Some domestic cat breeds look like tigers
Several rare cat breeds exist that look very similar to wild cats such as tigers. Four such breeds that have similarities to these wild cats are Bengals, savannahs, highland and desert lynx and toygers. They are hard to find and usually pricey breeds, but they are unlike the majority of domestic house cats.
Bengals
The Bengal cat is a cross between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard cat. The spotted pattern on its coat is derived from the Asian leopard cat, which is found in central Asia. Jean Sudgen was the first to breed a Bengal in 1963 by crossing a shorthaired domestic cat with a female Asian leopard cat. A male Bengal weighs between 14 and 20 pounds while females weigh anywhere from 10 to 12 pounds. They have very muscular, long bodies with small rounded ears.
Savannahs
A savannah is an African serval mixed with a domestic cat. The savannah was first bred in the mid-1980s by Judee Frank but this breed did not gain popularity and recognition until the late 1990s. They have brownish orange coats with jet-black spots and are the largest hybrid cat available today. Males can weigh 15 to 30 pounds and females can weigh anywhere from 9 to 17 pounds. As of 2010, the price for a savannah cat is anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000, depending on the family line.
Highland and Desert Lynx
The desert lynx and highland lynx differ in their ears. A highland lynx has curled ears and the desert lynx has straight ears. The very first litter of highland lynx was born in 1995 at Timberline Cattery. Males can get up to 20 pounds and females weigh an average of 12 pounds. They have black stripes and spots with coats ranging in color from ebony to chocolate, silver, tawny, red and cream. They have the same life expectancy as a domestic cat and require the same veterinary care as other pet cats. They do not require a special diet.
Toygers
The toyger breed was first developed by Judy Sugden in the USA in the 1980s. It is the result of breeding a striped domestic short hair with a bengal tabby. Judy hoped that by 2010 the toyger would truly represent a wild tiger with shorter ears, smaller eyes and a wider nose tip. They have an orange and tan background with dark stripes. It has genes passed on from the Asian leopard cat.
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