Featured Image Credit: @felistigristoyger (IG)
Have you heard of the blue Toyger cat? When you hear the term Toyger, your first thought would be the word tiger with a quirky accent. Well, blue Toyger cats are somewhat like that — the tiger’s quirky yet smaller version.
There are colors that Toygers typically come in, and blue is not always one of them. Although unique in color, they are very much like other Toygers — fierce-looking yet easy-going.
If you are looking for a kitty to own, there is no need to look further. In this guide, you will learn all about the blue Toyger, and who knows? You might just get your heart stolen by this little tiger.
What Is a Blue Toyger Cat?
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The blue Toyger cat is exactly what it sounds like — a Toyger cat with blue stripe coloration. The coats of these cats are characterized by faded black or bluish-grey colors that appear in tabby patterns. The Toyger’s blue coat results from a dilution affecting the black pigment gene.
Toyger cats usually have black or brown tabby patterns that may look red or orange. Their base coats come in brown, orange, and reddish-brown.
Blue or grey coat coloration is more common in other breeds, such as the Chartreux, British Shorthair, Persian Cat, Russian Blue, Nebelung, American Shorthair, and more.
According to the International Cat Association (TICA), Toygers only come in one color — the brown mackerel tabby. In other words, blue Toygers are not recognized by TICA.
As the color doesn’t pass the breed standard, not a lot of breeders focus on breeding blue Toygers. Hence, these cats are harder to come by. In effect, these kitties may be more expensive than Toygers dressed in their usual color.
Are Blue Toyger Cats Rare?
The Toyger breed itself is already rare, and finding a blue one can be even more challenging. With Toygers being a relatively new breed and due to selective breeding, these cats are also quite expensive.
Moreover, these cats are fairly difficult to breed. As of 2020, there are only about 150 breeders around the world. TICA also has strict standards for this breed, including having rich, dark-colored coats, making blue Toygers rarer.
Considering its price, breeding, and availability, finding a true blue Toyger can be extremely strenuous yet rewarding at the same time. Cats like blue Toygers are still sought-after despite said factors, as they make excellent family pets.
Blue Toyger Cat Appearance
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Weighing around 7 to 15 pounds, blue Toyger cats are medium-sized, with a height ranging from 9 to 13 inches. They have distinctive tiger stripes all over their bodies, making them look like a small version of the largest cat species.
Toyger cats have well-defined and long cylindrical snouts with medium-sized heads. Their eyes are usually small and deep-colored, while their ears have rounded tips. They sport longer tails than most domesticated cats.
They also have long, muscular bodies with a solid midsection and firm bone structure. It is worth noting that females have slightly more oval-shaped heads and smaller bodies than male Toygers.
As for their coats, they have short, coarse, and dense fur that’s easy to maintain. Toyger cats usually have dark tabby stripes, which is not the case for blue Toygers, as theirs are a “diluted” brown or black tabby.
Take a look at these cute Toyger kittens to see what the breed looks like:
Toyger Kittens Prowl Around Their Suburban Jungle Home | Too Cute!<a href="https://youtu.be/MXp0Lb0kPmc" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FMXp0Lb0kPmc%2F0.jpg" alt="Toyger Kittens Prowl Around Their Suburban Jungle Home | Too Cute!" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Blue Toyger Cat Color Genetics
Genetic dilution and modifiers are the cause of all colors seen in a cat’s coat. In the case of blue Toygers, dilution affects the black pigment and is responsible for their blue color. This appears as bluish-grey or faded black.
The dense/dilute pigment gene (D/d), or mutation occurring in the melanophilin, alters the original coat pigmentation by affecting the deposition of the pigment in the hair. The blue Toyger cat is a recessive homozygote dd.
Being a recessive homozygote dd, the black pigment in a blue Toyger’s coat becomes grey, just like how brown cats appear lilac, cinnamon cats turn fawn, and orange cats become cream.
Meanwhile, cats that are dominant heterozygotes Dd and homozygotes DD will still sport their original coat color.
Blue Toyger Cat Temperament and Personality
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The Toyger breed was initially bred to achieve the look and size of a “toy tiger” and have the personality of a domesticated cat. In fact, they are strongly recommended as house pets.
These little tigers get along with people and animals alike. While many cats are not fond of dogs, blue Toygers get along with them, including other pets and children as well. They are even friendly towards strangers and love attention.
Blue Toyger cats are extremely intelligent, energetic, and trainable. They can be taught to walk on a leash, play fetch, and perform tricks. It also helps to have physical and mental stimulation they can spend their energy on.
They are also agile and outdoor lovers. While they are less active than their Bengal cousins, blue Toygers are just as adventurous. They especially enjoy going on activities with their humans around.
Blue Toyger Cat Lifespan and Health Issues
As hybrid cats, blue Toygers are generally healthy and can live from 10 up to 15 years. With the help of regular vet visits, proper nutrition, and overall maintenance, blue Toyger cats may be able to outlive their life expectancy.
However, there is still a slim chance that these cats can get predisposed to certain health issues they can inherit from their parents.
If you want to own a blue Toyger, these are the common health problems you should be aware of:
Heart Murmurs: A clinical sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound. However, not all heart murmurs directly mean a cat has HCM. An innocent or physiologic heart murmur, for one, has no impact on a cat’s health.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): Otherwise known as “the silent killer,” the disease can appear even after generations of breeding. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the thickening of the muscular walls of a cat’s heart. This condition has no known cure, but a specialized care plan may help manage the clinical signs.
Flat Chest Cage (FCKS): This condition, also referred to as flat-chested kitten syndrome (FCKS), occurs shortly after a kitten’s birth. Its chest appears to be somewhat flat, and you might notice difficulty in breathing and refusal to eat. If this deformity progresses, it could lead to malnutrition and, ultimately, death.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): Caused by a feline coronavirus, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that affects both wild and domesticated cats. While it is not believed to be contagious, FIP is progressive and could get fatal. Regular checkups are necessary to avoid the risk of FIP.
To prevent these health issues altogether, it is important to get a blue Toyger cat from a breeder that practices responsible breeding. Reputable breeders perform health testing to ensure you are getting a disease-free kitten.
How Much Does a Blue Toyger Cat Cost? Kitten Prices & Expenses
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Compared to its Bengal cousin, which has an average price of $1,500 to $3,000, a Toyger kitten costs $500 to $3,000. You can expect a blue Toyger cat to be on the pricier side, considering its rarity.
Looking at show-quality cats, their prices could also reach up to $5,000. Keep in mind that this is only the upfront cost. If you want to take home a blue Toyger kitten, you should also be aware of the initial costs it entails.
Here are some expenses you need to prepare for before getting a blue Toyger cat:
As you can see in the table, apart from the cost of the blue Toyger kitten, you can expect to spend around $555 to $1,465. This list does not include recurring expenses, which can greatly affect these values.
You will also need to be prepared for any emergency costs that may transpire during your blue Toyger’s lifetime. It is recommended that you invest in high-quality products and pet insurance to save up in the long run.
Places to Find Blue Toyger Kittens for Sale and Adoption
Buying or adopting are your options if you want to own a blue Toyger kitten. If you choose to buy, you need to search thoroughly for reputable breeders, especially since its price is on the higher side.
We have also briefly discussed the difficulty of finding blue Toyger kittens in the market.
That said, we have come up with a list of places where blue Toygers are possibly available:
Felis Tigris Toygers – Located in Coatesville in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Felis Tigris Toygers is a registered TICA Toyger breeder. While this cattery normally breeds standard Toygers, they occasionally have blue ones. They have an active Facebook page you can reach out to if you want to know if they have blue Toygers up for sale.
Urban Exotic Cats – This is the number one top-quality Bengal and Toyger breeder in Los Angeles. Urban Exotic Cats is registered with TICA and Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). They are the only Toyger breeder in California mentored by its creator, Judy Sugden, and have her latest Toyger genetics. Contact them through their website to see if they have available blue Toyger kittens at the moment.
Styled In The Wild – Selling lower-grade Toygers, Styled In The Wild offers a wide array of Toyger colors. Low-grade kittens may consist of fading or faint stripes, ticked fur, too dark or too light coloration, and other traits that are considered faults in the breed standard. Apart from show-quality Toygers, this San Francisco Bay Area-based breeder may occasionally have blue Toyger kittens available. Check out their website to learn more.
You may also visit The International Cat Association (TICA) or Toyger Cats USA (TCUSA) websites for more Toyger breeders in the USA or other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, the more affordable way of owning a blue Toyger is through adoption. Adopting a Toyger cat from rescues costs approximately $50 to $200.
Here are some places where you can possibly find blue Toygers for adoption:
Petfinder – A directory of almost 11,000 adoption organizations and animal shelters, Petfinder is an online searchable database of animals in need of forever homes. This site is available not only in the United States but in Canada and Mexico as well. You can find cats and dogs of any breed on Petfinder. Blue Toyger cats may also be available on this website from time to time.
Bengal Rescue – Committed to rescuing Bengal cats and other hybrid cats, including Toygers, Bengal Rescue also has surrendering services for pet owners who are unable to keep their Bengal and hybrid Bengal cats. Cats in their care are healthy and receive regular veterinary checks. You are highly likely to find a blue Toyger to adopt from this rescue.
Cat Depot – With services including cat-specific veterinary care, public education, and community cats program, Cat Depot clearly focuses not only on adoption but on the welfare of cats as well. They improve the destiny of homeless cats by finding them a perfect match and a loving home. Browse through their website to see if they have a blue Toyger looking for a forever home.
Whichever option you choose, you must know that owning a blue Toyger, much like any cat or animal, is a commitment. Take time to evaluate your decision. After all, you will be in charge of a living being.
If you want to adopt a blue Toyger, we have tips on how you can find a free kitten in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Photo by @felistigristoyger (IG)
What Colors Do Toyger Cats Come In?
Toyger cats usually come in brown, orange, and reddish-brown colors combined with dark brown or black tabby stripes. Less-occurring colors of Toyger cats include snow or silver hues with light brown stripes.
Mackerel colors are the only accepted hues by the TICA breed standard. Snow, silver, and blue are among the non-recognized colors of Toyger cats. Snow and silver Toygers have light brown stripes on a pale cream to white background.
What Is the Rarest Toyger Color?
As rare as this breed is, perhaps any color that is not accepted by the breed standard can be considered the rarest. This includes silver, snow, and blue.
There are only a few Toyger breeders out there, and most of them opt to breed cats in standard colors. Due to this, a rare Toyger cat’s price can get more expensive.
Do Blue Toygers Shed a Lot?
Blue Toygers shed, but not a lot. Toygers are short-haired cats that don’t shed a lot, unlike long-haired breeds. This is why they are also easier to groom. Brushing once every week is enough to keep their fur smooth.
Final Thoughts: Is a Blue Toyger Cat the Right Pet for You?
It is safe to say that the blue Toyger cat and the Toyger cat itself occur once in a blue moon. The breed’s rising popularity, combined with its rarity and personality, makes it more desirable to pet owners.
Although different in color, a blue Toyger is very much the same cat in the breed. It is the same stunning, intelligent, affectionate, and outgoing lap cat people and other pets are falling in love with.
The price of a blue Toyger cat may be quite high, but you don’t only get to own a rare breed in a rare color; you will also have a snuggle-loving toy tiger. There is no reason why this little tiger can’t be the right pet for anyone.
Is it your first time learning about the blue Toyger cat? We would love to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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