As hybrids of tigers and lions, ligerssuch as Patrick, shown here at a California's Shambala Preservebear traits of both. Faint stripes are passed down from Mom, and Dad contributes a leonine mane.

Beyond appearance, the big cats betray their mixed ancestry with a split personality, according to cat conservationist Tippi Hedren. "They like to be in the water [a tiger trait] and are very social [a lion trait]," she said.

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