Ashera Cat New Exotic Animal Toy

Cross Between Asian Leopard Cat and African Serval

In the news today is the Ashera Cat. The Ashera Cat looks like any other cat when it is a kitten. However, when it is a full-grown cat, it is about four-feet long.

That isn't the biggest shocker. When you go to pull out your checkbook or credit card you may find that you're a little short. This kitty can cost anywhere from $22,000 to $28,000.

The Ashera Cat is the latest "exotic pet" that is a cross-breed between the African Serval and the Asian Leopard Cat.

Really though, this cat brings up an issue that is very important and that is the whole situation with exotic pets, especially now.

Back in September of 2008, I wrote an article on Associated Content about the fact that due to the poor economy people were dumping their exotic pets.

In some situations it could be dangerous to other people and it was always bad for the animal but people often just don't think ahead; they do things on a whim.

Certainly even while the economy has slowed, there will always be people who have more money than they know what to do with and need to find ways to try and not be bored.

On the flip side of this is a story I've written about before.

A friend of mine manages a retail store. During the Christmas season his store carried about four-inch square enclosed "aquariums" that were decorated like the ocean and contained a guppy.

He received a letter from the Humane Society indicating enclosing a guppy in that manner was "mental cruelty." Now I don't believe in hurting any living creature but I have trouble believing that a guppy has any "mental" to it.

It seems today that we are making a mistake on both ends of the spectrum. Either we are throwing money away on animals that are the same as many others of the same type at a fraction of the cost or we spend a lot of money protecting animals whose primary function on earth is to be eaten. It is an interesting scenario.

And so it goes.

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