Toygers or toy tigers were developed by Judy Sugden of EEYAAS Cattery to raise awareness on the dwindling number of wild tigers. Although they are not officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), it has already earned a Champion Status on The International Cat Association since 2007.
It looks similar to Bengal cats because Sugden made use of a Bengal named Millwood Rumpled Spotskin in creating the breed. Scrapmetal, a striped domestic shorthair and a street cat from India named Jammie Blu who had all spots between its ears, were in the program too.
Upfront Cost
Toyger has a very meticulous breed standard that includes 14 different checks by TICA for a cat to be truly considered as such. It’s no wonder why this breed is relatively rare considering how hard it is to breed.
As of today, there are roughly 400 Toygers in the whole world. It can be a little challenging to look for Toyger breeders too. With these limited numbers, best believe that it will affect the market value of this breed.
The Toyger price usually depends on the quality of the cat that you want to purchase. It is often categorized as pet quality, show quality, or breeding quality.
It can range from as low as $500 up to $5,000. One breeder even features a Toyger that costs as much as $50,000!
TICA Breeders
To give you some more insight on how much it would cost you to have a Toyger, here are some breeders that are TICA approved.
- SouthPaw Toygers – North Carolina
SouthPaw Toygers’ pet quality Champion bloodline Toyger Kittens cost $1,500. If you opt to have a kitten that has more tiger-like characteristics, you might want its show quality Toyger kittens which cost $2,500.
Its most expensive Toyger kittens or the breed quality costs $3,500.
Before the purchase, it requires a cash deposit first. For pet quality Toygers, the required deposit is $200.
Meanwhile, it would cost you a cash deposit of $500 for show quality and breed quality Toygers. You must also pay for every purchase in full before leaving the cattery.
Pet quality kittens can leave as soon as they’re 3 months old. Show quality and breed quality kittens can be taken home when they’re 4 months old.
As a buyer, you have the responsibility to spay or neuter your kitten when it hits its 6th month. You then have to provide the breeder with a licensed veterinarian record of it. Only then will the SouthPaw Toygers provide you a certified breed slip.
You have to do the things above to prevent your contract from being void.
SouthPaw Toygers doesn’t provide shipping for the cats because of health and safety concerns as kittens can be very stressed during shipment. Instead, you can pick up your Toyger directly from its cattery that is located in Selma, New Carolina.
- Designer Stripes Toygers – Illinois
DesignerStripesToygers doesn’t provide exact pricing on its site. However, the lowest estimate for its Toyger kittens is $1,000. If you want a Breed Standard one, it would cost you more.
Its champion bloodlines that have more tiger-like markings, colorings, as well as commendable temperament range from $1,200 to $1,500. Its best breeds or the show quality ones cost from $2,000 and up.
From Chicago, it can ship to any airports with a United Airlines direct flight. It would cost you an additional $350 that includes the airline ticket, travel crate, health certificate, and any other necessity for pet shipment.
You can also opt for a delivery service so your pet can travel in a cabin with a dedicated deliveryman.
- Silky Amber –Texas
Silky Amber’s pet quality kittens cost $1,000 up to $1,500. As usual, the price goes up depending on the markings and overall characteristics of the kitten that goes with the Toyger standard.
Its other pet/show quality kittens start from $2,200 and up, while the breed/show quality kittens are from $3,500 and up. The breed/show quality kittens can only be purchased by professional breeders and other qualified people.
One good thing about Silky Amber is that its published prices already include some basic necessities like vaccination, de-worming, spay and/or neuter. If your pet is going to be transported via cargo, it can also include a vet certificate.
- Styled In The Wild – San Fransisco Bay Area
Styled in the Wild has a different classification for its Toyger kittens. Check out its pricing for each grade below:
1 = $3,000 7= $7,800
2 = $3,800 8= $8,600
3 = $4,600 9= $9,400
4 = $5,400 10= $10,200
5 = $6.200 10+= $20,000
6 = $7.000 10++= $50,000
It also requires a cash deposit for every purchase. From Grades 1-5, it requires a $1,000.00 deposit, 2,000.00 for Grades 6-10, $ 5,000 for kittens at Grade 10+, and $10,000 for 10++ Toygers.
For the first year of purchase, it offers a full replacement for your Toyger for any proven accidental death. This is applicable too if there’s a genetic defect on your Toyger or if it is stolen. It also offers worldwide shipping.
Styled in the Wild also offers a 20-year warranty (more or less equivalent to the whole duration of your cat’s life) for fatalities that could have been avoided through proper screening of Toygers’ genetics.
Cost of Keeping a Toyger Cat
Although Toygers can really cost a fortune for some, it’s surprisingly just like every other cat when it comes to maintenance. Believe it or not, this majestic breed is actually one of the low-maintenance cats.
Since they have short furs, grooming them is a breeze. You can just opt to brush and comb them from time to time to promote a healthier and shinier coat.
Aside from that, Toygers just need a routine nail clipping which can be done at home by yourself. If you want it to be done by a professional, it can cost you from $15 to $25 dollars.
From the get-go, you might need a couple of equipment for your new cat such as Nature’s Miracle Advanced Corner Hooded Cat Litter Box ($18), Animaze Grey Cat Tree Condo with Scratching Post ($30), and Animaze Standard Kennel for Dogs or Cats ($30).
Since Toygers are highly intelligent and active cats that love playing fetch, you might want to walk them around the neighborhood or the park. A good leash only costs about $15.
Toygers also have a good temperament and are generally friendly with strangers. Even though they look a lot like a tiger, they certainly aren’t as hostile as them.
Toygers are generally healthy. But since they are still a fairly new breed, it might be too soon to conclude that.
Some of the common health issues that have been listed are heart murmurs, rolled rib, flat chest cage, and feline infectious peritonitis.
With that said, some owners prefer to get pet insurances. It can cost from as low as $10 up to $35 monthly depending on the coverage and the provider that you choose.
Of course, you also need to consider the food for your Toyger. Cat food is cheaper than dog food so it’s safe to say that it can cost you from $140 to $250 annually.
This computation is based on a good quality dry cat food that costs around $40 for a 12 lbs. pack of adult dry cat food which can last for 3 months. The price can go up in accordance with your brand preference, but generally, you can save more if you buy in bulk.
Additional Tips for Buyers
It’s already established that Toygers are some of the most expensive cat breeds in existence. That’s why you need to be extra careful when it comes to making a purchase. Thoroughly researching about your selected breeder goes a long way.
It’s much better if they are in the TICA so you can be sure that they follow the necessary guidelines and standards when it comes to breeding Toygers. Currently, there are about 20 breeders in the United States and about 15 or so in other parts of the world.
You can also ask them about the lineage of your kitten. Reputable breeders are used to these questions because they too know how important it is to ensure that the cats have a healthy gene and upbringing.
