How to Identify a Toyger

Identifying Physical Characteristics

Look for striping on the coat. Toygers are a human-created breed that is meant to look like the exotic and wild tiger. Toygers have striping on their coats that resembles the striping on a tiger. The stripe pattern can be broken or branded. The stripes are a dark color while the main color of the coat is lighter. The stripes are generally black, though they may be black or tan. The main color is brown or gold. The coloring and specific pattern of striping will vary depending on the domestic cat used to breed the Toyger.

Notice the muscular body. Toygers have medium-sized, muscular bodies. They have bigger bones, along with high shoulders. The Toyger’s body has a rectangular shape. Males can weigh between 10 to 15 pounds (four to seven kilograms), and females generally weigh seven to ten (three to five kilograms).

Evaluate the head. Toygers have long faces that are considered an inverted heart shape. They have broad noses and a strong chin. There are white patches above the eyes and on the lower face. They also have small ears that are rounded at the tips.

Check out the legs and paws. Toygers have a rectangular body and shorter legs, which gives them a slinking tiger-like appearance as they move. Their paws are large compared to their short legs. They also have long tails in relation to the rest of their body.

Recognizing Behavioral Characteristics

Look for a playful cat. Toygers love to play. They will play fetch with you if you throw a toy or balled up piece of paper, and they love chasing and batting at dangling toys. They enjoy spending time with you, so expect them to enjoy playing with you. Toygers enjoy playing in the water. They also will roam if you don’t keep them on a leash or contained indoors.

Evaluate their intelligence. Toygers are a very intelligent breed. They do well with puzzle toys that keep their minds active. Because they are intelligent, they are highly trainable. You can teach Toygers to walk on a leash outdoors. Toygers can also be trained in agility since they are so intelligent.

Expect a mild-mannered cat. Toygers are not wild and ferocious like people might think. They are sweet and calm cats. The breed is usually friendly and outgoing. They have a moderate activity level, so expect the Toyger to curl up on your lap or near you when they sleep. Toygers get along with cats and dogs. They are good with children as long as the interactions are supervised and the child is taught how to properly handle the Toyger.

Finding a Toyger

Locate a breeder. If you want to adopt a cat from a breeder, make sure to find a reputable breeder. Toygers are extremely rare because they are a designer cat breed. There are only approximately 400 Toygers in the world. This means Toygers can be quite expensive. Since not all Toygers have the same number of characteristics, the prices vary. Pet Toygers can range from $500 to $2000, while ones that are worthy to be show cats can range from $1500 to $5000. Many pet-worthy Toygers may not have all the physical markers for a show cat, but will have the personality. Start by checking cat breed websites, such as The Fanciers Breeder Referral List, and The International Cat Association. If you find a breeder who sells Toygers at a super cheap price, this is a red flag. It may indicate a problem in the Toyger’s breeding. When purchasing a kitten from purebred parents, ask the breeder to show you registration documents or a family tree so that you can get confirmation that the kittens are indeed Toygers.

Adopt a Toyger. Toygers are extremely rare, so you may not be able to find one at a shelter or rescue. You can always check with local shelters and rescues, or talk to your vet or local experts who may know of a Toyger who needs rescuing. Try pet adoption websites. You may be able to find one through one of those.

Do a DNA test to make sure the animal is a Toyger. After you’ve adopted what you think is a Toyger, or with the permission of the breeder you’re looking to adopt from, you can do an at-home DNA test to identify the animal for certain. Simply collect a sample of cheek cells on a special swab and send it to a reference lab. They will then give a genetic breakdown of the cat's parentage. Go with the company that has the most data about their process in order to get the most accurate results.

Be patient. Finding a Toyger cat may take time. If you are interested in getting a cat from a breeder, be aware that they are very rare and there is a limited supply. There may be a waiting list for the cat, or the price may be more than you are willing to pay for a cat.