got my birmans 

[Linda (Bengalbabe)]

Agree Susanne.  A very famous Millwood bengal was the cornerstone of the breeding programme 

http://www.toygers.org/history.html

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Bengals (or a bengal) were used at the outset. 

[blackcat]

, although that won't apply to a Toyger as that is a bengal crossed with domestic cat?

nope, according to the website i visited it is a number of moggies bred to other moggies who have characteristic similar to a tiger. They mention a wild cat, but not a wildcat, so my reading would be a feral. But I might be wrong - are their wildcats in California??!

[Corporal Smokey]

I used to hanker after a pedigree e.g. NFC but, unless I come across one at exactly the right time in a cat rescue (so in my dreams), I've now accepted it's never going to happen .

I was kinda the same. OH said I could only have a cat if it was a British Blue knowing full well I couldn't afford the outlay. I found the Southern British Shorthaired Cat Club's rescue site and there were Josh and Hope, ready to be rehomed.

I have since found out that most if not all (maybe not Toygers...) pedigrees have a dedicated rescue. If you like a breed, you like a breed. I love British Shorthairs because of their fabulous temperament and gorgeous looks. I love my persian for his cheeky scampishness. That isn't to say moggies aren't ace too, most of my best cat-memories have been moggy ones. I would still only rescue but there are plenty of pedigree cats needing homes.

The lady from my cat rescue had a British Blue kitten left in a box on her doorstep. She's the most wonderful cat, a bit smaller than normal but clearly a pure-bred one. She had an exotic blue kitten brought in recently too.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

They will have a battle on their hands to gain acceptance by the GCCF (presuming they want to, eventually) as they seem to be a much tougher nut to crack than TICA of Fife.  GCCF have also made a statement that they won't accept any more breeds that are crossed with a wild cat (like the bengal), although that won't apply to a Toyger as that is a bengal crossed with domestic cat?

[Desley (booktigger)]

Susanne, I get what you are saying, but as these are a new breed, there will be a lot of cats bred that dont fit the standard, and I dont think the cat organisations should be allowing people to start up new breeds while there are so many in rescue already, including pedigrees.

[hOrZa]

as if they were jeans or something...

But its is in the jeans

[dolcetta46]

Beautiful, but calling them "of a designer breed" sounds to me a bit demeaning... as if they were jeans or something...

[Dawn F]

I've met a few peds in rescues at the moment the one I go to has a siamese and an exotic short hair, they had an aby at another branch which I was very tempted by!   I do feel guilty that I paid for Tilly but when I got her I really was ignorant to the whole rescue situation I had no idea of the numbers involved.

[Rosella moggy]

I used to hanker after a pedigree e.g. NFC but, unless I come across one at exactly the right time in a cat rescue (so in my dreams), I've now accepted it's never going to happen . I simply cannot justify homing a cat unless it is from a rescue as there are too many out there.  Each to their own as I know many on here have beautiful, much loved pedigrees.  For me though it is virtually certain to be beautiful much loved moggies always

Yes Gail, I would love a Toyger too, being a Brummie born n bred

[Gail Bengal Slave]

The poor thing will be just an assessory for the rich and famous. Like Bengals are at the moment.

OK I would love one, I really would the pattern and colour of their coat is just  , but it will be a must have cat, just like the Bengal.

I have my Bengalies because Zubi looked like my Beau, spotty man so I had one of each. I wouldn't change them for anything. I just hope they don't get in to the wrong hands, think you know what I mean.

Why did I think Gaynor was in Scotland???- she isn't too far from me, about 45 mins. Maybe I could vist these gorgeous babes  .

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

i heard about these ages ago, and I think it is sad that people are trying to create more breeds, and all the pet quality ones that come with it when there are already so many unwanted cats in the world - I haven't been back a week yet, but have already been asked to help with 5 cats (not including the one I had agreed to take on).

Although I'm not keen on the constant introduction of new breeds, I think those that go for a new breed such as a Toyger choose that over another breed rather than a homeless cat from a shelter.  I'd have thought those who choose a Toyger or Savannah would likely choose that instead of a Bengal or an Ocicat or similar.

[Desley (booktigger)]

i heard about these ages ago, and I think it is sad that people are trying to create more breeds, and all the pet quality ones that come with it when there are already so many unwanted cats in the world - I haven't been back a week yet, but have already been asked to help with 5 cats (not including the one I had agreed to take on).

[Linda (Bengalbabe)]

Yes they have been around for a little bit.  Gaynor the breeder featured is a well known bengal breeder, one of the most reputable in the UK.

They have certainly been slow to take off and the price is reflective of the fact they are pretty limited in the UK.  I know a number of bengal breeders are watching both the Toyger and the Savannah with interest at the moment......

[lucy]

I remember reading about them a year or so ago - maybe they will become popular as they are stunning, but who knows?

[Cheesecat]

I saw an article in the Mirror today for these.... £2500 each? Another designer breed that will end up most likely in the wrong hands with someone who only wants one cause its fashionable - that was my first thought anyway.

And yeah, the breeder is in Bromsgrove, I think?

[hOrZa]

To me this breed is nothing more than a stripey bengal (instead of spots)

But are not Bengals just spotty tabby's

[Reynard]

To me this breed is nothing more than a stripey bengal (instead of spots)    I have seen some pics of the kit in the article and she is stunning.  I love the richness of her orange colour.

That's pretty well much what a Toyger is, Linda - just a mackerel tabby Bengal.

[Tiggy's Mum]

I think King Bilbo and Mr Bagginspants must be first generation Toygers, they are the spitting image of one - amazingly stripey 

[JackSpratt]

Stunning cat, but it isn't any closer in relation to a tiger than any other as far as I can tell. (A stray cat with "tiger like" markings doesn't make much difference to me!)

[Ellie]

new bread of cat called the Toyger 

Aha! I thought you'd done a spelling error Ellie   

As if Ruth     

[Bazsmum]

new bread of cat called the Toyger 

Aha! I thought you'd done a spelling error Ellie   

[Ellie]

It's what they call a tiger in Birmingham isn't it?

  Brill 

I think although the cats are stunning, it's just one breed too much.

[Linda (Bengalbabe)]

To me this breed is nothing more than a stripey bengal (instead of spots)    I have seen some pics of the kit in the article and she is stunning.  I love the richness of her orange colour.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Think I had one in my garden this morning, miss hissy spit and I was actually scared!

When I walked up to her she stood her ground put her ears flat back and hissed and growled at me, I know you cant touch her cos she will attack.

No wonder my cats were still indoors and they watched me usher her out of the garden and when I walked back to the house both Misa and Sasa were watching from the window sill........I did feel proud 

Jessie lives up the road and is a lovely light ginger but known by me as vicious ginger and I reckon Toyger just about sums her up!

[lucy]

They are very beautiful, don't think they are necessary but are lovely.

[blackcat]

well, yes, seeing the additional photos (the one in the metro did not look at all exciting) they are rather gorgeous. But as others have said, how many breeds do we need??!!

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

I must say, yes a designer breed and we do have enough breeds out there, but he's gorgeous.

[Tiggy's Mum]

It's what they call a tiger in Birmingham isn't it?

Just had a near miss / Tena lady moment 

[puddypaws]

It's what they call a tiger in Birmingham isn't it?

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Definitely not a wind up BC .... I found this website of a breeder (with kittens available)  http://www.toyger.net/

[hOrZa]

I think they look lush

[blackcat]

read about them in the Metro this morning. They look just like your average ginger moggy to me. Can't see why anyone would be fool enough to spend £2500 on them. I was wondering, by the end of the article, if it was a windup actually.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Yeah I've heard of them before ... they are very stricking however I don't really see the need for them.  There are enough breeds out there already without creating yet another "designer" cat.

[Ellie]

Just watched the ITV Central News and saw a report about a so called new bread of cat called the Toyger 

Couldn't get the Central Link to work and found this http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=70676&in_page_id=34

What do you think?