7 Cats That Look Like Tigers & Other Wild Felines

Did you know these cat breeds are the closest you can get to their wild ancestors?

Although they are cousins, tigers are ferocious wild felines, unlike our cats that we can keep in the house next to us and our families. It’s no secret that tigers are beautiful large cats and there are people who wanted to adopt one as a pet at some point in their lives, but you know that it’s illegal to own a wild feline, not to mention that they can’t be trained and socialized as easily as domestic cats unless you are an animal expert and trainer.

In other words, no matter how much we want to, the truth is that we can’t adopt a tiger as a pet, but we can choose a cat breed that looks like a wild feline instead. And the best part is that these domestic cats can be easily maintained… and can be legally kept in your house.

So, if you want a house cat that looks like a tiger, leopard, cheetah, or other wild felines, here are some domestic cat breeds that will definitely conquer your heart! Read on to find out more info!

Pixie-Bob

The Pixie-Bob has a wild appearance and looks like a mini lion, but a loving and friendly personality that can get along with other pets or kids. They are not that active, so they like to sit on the sofa with their owners all day long. People who already own this cat breed have said that the Pixie-Bob is just like a dog, with a similar personality.

The best part is that they can be easily trained to walk on a leash. They are also able to develop powerful connections with their families.

Bengal

The Bengal cat looks like they belong to the jungle, right? Their muscular body is directly proportional to their strong personality. They could never be delicate pets, being very agile, intelligent, and curious. However, even though they look like a – say – tiger or leopard, they are actually really affectionate with their people.

In addition, if you want to adopt this cat breed, you should know that they are very energetic, playful, and eager to have fun, so you better include them in your family activities.

Although their spotted coat makes them look like wild cats and their ancestors are the wild Asian leopard cat, they are entirely domestic cats.

They are very talkative and always alert, so owning this cat breed can sometimes be challenging. If you don’t stimulate their minds with various games or provide them with toys to consume their energy, they can develop destructive behavior.

Toyger

The Toyger is a mixed breed, a cross between the Bengal cat and the Domestic Shorthair cat. According to animal experts, these pretty felines are actually known as ‘tiger cats’ and you can even see from their names that they are just like a mini tiger. Just like their parents, these beautiful souls are very affectionate, energetic, playful, and active felines, so it’s essential to provide them with various toys and games that will keep their minds sharp and physically healthy.

They are medium-sized cats that can be the perfect pet for any type of family. You can choose this breed even though you have kids, as they are some of the most affectionate and loving felines out there.

Toygers enjoy every human company, whether they are kids or strangers, and they can be easily trained and socialized. Just like their wild cousins, Toygers like to play with water – a rare phenomenon in domestic cats though…

Savannah

The Savannah looks exactly like an African Serval Cat because they are actually a cross between a domestic cat and a medium-sized African Serval cat. Of course, they are domestic cats that can be kept in your house. However, Savannahs are very energetic and playful, so they need daily exercise and games to consume their energy.

If you want to adopt such a breed, you shouldn’t let them get bored because they will make their own fun, which usually means developing destructive behavior around your house. Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why people choose to abandon these poor souls because they don’t inform themselves enough before adopting an animal and don’t know how to take care of them properly… so when they can’t handle the situation, they blame the animal and abandon them.

No matter the cat breed, it is important to understand them and make sure that we are the best cat parents we can be. For more tips and tricks to understand our cats, we recommend that you read this book from a cat expert!

Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is famous for their beautiful spotted coat that makes them look exactly like a cheetah. They are also famous for being the only naturally spotted domesticated cat (to be more specific, they are not the result of a crossbreed).

This medium-sized cat is very talkative, especially when they are happy. They love to be surrounded by people and spend time with their families. They are very intelligent and affectionate with their people. Of course, the Egyptian Mau is devoted to their families.

The Egyptian Mau loves to jump and climb, so you should provide them with a large cat tree.

Just like Toygers, the Egyptian Mau enjoys playing with water. So, they will probably dip a paw into your aquarium or bath tube.

In addition, do not forget that raising a pet requires some maintenance costs. So, do not adopt one if you can provide them with good food, regular vet checkups, grooming sessions, toys, and so on.

Ocicat

What could be more beautiful than having an affectionate, devoted, and loving domestic cat that looks like a mini leopard? In a few words, this is what embodied perfection looks like. This is a mixed breed – a cross between Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair cats.

Even if they look and were named after the wild ocelot, the Ocicat is actually a domestic cat that can be the perfect pet for any type of family.

They are extremely devoted to family and love to get involved in various activities.

Although they look like cats, their personality is similar to that of dogs. For example, your guests are seen by this loving cat as a new opportunity for petting and lap sitting. They can even be trained to walk on a leash.

Cheetoh

Does their name sound familiar? Well, that’s because the Cheetoh cat breed looks perfectly like the cheetah, the fastest land animal in the world. However, they have nothing to do with the wild cheetah, as the parents of the Cheetoh cat are actually the Ocicat and the Bengal.

Many people didn’t know about this cat breed because it was recently developed, namely in 2001 by a breeder named Carol Drymon.

That being said, Drymon’s purpose was to create a cat breed that would look like a wild feline, but with the personality traits of a domestic one.

Indeed, they love to play and have fun, but they can also calm down if they can’t get enough attention and play and be ready to snuggle with their family, without adopting destructive behavior. They are talkative, docile, social, loving, and friendly felines. They are also able to form strong connections with their favorite people.

Despite these felines being absolutely gorgeous, we may not want a breed that is so close to their wild ancestors! Read about all the most popular domestic cat breeds in the world here!