(ORDO NEWS) — For some people, a cat is not just a furry companion, it is also a status symbol. And they are ready to shell out serious money for the privilege of owning a certain sought-after breed.
1. Ashera
Ashera – a cross between an African serval, an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat – was bred by the California company Lifestyle Pets about 15 years ago. It can weigh about 13.5kg, open doors, and cost you roughly $125,000.
2. Savannah
The Savannah cat, priced at roughly $20,000, is basically the same Ashera without any Asian Leopard cat ancestors – just a mixture of a domestic cat and a serval. This breed has been around since the 80s and is reported to be very playful, affectionate and great with children.
3. Toyger
Breeder Judy Sugden created this designer cat in the early 1990s by crossing a Bengal cat with a shorthaired tabby. His tiger stripes earned him the name Toyger – (toyger, tiger + toy) a combination of toy and tiger – and he can cost you $3,000 to $10,000.
4. Khao mani
Khao mani originated many centuries ago in Thailand. They are known for their distinctive eyes, which sometimes come in two different colors, and his nicknames are “White Jewel” and “Diamond Eye”. Some sell for up to $8,000.
5. Bengal cat
Toyger inventor Judy Sugden was not the only cat breeder in her family. Her mother, Jean Mill, helped create the Bengal cat back in the 1980s by crossing an Asian Leopard cat with a domestic cat. Mill was not the first to try this, but it was thanks to her that the International Cat Association (TICA) recognized the Bengal cat as a breed. These days, a typical Bengal can sell for between $3,000 and $5,000.
6. Maine Coon
One completely false legend about Maine Coons says that they are descendants of raccoons and domestic cats. They are best known for their long coat and body – averaging about 100 cm in length – and they typically cost in the $2,000 to $3,500 range.
7. Persian cat
Often believed to be worth between $2,000 and $3,000, Persian cats appeared in Mesopotamia in the 1600s, but the details remain unclear. What we do know is that their iconic flat faces came much later—in the 1950s, to be precise, after a genetic mutation caused this feature to appear in some red-striped Persians. Soon people began to breed them themselves.
8. Sphinx
Sphynx cats are also the result of a genetic mutation. Some kittens were born hairless in the 60s and 70s and the breeders decided to make them bigger. Many of today’s Sphynxes (who really just have very fine coats) sell for between $1,000 and $3,000.
9. Ragdoll
The Ragdoll also costs $1,000 to $3,000 and was created by California breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s. It is reported that early ragdolls were so unstable that they wobbled a little whenever you picked them up – hence the name (rag doll – rag doll).
10. Siberian cat
As their name suggests, Siberian cats hail from Siberia, where their signature three-layer coat comes in handy in cold weather. They may be over 1,000 years old, but they have only become commonplace in the US in the last few decades. If you buy a Siberian from a breeder, you can shell out up to $2,500.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.