Toyger vs Sokoke - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

The Toyger is a domestic cat developed from breeding Shorthaired Tabbies to look like a small Tiger.

It has the striped coat of the Tiger. The person to develop the Toyger is Judy Sugden.

The unusual-looking cat has been recognized for registration by the International Cat Association in the 1990s. It was accepted as a full championship breed in 2007.

Today this designer cat is recognized by the ICA but not the Cat Fancier's Association.

Compared to other breeds of cat, the rare Sokoke Forest Cat is a fairly new natural breed. It comes from the Sokoke district of eastern Kenya but was developed in the USA.

It is in fact, named after the Arabuko Sokoke National Forest, from where the wild foundation stock came from. Wildlife artist Jeni Slater started breeding these cats in the 1970s. They eventually reached Denmark, where further breeding continued, with the cat becoming popular with local cat fanciers, and laid the foundation of the breed in Europe.

Today, there are just a few breeders registered in the UK and TICA, The International Cat Association lists the Sokoke cat as a New Preliminary Race and it was recognized by FIFe in 1993.

The Toyger is a medium to large-sized cat that can weigh between 5 and 9kg. As with any cat, with these newer kinds of cats, the size of the cat can vary.

It is a shorthair cat that is quite a bit bigger than your regular cat. The coat of this mixed breed cat has markings similar to that of a tiger - vertical orange striping with rosettes.

The coat of the cat is short and he is a brown mackerel tabby with stripes being a dark brown to black. The eyes of the cat can be a blue, aquamarine, green, or gold.

Temperament:

These cats have a laid back disposition, and will comfortably slot into a busy household.

They are playful and intelligent and can be taught tricks and to walk on the lead.

This cat enjoys the company of people and will get on well with other pets too. People who have owned them say they are the most affectionate and loving cats there are and will enjoy being petted and pampered by their human family.

They get on well in busy households where there are children and other pets. They’re super smart and can be trained with ease.

Unlike many other cat breeds, he seems to also enjoy playing in water.

The Sokoke is a medium-sized cat with a long, lean body and slender legs. The hind legs are somewhat longer than the front legs. The head is smallish and round and he has a constantly alert look to him.

A striking characteristic of the Sokoke cat is its tabby fur, which people say looks like the bark of a tree and it is brindle in coloring.

The tail is medium to long and the ears are also fairly large, The eyes are large and almond-shaped and can be greenish to brown. The coat is short and coarse.

Temperament:

Cat lovers enjoy these playful, curious, intelligent, and family-orientated cats. In spite of their wild side, they adapt easily into different homes.

They’re inquisitive and will follow you, much like a dog. They will even enjoy a leash being put on them and being taken for a walk. They’re very sociable and vocal too and get on with everyone, children and other pets included.

They’re playful cats, loving to jump and climb and then look down at you from their high perches. Easily bored, you will need to provide fun and games continuously.

They enjoy being involved with everything you’re doing and form a strong bond with their owners. Because the Sokoke is social and affectionate, they require quite a lot of attention, and if they don’t get the attention they crave, they meow in anxiety.

Toygers are expensive cats and there aren’t many breeders in the world. If you do decide to invest in a Toyger, he will need careful looking after, after all, you've spent a lot of money on him.

Diet is of absolute importance to keep such a cat healthy. The right environment is also important as cats and dogs for that matter too, can become ill and depressed if they find themselves in homes where they are unloved and abused.

Don't get a cat if you aren't prepared to love and care for him. Because the question is then 'why get a cat?'

Your Sokoke is a very social cat and he will get on particularly well in a home with children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

They are able to adapt well to homes where there are other pets too. They just love exercise and lots of fun. They don’t like being in a home where the owner is out at work all day. The solution to this is to provide him with another cat as a companion.

Sokoke cats are great with people of all ages, and when you bring one of these lively cats into your home, make sure he also receives his share of love and companionship.

Just like in human beings, obesity can reduce the lifespan of your cat. Make sure you keep your Toyger’s weight under control.

These cats are considered to be fairly healthy. He can be predisposed to some of the same cat conditions that the Bengal and Domestic Shorthair face.

When your Toyger shows any signs of illness, get him to the vet. Some of the common health problems your Toygers might have to contend with include obesity and heart murmurs.

A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound, and is caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart. When you vet examines your cat, a heart murmur is detected when the vet listens to your cat's heart with a stethoscope. The vet will discuss with you the way forward for your cat.

If you get a Toyger kitten, you will have to make sure he is up to date with his vaccinations. This is part of being a responsible cat owner.

The breeder will have a record of his vaccinations and will hand this over to you.

At 6 – 8 weeks kittens start with their first injections which include vaccinations for distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calici virus.

Sokoke cats are generally healthy and have no inherited diseases. To ensure that your Sokoke stands a chance of having a healthy life, you need to have him vaccinated against the life-threatening cat diseases there are.

If your Sokoe cat isn’t his usual self day after day, make a point of getting him to the vet just as soon as possible.

Scratching and hair loss:

Parasites are a terrible scourge with cats, and in fact, the number one cause of hair loss in cats is fleas. The bite of a flea can cause an allergic reaction. Your cat can become miserable with continuous biting, itching, and scratching and this can all lead to hair loss.

It is a wise move to speak to your vet about a good product to treat your furry friend with.

Diarrhea:

There can actually be many causes of diarrhea in cats and one of them is parasites, but it can also be caused by a viral infection or food allergy or something else.

You want to get your cat to the vet who can help you bring it under control. You may also have to feed your cat a bland kind of diet to help the cat’s digestive tract recover from the diarrhea.

Toygers should be brushed weekly and have their nails trimmed regularly. As with all domesticated cats, you should check inside his ears to make sure they don’t become clogged with dirt and wax.

These are smart cats so they will need to be provided with attention in the form of clever games and toys that get him thinking.

Toygers need to be fed much like any other domestic cat. The most important thing to remember when feeding a cat is that they are carnivores and they require meaty food high in protein.

Speak to your vet about the absolute necessity of getting your cat’s diet right. For your convenience, cat food manufacturers have brought out many excellent cat foods that cater to the time of life your cat is in.

Make sure your Toyger has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Because the Sokoke’s coat is short and close-lying, with little or no undercoat, brushing once a week will be sufficient.

Keep the cat’s eyes and ears clean, and his claws trimmed.

The Sokoke cat is very energetic, and he will need games, toys, and attention to keep him physically and mentally stimulated. They love climbing so a climbing tree and other kind of equipment will be a good idea.

Provide your cat with a litter box and ensure it is kept scrupulously clean by removing the cat’s feces every single day.

Diet is of critical importance to the health and happiness of a cat. Some people try to feed their cats human foods and wonder why their cat is continuously sick. A cat is a carnivore and he requires meat.

You can speak to your vet about the best kind of commercial cat food there is for your cat. Read the label and feed him portion-sizes as directed.

Make sure your cat has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.