Info Hangat: A new breed of cats

Sumatra, a registered "toyger," displays the rusty colored fur and unique black stripes of the relatively new breed.

Toygers have been registered with the International Cat Association (TICA) since 1993. This May they will join more familiar purebred felines, such as Persians and Siamese, that can be judged as championship cats at TICA-sponsored cat shows. Toyger creator Judy Sudgen said she hopes the playful pets will inspire more people to care about wild tiger conservation. "We use part of the price of the kittens to help the conservation of tigers, since that's our inspiration," she said.

For now the toyger is a work in progress, and fanciers hope to produce cats that more closely resemble tigers within the next few years.

A toyger owned by breeder Jenifer Santee poses for a studio portrait.

Toygers don't actually have any tiger genes. They're bred using traditional techniques to closely resemble the wild cats' characteristic markings. Santee said that public demand for the tiny tiger replica—which can cost about $3,000 ( U.S.)—is extremely high.

Meanwhile Kirsten Kranz, of Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue, said her animal rescue facility is "overwhelmed" right now with Bengals—the spotted housecat first used to create the toyger.

Kranz and other animal welfare workers say that creating new breeds will only add to the growing glut of unwanted purebreds crowding shelters.

Toygers are bred to be social and many will go for walks, play fetch, and come when called. Toyger breeder Santee notes that one of her cats even has webbed feet like the Sumatran tiger and loves to go in the water.

Sumatra the toyger bats at leaves on a backyard deck. About 25 breeders worldwide have been working to perfect this tiny look-a-like of the world's largest feline.

Breeders are striving to produce cats with whiter bellies and shorter, rounded ears as well as ropy tails, wider noses, and thicker chins.

Critics worry that new breeds of domestic cats, like the toyger, will contribute to the problem of too many unwanted cats roaming the streets or dumped on shelters. For their part, Santee and fellow breeder Pam Rohan make sure the toyger kittens they sell as pets are spayed or neutered before they arrive at their new homes.

"I do not want to contribute to unwanted cats in the world or my cats being put into shelters or rescues," Rohan said.