The Ashera Cat Controversy

A New Breed for Those with a Lot of $$ or a Scam?

Lifestyle Pets, a company that specializes in unique and rare animals and "exclusive pets," has announced the creation of a new cat breed, claimed to be "the world's largest, rarest, and most exotic Domestic cat."

The new breed's name is Ashera ™. The Ashera cat has been described as miniature leopard, an animal of impressive size and wild look yet fully domesticated, tame, and easily trained to walk on a leash. The breed is said to be developed by crossing African Serval, Asian Leopard Cat, and domestic cat.

Lifestyle Pets wants $22,000 for Ashera (yes, that's twenty two thousand dollars). Those wishing to spend so much on their own miniature leopard will have to wait 9-12 months after paying in full to receive an Ashera kitten. Those unable to wait can pay $6,000 more to receive their kitten earlier. Delivery costs within the United States are $1,500 more. The company says that the Ashera cat requires no special care or special food, it is no different from any other domestic cat, although some recommendations will be provided.

The announcement about the Ashera launch has stirred some controversy among the Savannah cat breeders. They claim that the Ashera is not a new breed at all but a substandard, undocumented Savannah.

"A special kitty descended from the African Serval and Asian Leopard cat and the domestic cat and they want to charge folk $22,000?" writes Brigitte, a Savannah breeder, in her blog. "This cat already exists, it is called the Savannah cat and was first accepted for registration by The International Cat Association (TICA), the world's largest genetic registry of pedigreed cats, way back in the year 2000."