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