Curse

sindex · Feb 25, 2007, 03:55 AM // 03:55

I was reading an article today out of the Life Magazine today, out of the LA Times. When I found this interesting, article about a new cat breed it’s called the “Toyger.” I found out that the research and development into this cat breed; is to offer some help to people who always wanted the comfort of a Tiger around but the household version. Also in a sense, because tigers become more endangered every day because of poaching; hopefully will slow it down, when it make's it into the domestic scene. Currently is being carried out by a geneticist by the name of, Judy Sudgen. Her mother Jean Mill was the one who gave birth to the Bengal breed.

It seems that she has been trying to breed the best look a like to their feline counterparts since the 1980’s. They haven’t gotten to perfection but, hopefully around 2010 they might make it official.

What makes these cats different then every ordinary cat’s is the way the stripes and coat is. Among other thing they are very big boned cats (very muscular), which give them a much sturdier look then your average tabby. Get this though they are extremely playful, loves water (actually swims), and acts more like a dog then anything else (but still have those cat like characteristic).

Now here is the link to the main website where I found some of these fantastic pictures of the Toyger:http://www.toygers.org/index.html

As of the article to the magazine; I found it in the LIFE magazine LA Times February 23, 2007
edition.

Edit: A reminder to this article, to let everyone know; they are just breeding the cats. There is no genetically mutating of any sorts with the whole mad doctor scene. It’s breeding with other types of cats and not even artificial insemination here either. None of these cats are harmed. Futhermore they are well taken care of. They even stated in the article that, mixing the domestic cat with the Tiger genes is near impossible anyways because they really don’t mix.

Edit: I found the online version of the article I had looked over in the LIFE magazine. The Article

Ulivious The Reaper · Feb 25, 2007, 05:03 AM // 05:03

they Hax real life... a feat i personally never thought possible o.O

Stalker Haras · Feb 25, 2007, 07:14 PM // 19:14

I want one :X....I love cats.

{BHC}KingWarman88 · Feb 25, 2007, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Hey,

I hate cats.... They are Useless

UNLESS THEY ARE TIGERS OR CHEETAHS

sindex · Feb 25, 2007, 10:50 PM // 22:50

Actually, cats have their usefulness in hunting down vermin. I mean it's the best way to leave out the bedbugs at night, because they are more nocturnal then dogs are. Besides that they are very entertaining; at least to me.

Queenie · Feb 26, 2007, 04:56 AM // 04:56

Wow, I want one of them xD
<3 cats aswell (esp. kittens, they look so cute when they're little!)

They'd probably cost alot though :l

Divinitys Creature · Feb 26, 2007, 07:41 AM // 07:41

Cool---------

pixiLated · Feb 26, 2007, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Want, want, want, want.

I love all animals, but am especially a cat person. These are gorgeous.

Somehow though, I think that my current 2 "babies" might have a few issues if I got a couple of these

Kusandaa · Feb 26, 2007, 06:51 PM // 18:51

I'm not a cat person because they're so independent and think they're the kings/queens of the place (anyways, my b/f's cats are like that... he's got FOUR too >_>)... dogs require more attention IMHO, and I like that for some reason O_o. But I like cats anyways... maybe the toyger could be the type of cat I'd like

.

Sir Skullcrasher · Feb 26, 2007, 08:10 PM // 20:10

I would want one but afraid that it might beat up my dog when it gets bigger!

ShadowsRequiem · Feb 27, 2007, 12:28 AM // 00:28

that is sooo cool :P

we should all play god!

{BHC}KingWarman88 · Feb 27, 2007, 03:42 AM // 03:42

Hey,

Cats can't get mice unless they actually seen them and know the genes of actually killing them. If they Can Kill Bedbugs, send 1 or 2 to my house to kill my bedbug ploblem..

Chilly Ress · Feb 27, 2007, 05:10 AM // 05:10

Is anyone questioning the morality of things such as this where we are force breeding animals so they look "cute" or "cool"?

sindex · Feb 27, 2007, 09:36 AM // 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by {BHC}KingWarman88

Hey,

Cats can't get mice unless they actually seen them and know the genes of actually killing them. If they Can Kill Bedbugs, send 1 or 2 to my house to kill my bedbug problem..

Actually they have heightened senses just like dogs do; the only real difference is that is to a smaller animal of the domestic cat. Vermin could mean anything including “mice,” but I was going for any small intruder that cats can prey upon (must be size appropriate though); even though one of my cat’s once attacked a postal worker sometime in the forgotten past. Yes there is the hunter gene to all cats, but in one way or another they all have it. Trust me they are not playing bed mice for nothing.

What I meant by bed bugs was that one of the stories I really did not want to tell; however I will, since you insist. Imagine a sibling wakes you up in the dead of night to check on another sibling, and at first you see nothing there. Until you see a huge cockroach crawling on their face, now that’s a pretty tough spot to be in. Considering you don’t want to give your sibling a heart attack (an over exaggeration, a bit) by wakening them up and possible the neighbors. Hmm, what steps could have been taken to prevent this conundrum? Yes there are a whole bunch of solutions, but one of them is having a cat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chilly Ress

Is anyone questioning the morality of things such as this where we are force breeding animals so they look "cute" or "cool"?

A little more direct then this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

snip.......we should all play god!

I know that was either meant as a joke or something else; I could not really tell which, but I am going with humor there.

Now back to what you asked, about the ethical dilemma. A good amount of animals are breed in captivity to ensure their release in a couple of years or so (some are kept with zoo’s and other places).

The Toyger, as I said before are not going through some horrible experimentations. Furthermore their breeding is purely natural, because it has to deal with cats. They are leading most idle life style as well too. If you read the article it stated that, the only way to breed them is the old fashion way, and not by means of experimental cruelty. With these cats though, as I stated before, they have a purpose other then being collection at home. They are meant to look that way so we get a sense of what we can’t have from the wild.

A good amount of Siberian Tigers are dieing, due to pouching and their environment being burned for human resources. Hopefully they don’t go extinct, because I will miss them dearly.

Finally I’ll take it one step further by stating that genetics is not just some play thing. It has real purpose and meaning to all of us. Sure we have seen the goods and evils of it, but that’s all due to mans choices. You know Oppenheimer, never intentionally wanted the use of atomic energy to be manifested in such a destructive weapon as the nuclear bomb. Genetics can be used to seriously help people; but this type of genetic breeding will never ever meet the portions of something like the atomic bomb.

I hope that answered your questions. I just hope you don’t think I am being somewhat a patronizing, because I am not trying to be. Also thank you for the questions and feedback everyone.

Fallen Hunter · Feb 27, 2007, 10:08 AM // 10:08

They are nice, I suppose, but really I've never been a fan of selective breeding for looks. Health? Immunity? Strength? Fine with me, but having seen some of the horribly cruel show goldfish that have been created I really don't like this kind of thing.

ZenRgy · Feb 27, 2007, 02:43 PM // 14:43

Do Want.

Those things are waicute.

sindex · Feb 27, 2007, 05:51 PM // 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallen Hunter

They are nice, I suppose, but really I've never been a fan of selective breeding for looks. Health? Immunity? Strength? Fine with me, but having seen some of the horribly cruel show goldfish that have been created I really don't like this kind of thing.

When all things are considered, I know there are some breeding programs that take it to the extreme. Also keep in mind there are some that there are some that have to pamper their pets very much so. This is due to the fact it’s very hard to breed an animal by force, like some believe. The Panda is the perfect example of this because in some zoos their harder then heck, to get them to even have one outing in captivity (if you know what I mean).

Here I will quote part of the article if you did not read it:

Quote:

Getting cats to reproduce is not as easy as you’d think. Unlike dogs or cattle, they’re more likely to resist artificial insemination. Instead, the breeder typically oversees an elaborate courtship ritual in which the cats are exposed to each other’s scents to determine if there’s chemistry. If there is, and all goes well, kittens will follow.

Believe me when I say the Toyger is going through the least of these problems with the whole breeding factor. I will not lie to you though; because it has been breed with one species of Persian cat it will maybe have kidney problems down the line. Furthermore it’s no different then us when we get certain flaws thanks to some genetic disability (like diabetes or certain types of cancer). Even if you had a dog or a cat, there is most likely a problem with that particular species.

Good question though.

{BHC}KingWarman88 · Feb 27, 2007, 06:31 PM // 18:31

Hey,

hm, whatever you say bud

Stixxx · Feb 28, 2007, 11:21 AM // 11:21

i got only like 1 thing to say:

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! <3 cats

Yanman.be · Feb 28, 2007, 02:47 PM // 14:47

My cat gets rids of moths and spiders...