Have you heard of the "Toyger?" The latest in designer cat breeds, this domestic cat, bred to resemble a tiger in body, coat and movement is still somewhat in development. There are approximately 400 Toygers in existence, being bred from descendants of a domestic Bengal Cat (which itself originates from a wild Asian Leopard Cat), crossed with other domestic cats.
25 breeders all around the world are working on perfecting the Toyger breed, to make the cats resemble tigers even more. The new species is already in demand and, although each specimen costs over $3,000, they have all been sold. Part of the profits go towards the conservation of wild tigers, the inspiration behind the Toygers. The breeder estimates will truly be tiger replicas by 2010, when the last tigers will disappear from zoos.
Photograph by Bob Rohrbaugh, WildFX Cats
Photograph courtesy of Jenifer Santee
Photograph by Bob Rohrbaugh, WildFX Cats
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