The golden tiger also known as the strawberry tiger or the golden tabby tiger. The golden tiger is an extremely rare color variation caused by a recessive gene and now found only in captive tigers. Like the white tiger it is a color form and not a separate species. Their striping is much paler than usual and may fade into spots or large prominent patches. Golden tabby tigers also tend to be larger and, due to the effect of the gene on the hair shaft, have softer fur than their orange relatives.