Hybrids have always been popular. They make people feel connected with the wilderness outside. We can’t all own lions and tigers (nor should we), but so many people want little felines that resemble their larger, exotic cousins. Some breeders have begun breeding smaller wild species with domestic cats to create beautiful hybrids that are safe for the average cat owner to live with. Although hybrids are still controversial, there is no denying how unique and beautiful they are. Take a look at the most popular hybrids below.
#1 – Savannah
Savannah cats were created by crossing your average house cat with the African Serval. This breed is one of the largest of all domestic cat breeds, and it takes a generation or two of the hybrids for them to be considered suitable house pets.
Photo by AussieGold via Flickr.
Click page 2 below for the next breed!
#2 – Bengal
Bengals were created by breeding house cats to Asian Leopard Cats. The oldest confirmed case of this breeding goes all the way back to 1934. However, it wasn’t until the last twenty years that they were consistently bred to create the Bengal as we know it now.
#3 – Toyger
Although not mixed with a wild cat directly, Toygers are domestic shorthairs that have been crossed with Bengals. They contain a minimal amount of exotic cat genes, but they look like miniature tigers that just stepped out of the jungle.
Photo by Erlon3 via Flickr.
#4 – Chausie
This rare French breed can grow up to three feet long and weigh 18-35 pounds! They were created by breeding domestic cats to the Jungle Cat, a wild species found in Asia.
Photo via TICA.
#5 – Cheetoh
As its name might suggest, Cheetoh cats were created to look like cheetahs (although some of us might also be thinking of the junk food snack). Cheetahs were created by breeding Bengals to Ocicats. Although Ocicats look like wild Ocelots, they contain no exotic blood. It’s the Bengal background that provide the wild animal genetics.
Photo by pawsforportraits via Flickr.
#6 – Serengeti
Another breed that originates from Bengals, Serengeti cats look strikingly like Servals. They contain no Serval blood, but get their wild roots from Bengals and their domestic side from their Oriental Shorthair background.
Photo via TICA.
#7 – Pixie Bob
These beautiful cats weren’t originally created by any breeder. Pixie Bobs were a natural breeding between bobcats and house cats in Washington, USA. They intrigued a woman named Carol Ann Brewer, and she took one of the half-wild felines and bred it to another domestic cat. From there, she’s kept the breed alive and well since 1985.
Photo by World of Jan via Flickr.