| There is nothing quite so beautiful or exotic as a | | | | them perfect for apartment dwellers. Their |
| wild tiger, bobcat, leopard, or jaguar, and there | | | | dramatic pattern and glittered pelt makes them |
| are thousands of people, if not more, who would | | | | very appealing to all of you who have ever |
| love to own one. In fact, there are over sixteen | | | | dreamed of owning a real tiger, but because they |
| hundred of the big wild cats that are owned by | | | | are domestic, they are an absolute treasure to |
| individuals in the United States alone. This usually is | | | | live with. What is more, the cat is practically |
| not a good thing for these big cats. Oftentimes | | | | computer designed. Breeders used computer |
| they are placed in cages or fenced-in areas that | | | | imaging in determining the type of cat they |
| are far too small to house them comfortably, and | | | | wanted, going even so far as to use email to |
| many times they are the victims of abuse, | | | | arrange cross-country breeding matches. |
| intentional or not. Most people just don't know | | | | Founded by Judy Sugden in the United States, the |
| what the proper nutrition is for a big cat. More | | | | Toyger is the result of many years of hard work |
| importantly, these huge cats are far too | | | | breeding a striped domestic shorthair cat to a |
| dangerous and no matter how tame they might | | | | standard Bengal tabby. The end result was a |
| seem, can easily maim or kill a human being by | | | | miniature tiger that has the fur and glitter of a |
| just doing what comes naturally. | | | | real Bengal Tiger, but with excellent |
| Fortunately, the rest of us know it is not smart | | | | temperaments. The Toyger ideally has dark |
| to own a tiger or a lion as a pet. But do not | | | | stripes just like a tiger laid over a background of |
| despair, for there are breeds of domestic cats | | | | orange/tan. Also like a tiger, the stripes should be |
| that look just like their bigger, wilder cousins. One | | | | random individual stripes, not uniform ones like |
| of them is the Toyger, and yes, just as the | | | | you might find on your typical tiger kitty. |
| name implies, they really do look like miniature | | | | Breeders continue to improve on the species in |
| tigers with the distinctive striping you except to | | | | order to obtain one of the most beautiful |
| see on the bigger, beautiful wild version. | | | | domestic cats possible along with the majestic |
| Toygers are designer cats. They have an easily | | | | look of a wild tiger. |
| trained character and are laid back, which makes | | | | |