Designer Cats $22,000!

[greekblue]

What do you think of that!? Stunning Cat!...., but....... However, despite all the hesitation and the scepticism, I would love to own one of those cats. Yet, would not that be the same like what people do by crossing wolves and dogs, and eventually have aggression problems and more?
NEW YORK - Goodbye Goldendoodle. Designer dogs are so last season. Now animal lovers are clamoring for cat crossbreeds - and they are sparing no expense on the latest "it" pet.

Hybrid house pets were originally developed to create well-behaved companions that don't shed. But with unmatched cuteness and likeability, crossbreeds like Puggles, Labradoodles, Yorkipoos, and Schnoodles drove demand among the dog-loving set.

Now mixed-breed cats, with their beauty and stature, are causing a craze for those with a fondness for felines.

And for some, no price is too high for a designer kitten.

"For our customers, money is no object," said breeder Simon Brodie.

Brodie used a "secret recipe" to mix an African serval and Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat, to create the world's most expensive feline hybrid.

The Ashera, an exclusive product of Brodie's firm, Lifestyle Pets, resembles a little leopard and can weigh up to 30 pounds. But it's more suited for lounging than stalking prey.

"They are very friendly, very affectionate," Brodie said.

Although an Ashera costs $22,000 (plus $6,000 for the premium placement option, which will expedite kitten delivery by about six months) Lifestyle Pets has already sold several cats to customers around the world since the pricey pet was unveiled last May.

Once an order is placed, the Ashera is hand delivered (the cost of delivery is approximately $1,500 within the United States) by a representative who remains on hand for a few days to answer questions and facilitate the transition. Asheras come fully vaccinated with a microchip identifier, a supply of kitty food and cat toys, access to an animal behaviorist, and a year of veterinary insurance included.

There's even a certificate of authenticity that includes an image of each kitten's DNA "fingerprint." But what else would one expect for a cat that costs as much as a car?

Brodie says that his company will keep the supply small, developing less than 50 cats each year to uphold its unique appeal - and high price.

Although the Ashera may be the most expensive mixed-breed offering to hit the market recently, it's certainly not the only one.

Other popular hybrids include the Bengal (part Asian leopard mixed with a house cat), Savannah (part African serval, part house cat) and Chausie (part jungle cat, part house cat).

Holly Hummel, who has been breeding hybrids for 20 years, says demand for exotic blends is growing, and the pricier the pet, the more sought after it seems.

"The more expensive ones move faster than the less expensive ones," Hummel said.

Even though her top-of-the-line Habari-breed cats range in price from $10,000 to $12,000, "most of our kittens are spoken for by about two weeks of age," she said.

But does coughing up that kind of dough guarantee a perfect pet?

With any designer hybrid, "there are things to watch out for, as far as genetic defaults go," cautioned a spokeswoman from the International Cat Association.

But, generally, emerging exotic breeds are well monitored, she said. "We're very careful that there is no genetic downside."

That means pet owners can rest assured that their investment in a designer cat will not disappoint - that is until the next hot mix hits the horizon.

[Cassiepeia]

People really make me sick.

Cass.

[Swiftwind]

That's so irritating! If someone wants a cat that looks like a leopard, there are already breeds out there that they can choose from. It's just annoying how people think they can go and do whatever they like these days by mixing with nature. People should know better.

[Lunachick]

NEW YORK - Goodbye Goldendoodle. Designer dogs are so last season. Now animal lovers are clamoring for cat crossbreeds - and they are sparing no expense on the latest "it" pet.

Excuse my language, but...WTF?? Some people have NO thought or guilt over what they are doing to animals and nature. They think dogs and cats, etc are expendable. It's so unfair. All these "designer" pets are for is fashion. That's just cold. Disgusting.
Very unimpressed. I really wish I could knock their heads together...

[greekblue]

As I said, I would love to own a cat looking like the one in the picture, but I do agree with all of you that they should not have been bred. Anyway, I would have loved to own a tiger too if they were not dangerous and if my home could have even been able to become the right environment for that type of animal, but that can never happen, and I think eventually we will see happening to these designer cats the same thing is happening when people mix wolves and dogs -- are they beautiful? Absolutely! But the animal cannot adopt to a human home, its wild instincts are still there, and they end up euthanized, sometimes after a disaster has occured and a child is killed. I do not believe that these cats would never have problems and that they would easily adopt to the human life. They are stunning, but should they have been bred?.... No.
According to my opinion (I could be wrong), a 30 pound half wild cat if it becomes dangerous can make more damage faster than a half wild dog -- just think of how fast and high they can jump!

On the other hand, the breeds that are already out there and they are considered half wild, like Bengal, Savanah, etc., didn't they also start as designer cats and now they are acceptet as separate breeds? I do not know the history of it; I am only asking. We are all against these cats now, but how different it is or was when they bred Bengals, savanahs, etc.?

[Cassiepeia]

Actually, what might happen is breeders around the world begin to like the idea and they do what they did with the Bengal cat (which was originally just a mix of Asian Leopard Cat and domestic cat). The price will come down and they'll probably end up in shows. The original mix may still be highly prized by the stupid...errr...I mean rich and famous though.

Cass.

[DogLover8]

People are weird sometimes.

[PawNclaws]

Originally Posted by Lunachick

Excuse my language, but...WTF?? Some people have NO thought or guilt over what they are doing to animals and nature. They think dogs and cats, etc are expendable. It's so unfair. All these "designer" pets are for is fashion. That's just cold. Disgusting.
Very unimpressed. I really wish I could knock their heads together...

Ugh, I so agree !!! This is just so frustrating.

[Faol]

Originally Posted by greekblue

What do you think of that!? Stunning Cat!...., but....... [b]However, despite all the hesitation and the scepticism, I would love to own one of those cats.

When Ash(Lunachick) told me about the cats, the first thing out of my mouth was "I want one!" And she kicked me, hard. :-( Humans are always wanting to own the most amazing , unique animals, and hey if we can't find them, we can just make them now!

[Cassiepeia]

Humans are always wanting to own the most amazing , unique animals, and hey if we can't find them, we can just make them now!

And, whether they are "man made" or not, the animals are always the ones who suffer because of our selfishness and greed.

Cass.

[Lunachick]

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

And, whether they are "man made" or not, the animals are always the ones who suffer because of our selfishness and greed.

Cass.

Exactly, and when people get bored of that, they toss it aside and make a new one. Even though they were the ones responsible. It's just not fair, it's so selfish, like you said.