The cats flock toward visitors as they pass by, poking paws through their cages. They’re striking creatures, more muscular than the average tabby, with reddish-amber fur set off by bold dark stripes... Sugden doesn’t like to publicize the location of her cattery, for fear of wire-cutting animal-rights activists. But her project is creating a high-decibel buzz in the world of cat fanciers. The 58-year-old architect is the inventor of the Toyger, a house cat bred to look like a toy model of the largest member of the cat family. If this dedicated breeder can perfect her imitation tiger, some experts expect it to become one of the most sought-after cats in history - fetching prices as high as $4,000... says Kay DeVilbiss, the president of the International Cat Association (TICA). "here’s going to be Toyger fever."

That doglike behavior may make Toygers wrong for some cat lovers. And there are other caveats as well. Purebreds are generally more susceptible to congenital ailments - Persian cats are at increased risk for kidney problems, for example - and Toygers may prove equally vulnerable as their numbers grow. Then comes the question of ethics. "There are so many cats out there that are being put to sleep because of overpopulation," says New York City vet Arnold Plotnick, D.V.M. "don’t create more designer species - go to the pound and save a life!"