Ashera or “a scam”? For a fan of the breed, getting this wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars! The Ashera is the most scandalous “breed” in the history of the cat fancy. On one hand, the Ashera keeps showing up in all kinds of rankings like “The World’s Most Expensive Cat.” On the other hand… the Ashera breed doesn’t actually exist!
So if there’s no such breed, what are the rich and famous willing to pay huge sums for?
Meet the Ashera: a product of genetic engineering claims and masterful PR!
History of the Breed
The myth of the “Ashera cat” dates back to 2006, and its reputation has been tarnished ever since. Its creator, Simon Brodie, was reportedly wanted by the authorities, yet that didn’t stop the biotech company he founded, Lifestyle Pets, from selling its “know-how” around the world.
It all started in 2006 with a sensational announcement: Lifestyle Pets claimed it had genetically created a new breed as big as a dog, as beautiful as a wild animal and as affectionate as a sweet house kitten.
On top of that, the exotic beauty was marketed as completely hypoallergenic and fond of walking on a leash. You have to admit, that alone is enough to make you grab $22,000 and rush to get in line for an incomparable Ashera.
The fly in the ointment came soon after the splashy launch: Chris Shirk, a Savannah breeder, stated that Brodie was selling Savannah kittens he had previously bought from him under the guise of a new breed. Brodie insisted on countless differences between the Ashera and the Serval, but DNA testing and later legal disputes backed up the accusations, and today the Ashera is not recognized anywhere in the world.
That’s a shame: these big cats look so luxurious and magnificent in the few photos that exist that you’d honestly love for such beauties to grace the cat world. Let’s imagine the Ashera really had proven its right to be a breed, and get to know this cat a little better.
Ashera Breed Description
Ashera is the name of an ancient goddess, and the cat was pitched as a potent hybrid trio of a domestic cat, an Asian leopard cat and an African serval. That’s what the con man… sorry, Simon Brodie, claimed these cats contributed to the VIP kitty’s genes. To be fair, no Ashera standard is recognized anywhere, so here’s just a brief description based on the company’s claims.
- The Ashera’s head is small and wedge-shaped.
Eyes come in two colors: gold and green. The ears are wide at the base and rounded and narrowed at the tips, shaped a bit like bows.
- The body is long, narrow and slim, with long legs. The body outline is slightly out of proportion. An adult was claimed to stand up to about 39 inches tall.
Adult females were said to weigh about 26 lb, and males up to about 31 lb.
- The coat is “hypoallergenic,” short and close-lying.
- Color.
The breed description lists four Ashera color types:
- Royal: the rarest of all. Kittens with the royal coloring, meaning sparse golden-orange spots, were said to be born only a few times a year (just 4 kittens!);
- Hypoallergenic. Brushing aside the fact that allergies are mostly caused by a protein in cat saliva rather than the fur itself, Lifestyle Pets claimed that some Ashera colors contain minimal levels of the protein, so even a severe allergy sufferer could keep one;
- Snow Ashera. Ever seen a white tiger? The Snow Ashera looks like one, only smaller!
- And finally, the regular Ashera, with spots resembling a leopard’s.
Personality
Sadly, we couldn’t find any owner reviews. Either the lucky people who share a roof with an Ashera were left speechless with delight, or… nobody got lucky?
The cat’s makers (and sometimes “manufacturers” feels like the right word) claim these giant cats are affectionate, gentle kitties. The Ashera supposedly has a balanced temperament and remarkable sociability. It gets along with adults, kids, neighbors, hamsters and even sales reps (for that kind of money, it should have a diploma in diplomacy and get along with everyone!).
Ashera breeders especially emphasize the cat’s love of active play and long walks with its owner.
Care and Living Conditions
So, you have a spare $22,000-plus for happiness and think the Ashera is already yours? Not so fast! First, get on the waiting list. You’ll have to wait 9–12 months, since no more than 100 Asheras were said to be born per year.
The long-awaited moment has come and your kitten is born? Kindly pay an extra fee for the service and delivery package. The mandatory package answers a lot of care questions and includes:
- an ID microchip,
- a veterinary certificate,
- insurance,
- a care kit,
- climate-controlled transport and other small things,
- plus 10 years of consultations with a “world-famous” veterinarian, Ronald Tripp.
All that’s left for the Ashera owner is to name the kitten and set up a glamorous photo shoot to show off the pet and prove it really exists!
Since the main care questions are covered by the veterinary certificate, the owner only needs to bathe the “little one” from time to time. There’s no need to brush, as Asheras supposedly hardly shed.
Health
Ashera breeders reluctantly admit to the cat’s weak digestive system. To keep digestive “surprises” off your expensive rug, feed your Ashera high-quality, healthy food!
Feeding
Dry food is not recommended as the Ashera’s main diet. It isn’t completely off-limits and works fine as a supplement, but the main source of protein, fat and carbohydrates should be fresh food. The close kinship with wild animals shapes the Ashera’s diet: fresh beef, poultry and saltwater fish are the elite cat’s appetizer, entrée and dessert. Before serving, it’s recommended to freeze meat for three days, then pour boiling water over it. Make sure any fresh-food diet is complete and balanced; your vet can help.
IMPORTANT! Choose chopped meat over ground meat. Let the Ashera’s stomach work properly!
Photos
As noted above, the cat fancy worldwide is skeptical of the Ashera. Asheras aren’t allowed in cat shows. “Conspiracy theorists” also point out that very few Ashera photos circulate online, and most of them show the same animal.
You can walk this cat on a leash
It looks fierce, so onlookers won’t come running up to you
Side view of the face
Where to Buy an Ashera Kitten
We’ve already covered what a year-old Ashera kitten was sold for: $22,000 to $27,000. Now for which catteries breed this “leopard cat.”
In the US, you won’t find a legitimate Ashera breeder: no registry (CFA or TICA) recognizes the Ashera, and the cats sold under this name turned out to be Savannahs. If anyone offers you an “Ashera” today, treat it as a red flag. If you love the look, consider a Savannah from a TICA-registered breeder, and check your state and local laws first, since some places restrict hybrid cats.
Keep searching; maybe your Ashera won’t turn out to be a scam! The Ashera is an illusion cat, a dream cat. And dreams should come true!
