Toyger breeders, verified by hand.
A tiger in miniature — stripes, not spots.
Bred deliberately to look like a tiger in miniature — bold vertical stripes instead of spots, which nothing else in the cat world has. Domestic throughout, and genuinely rare.
History
The Toyger was developed by Judy Sugden beginning in the 1980s, with the explicit goal of producing a domestic cat that reads as a tiger in miniature. Sugden is the daughter of Jean Mill, who founded the Bengal — so the two breeds are linked by family as well as by pedigree. Bengal lines sit behind the Toyger, crossed with domestic shorthairs to fix the striping. TICA granted championship status in 2007.
Living with one
Notably more relaxed than the Bengal it descends from. Sociable, trainable, and generally happy to be handled — many take to a harness. A good choice if you want the wild look without the wild energy.
What Toygers are screened for
HCM screening by echo is the main one, and heart murmurs have been noted in the breed, so ask specifically. Because Bengal lines are in the background, PK-Def and PRA-b are worth asking for even though the Toyger itself is a domestic breed.
This is what breeders in this breed commonly screen for. It is not veterinary advice, not a complete list, and Kittenry does not authenticate the documents a breeder provides — here is exactly what we do and don't check.
The Toyger is not a hybrid
There is no wild ancestor and no generation ladder here. If a seller offers you an “F2 Toyger”, they are either using the term loosely or they do not know the breed — and either way it is worth slowing down. Bred deliberately to look like a tiger in miniature — bold vertical stripes instead of spots, which nothing else in the cat world has. Domestic throughout, and genuinely rare.
Four questions worth asking
Have both parents been echoed for HCM, and were any murmurs found?
Can I see PK-Def and PRA-b results, given the Bengal background?
How many generations back is the last Bengal outcross?
How well-defined is the striping in this line, and can I see the parents?
And one rule that applies to every breed on this site: pay by credit card. Zelle, Cash App and wire transfers have no chargeback rights. Kittenry never handles your money — you pay the breeder directly, and we want your dispute rights intact.
Toygers on Kittenry
We're onboarding our founding catteries now, and Toyger is one of the breeds we're actively recruiting. If you breed Toygers, apply here — the first catteries in each breed are listed free.
Looking for a Toyger?
Tell us what you're after and we'll point you at the right cattery when one has kittens.
0 other waiting for a Toyger right now.