How Much Does a Toyger Cost?
The Toyger cat, reminiscent of a tiger, was created in the late 1980s.
This designer cat was developed through the selective breeding of domestic cats, creating a distinctive appearance with its pelted and glittered look.
How much does a Toyger cat cost?
In most cases, this breed can range anywhere from $500 to as much as $3,000. The price will greatly depend on the marking, its parents, the type, bloodline, the breeder and the quality.
According to Jungletrax.com, there are three chief categories used when pricing pedigreed cats such as a Toyger: the pet quality, breeder quality and show quality. Pet quality Toygers cam cost $500 to $1,500, according to the website, while a breeder and show quality Toyger can cost more than $1,500 to $3,000.
Primaevalcats.com, a small Toyger cattery located in Texas Hill Country, sells Toygers according to the three main categories: pet, breed and show quality. Pet quality Toyger kittens start at $500 and up, while ‘tiger’ striped pet kittens start at $1,250 and up. The prices of a breed quality Toyger starts at $2,250, while a show quality Toyger starts at $3,500. The prices of kittens depend on how well they satisfy the Toyger standard, while the prices for the breed and show quality cats depend on availability.
The Big Cat Rescue tells us that Toygers aren’t cheap, with most up for sale for $800 to more than $4,000.
| Type | Description | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| Breeder Quality Kittens | have markings that make them appropriate for the show ring, including spots, ticking, and a white tail tip. | $2,000 |
| Show Quality Kittens | usually exhibit the brightest colors, the clearest contrast and the best patterns. | $1,500 |
| Pet Quality Kittens | usually have traits that render them unsuitable for breeding programs, such as a lack of dark contrast, a coat without glitter, or too many stripes. | $500 to $1,500 |
| Outcross Kittens | bred to a different cat breed to increase the gene pool. | $300 to $500 |
| Retired Cats | often show quality but will be up for adoption by a breeder who shows their cats at local cat shows | $150 to $350 |
Factors that affect the price
Quality
Toygers for a show are normally the most expensive of Toygers for sale. They embody the breed standards and are rarely put up for sale. Breed quality Toygers are the second most expensive ones due to their excellent bloodlines and capability to produce remarkable offspring. Often, breed quality Toygers are those that have not passed show quality standards due to non-showable faults like pink paw pads, blue eyes, white tail tip and lockets. Pet quality Toygers are the least costly of the three, being unsuitable for the show ring and do not have the characteristics appropriate for a breeding program. Outcross Toygers, which are bred from other types of cats, are usually the least inexpensive ones and can be obtained for about $500.
Characteristics
When pricing Toygers, breeders adhere to the TICA (The International Cat Association) Breed Standards for the Toyger Cat when evaluating the kittens at around five to eight weeks of age. The standards provide comprehensive details of the Toyger cat markings, which you should look when classifying them. A Toyger possessing the qualities stated in the guidelines are typically the most valued.
Shipping costs
Toyger breeders will usually pass on the shipping fees to buyers, which then increases the overall cost of adoption. Shipping charges can cost anywhere from $200 to $400, depending on the breeder and the location, whether domestic or international. This is most likely inevitable since it is rare to find a Toyger breeder in your area.
What is going to be included in the adoption fee?
With some Toyger breeders, the cost may include the spaying/neutering, up-to-date vaccinations, deworming, TICA registration papers if necessary, microchipping and a health guarantee. However, all breeders will have their own inclusions, so be sure to know exactly what’s included when adopting.
Before you can adopt a cat from a reputable breeder, most will ask that you sign a contract and will also ask for a non-refundable deposit, usually around $250 to $500. This deposit will be applied toward the final adoption costs upon successfully picking up a kitten. Reputable breeders will allow you to take home your kitten at eight weeks.
What are the extra costs?
Since this breed can be hard to find, be prepared to pay shipping fees. Most breeders will ship via an airline, while other breeders will ship their cats via a ground transportation method. Regardless of the method, the costs will be in the $200 to $450 range, depending on the method and how far the cat has to travel.
As with any pet cat, you need to factor in the recurring costs such as cat litter, food, accessories, cat sitting and vet visits. A healthy cat can easily cost $500 per year, whereas a cat with an illness can cost double or even triple this.
Tips to know:
Its coat, brown in color, is soft to the touch, plush and very soft.
Its lifespan can range from 12 to 15 years.
A male will always be slightly larger, weighing 12 to 15 pounds, whereas a female will weigh closer to seven to 10 pounds.
Before buying a Toyger, you may want to first observe a Toyger at a show and talk with some breeders. The TICA, for instance, provides a list of cat clubs, fanciers and catteries for people who wish to learn more about Toygers.
Questions to ask a potential breeder
How long have you been breeding Toygers?
Are your pet quality Toygers raised like the show quality types?
How do I know if a Toyger kitten is pure-bred or an outcross?
Have your Toygers undergone veterinarian examinations?
Have they received the required vaccinations?
Have they been de-wormed and de-sexed?
Do you provide a health guarantee for all your Toygers?
Do you sell Toygers that have not been de-sexed?
How can I save money?
Adopting a Toyger is less expensive if you’re able to find one in your local area at a rescue group. Oftentimes, a show breeder will retire their cats and offer them for adoption.
A Toyger is a designer breed, and as you can see, it can easily cost thousands of dollars. Highly consider visiting a local adoption center to see if you can find a kitten that closely resembles a Toyger. While you may not be able to find one, you could find one that closely resembles one. Adopting is a wonderful way to help a cat in need and a rescue center that could use the donations.
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