Ashera is the most expensive cat breed, famous not only for the cost of a kitten, comparable to the price of a car, but also for its felinological scandal.
The breed was presented as a hybrid of an African serval, an Asian Bengal cat and a domestic cat, which was even confirmed by DNA tests a little later, but such a breed already exists, and it is a savannah. Let's look in the article at how the “creators” of the breed pulled off such a scam and got rich off the back of lovers of exclusive hypoallergenic cats.
Origin story
This great hoax began in 2006, when the biotechnology company Lifestyle Pets made a loud announcement to the whole world about the development of a new cat breed: the beautiful and amazing Asher breed. It was initially positioned as a miracle of biotechnology: a hypoallergenic breed bred using the genes of an African serval and an Asian Bengal and an ordinary domestic cat. This cat was immediately elevated to the rank of the most prestigious, setting an appropriate price for it - from 25 thousand dollars and above.
The advertising did its job: the cat became mega-popular even despite its high cost. The buyer had to pay a considerable advance, sign up for a waiting list, and wait several months for his turn.
The main condition of sale was sterilization: the producers stated that they would not allow the appearance of mixed breeds and the deterioration of the hard-bred breed.
The name of the breed was given in honor of the Phoenician goddess of fertility and love, Ashera, and the service for these cats was special: the owners received lifelong veterinary insurance, the opportunity to be observed and treated by the best veterinarians for 10 years and many other pleasant bonuses.
However, after some time, something unpleasant became clear: as it turned out, the rare Ashers are nothing more than the already known Savannah cats. The author of this breed, Chris Shirk (from the Cutting Edge Savannahs organization), publicly accused the sellers of lying, obtained an independent genetic examination, which showed that all this hype with the new breed is a major scam and deception. Simon Brody, the organizer of the project, was subjected to shame and general discussion, his project collapsed with a huge scandal, but the history of the Ashera has not yet been completed.
The Asher breed does not officially exist. Asherah is the same savannah, given a new name by unscrupulous businessmen. Remember this so you don't get confused.
Conclusions about ushers
The Ashera cat breed made a lot of noise, making the animal literally scandalous. It is difficult to say whether this is due to the investigation raised by Chris Shirk, or whether the cat is truly a real rare beauty. However, the sky-high price, which has not fallen for so many years, shows how highly the cat is valued by fanciers.
The pet's health is good, with the exception of a weak digestive system, and its character is beyond praise. No wonder pussy is so popular!
It is difficult to say whether this is really a scandal associated with the Savannah cat, or a new unique breed, but we hope that the truth will be revealed to the world soon.
Standards
These cats are giants of their furry and purring cat world. The body length of the Savannah reaches a meter, the height at the withers is 55-60 cm, and the weight is 14-16 kg. Males are visually larger than females. This is an unusually graceful, agile and beautifully built breed. For this we need to say “thank you” to the enthusiastic breeders who spent many years on their work and invested their whole souls in it. Just imagine: from the start of work to the official recognition of the breed, no less than 30 years have passed!
| Standard | Description |
| Scull | Small in size, wedge-shaped. |
| Neck | Long, flexible. |
| Ears | Set wide apart, their tips pointed. Abundantly pubescent along the edge. |
| Eyes | Large, outlined in dark, the iris can be painted golden or bright green. |
| Torso | Muscular, strong. Wide chest. |
| Limbs | Long, graceful, the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The paws are oval, the toes are long (or medium length), tenacious. |
| Tail | Thick, slightly tapering towards the tip. |
| Wool | The coat is elastic and short, with a dense soft undercoat. |
Who is Savannah?
Since Ashers do not exist as a separate breed, let’s look at the Savannahs, who had the imprudence to fall into the hands of a swindler who gave them a second name.
Eighties of the twentieth century. Farm of Pennsylvania breeder Judy Frank. Susie Woods, a serval breeder, lent Judy her African cat so that she could diversify the genetic range of bush cats. But the serval turned out to be a Casanova and managed to “enter into a relationship” with the breeder’s domestic cat.
The result of an unexpected union was a charming kitten of an unusually exotic appearance. He went to Susie, who named him Savannah. In honor of a vast region of African terrain covered with grassy vegetation and rare trees.
Later this name was assigned to the entire breed.
Joyce Sroufe, a breeder and breeder of the Bengal cat breed, was involved by Susie in the work of developing and improving the new breed. Joyce developed standards for the appearance of the savannah and introduced it to the world.
In 2001, the Savannah was officially registered as a new cat breed. And Sroufe was given the title of founder of an elite cat clan.
Color
In color, the cat should repeat or be similar to the serval - its ancestor. The base color of the serval is golden (bright oil) with round dark spots scattered here and there. This shade of brown spotted tabby is registered under the same name. Allowed colors: smoky, silver, black, brown.
An inhibitor gene sometimes suppresses the gene responsible for the yellow pigment. Due to this, the golden tint on the cats’ skin is washed out, turning into a brownish color.
In the photo there is a cat of the Asher breed of popular colors: smoky and golden
There are several officially recognized colors: chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, fawn, blue.
How to choose a kitten
Choosing a purebred kitten begins with finding a cattery with a proven reputation. You should first read the reviews of past customers, check the documentation, assess the situation inside the establishment, and study the official website.
Conscientious breeders will easily provide all the necessary documents for pets.
They will create in advance an atmosphere in the nursery that is as close as possible to home conditions. They will not keep animals in isolated cages, but will allow them to move freely and communicate with their relatives. This approach has a beneficial effect on the further socialization and adaptation of animals.
You should buy a kitten when the baby has reached three to four months of age. It is at this moment that the little Asher becomes more independent from his mother, the cat, he has received his first vaccinations and is trained to the litter box.
Attention is drawn to the character of the spotted friend. He should be inquisitive, playful and peaceful. The exception is individuals of the F1 generation, because aggression is the norm for them. This is due to the high content of wild serval genes, which can hardly be called a cute and calm cat.
In addition, the appearance of the animal is examined. Neat, clean fur, eyes and nose, and a soft belly will indicate the kitten’s good health.
The Asher cat has gone down in history as the most expensive cat breed. In second place was the savannah. Later, of course, it turned out that they were talking about the same cat. But they were presented “in different sauces.” Or rather, a successful PR campaign and one of the largest scams did their job, turning Savannah into an exclusive and unique Usher cat.
Being Ushers, the kittens were sold for truly crazy money from one and a half to two million rubles. And there were those who bought!
When the gamble was revealed, the price dropped significantly. However, it still won’t be possible to call it democratic. Savannah kittens cost from half a million to a million rubles. Exotic!
Character and behavior
This cat, of course, is very friendly to humans, but the owner will have to educate her from a very early age. This proud and strong animal is not a creature that will walk on its own all day and then greet its owner in the evening with manifestations of love and tenderness. Loneliness for Asher is simply destructive. And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, when your cat gets bored, it will literally begin to “destroy” your apartment. Even play complexes and bright toys will not help. And secondly, without a person, a cat runs wild, and finding a common language with it in the future will be much more difficult.
Ashers are very playful and active: Both kids, teenagers, and young adults love to spend time actively: running, jumping, climbing, hunting, tumbling.
Curiosity is one of their distinguishing characteristics. Not a single corner of the home or garden will remain unexplored: ushers systematically explore all the places that interest them. And after running around and sticking his nose everywhere possible (and also impossible), the Ashera will fall asleep, which he also loves very much.
In terms of its habits, the Ashera is similar to a dog. First of all, by the fact that the main thing for himself makes a person teaching, educating, training - i.e. a person who knows how to show his strength.
This cat needs a lot of personal space to play, so a small apartment or a house filled with furniture is not living for her, but torture. Without physical activity and exercise, the Ashera will wither, become nervous and snap at others, so we do not recommend owners of small houses to have this breed.
Ashera rarely meows, but is ready to hiss like a snake in case of danger.
Expert opinion
Dusheba Vera Ivanovna
In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.
Cats should not be hit, even if they do something inappropriate. Your weapons are words and deprivation of communication. In the first case: scold your pet, looking into his eyes, if he behaves like a hooligan, and as soon as he stops, change your tone to a benevolent one and praise him. If simply reprimanding has no effect: try locking the cat in a room alone for a while. In extreme cases, you can use a spray bottle of water.
You need to prepare in advance for the arrival of a kitten in the house. Install strong screens on windows. Mosquitoes are not suitable even for small breeds, because they are easy to give out when jumping, let alone a heavy Asher. Hide or raise electrical wires to an unattainable height: kittens love to chew on them. And electric shock often leads to death.
How did the cat move in K.I. Chukovsky’s famous poem “The Cockroach”?
jump backwards
Hide medicines and household chemicals, remove fragile objects, glass and crystal vases and the like: if they fall, they can seriously cut the animal (and ushers love to throw down everything that is on the shelves). Make sure that there are no scraps of plastic bags, threads, or needles lying around anywhere. Plants that are poisonous to animals - ivy, schefflera, azalea, dieffenbachia - are best removed from the house altogether. cats love to gnaw flowers, and indiscriminately.
Set up an eating area with a water bowl and a food bowl (or drinking fountain). Be sure to install several scratching posts in different rooms so that the animal can always sharpen its claws. It is better to choose a hidden bed, in the form of a cozy house: since growing kittens like to sleep a lot, the place to sleep should be comfortable and away from noisy household appliances.
Choose a kitten that is non-aggressive and will approach the outstretched hands of a person without fear. You should be wary of the following factors: timidity, aggression, cloudy eyes, bloated belly, dirty butt and ears, unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Buying a kitten
It should be taken into account that the savannah grows and forms for quite a long time - only by the age of three does it fully acquire the size and proportions of an adult individual. And it is very difficult to judge the breed qualities and prospects of an animal at a very early age, which is why breeders prefer to sell kittens only when they reach four months.
Do not buy a Savannah kitten that is too small; babies should be raised by their mother until they are three or four months old.
Criteria for selection and education
It is important to initially correctly decide why you are purchasing a kitten of this particular breed - the price of the future pet and many circumstances of your life together with it directly depend on this. It’s one thing if this exclusive, prestigious breed has simply sunk into your soul, and quite another if you intend to devote yourself to systematic breeding work. In the second case, you will have a very difficult, but extremely interesting path, on which you will have to not only learn a lot, but also, of course, acquire animals of only the highest quality.
When choosing a kitten, pay attention to its parents
When choosing a kitten according to these criteria, you will have to pay attention to a considerable number of factors. The most important thing is the health of the animal and its stable nervous system. If possible, be sure to look at the parents and other babies from the litter, and involve felinologists and a veterinarian in your choice.
A Savannah kitten, already at a very tender age, must overcome its inherent distrust of humans at the genetic level, and here a lot depends on the experience and efforts of the breeder. With proper upbringing, by the age of four months the baby becomes completely tame and willing to communicate . But it will also require a lot of love, attention and time from the new owner so that the pet can socialize and adapt to the new place as quickly as possible.
It is very important to start raising and taming a kitten as early as possible.
Care instructions
Caring for an Asherah has its own challenges. With fur, everything is easy: these cats practically do not shed, and there is no need to buy a whole arsenal of combs, brushes and slickers. Their eyes don't run either. But it usually takes a long time to deal with ears and teeth, because ashers don’t like to clean either one or the other.
It is necessary to accustom your pet to hygiene procedures from early childhood. then there will be many fewer problems in adulthood. The ears are cleaned once every 2 weeks, wiping off the wax with a damp cotton swab, and the teeth are cleaned once a month using a special cat paste and brush. Once a year, your cat should be taken to the veterinarian for an examination and laser teeth cleaning.
Ushers love to bathe, but you shouldn’t put them in the shower more than once every 3-4 months: irritation may occur on the skin.
What is the price
The cost of the Asher is rightfully the highest in the world, because the breed is rare, bred only in special nurseries. The most expensive cat in the world is in consistently high demand, and sometimes lines line up for the unique animal.
The price of these cats in Russia reaches a fabulous level, exceeding 22 thousand dollars - more than a million in rubles. You can find out exactly how much an Asher costs on the breed breeders website. The price of a cat will depend on the color and purpose of purchase (keeping or breeding).
Catering
Wild origin also leaves its mark on the digestive system of these animals. Grain products are excluded from the menu, as are fatty fish, fatty meat, and dairy products. In their natural habitat, the ancestors of the Asher (savannah) ate small animals and birds, vegetables and fruits. You need to create the same menu at home.
Natural products
Allowed:
- Meat: veal, beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit, horse meat.
- By-products: kidneys, liver, hearts, ventricles, udder.
- Lean fish: tuna, salmon, flounder. By-products are allowed: squid, shrimp.
- Boiled chicken eggs (yolk) and boiled quail eggs.
- Sprouts of sprouted grains.
- Fruits and vegetables (except: avocados, grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, eggplants).
- Vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Dry yeast.
- Means for removing fur from the stomach.
You should not give milk, fatty, sweet, smoked and salty foods, dog food, or human canned food.
If the breeders fed the kitten with ready-made food, the transition should be smooth. Feed your pet the old food for one or two weeks, introducing new food, and then switch to a completely different diet. We recommend reading the article: What to feed a kitten?
Recommended food
Below are the recommended holistic class foods. Links with the names of the food are clickable; on them you can, within our website, read the descriptions of the food and read reviews from the owners of the Asher breed.
| Holistic | Holistic | Holistic |
| Alleva Holistic | Wildcat | Acana |
Ashers (Savannahs) are very squeamish and will never eat from dirty dishes. Select bowls from a safe material that is convenient to wash frequently: metal, porcelain, ceramics, thick glass. The diameter for an adult is 12-14 cm, for a kitten - from 10 cm. The water bowl should be deeper: animals compare it to a pond, and the deeper the reservoir, according to their understanding, the fresher the water there.
Serval - interesting facts
A domestic cat with wild roots has many myths and superstitions regarding its keeping. However, there are several true facts, which include:
- Jumping ability. The breed jumps incredibly high, so the maximum height is 3 m.
- The Serval cat breed is distinguished by its unusual beautiful color, which makes it look like a cheetah.
- They have the largest ears among the breeds.
- They have large and sharp claws.
- Long legs allow you to reach fast speeds of up to 50 km/h.
With all its greatness, the breed is one of the cowardly ones. The animal will never start a fight or engage in combat with a predator. When breeding, this must be taken into account, since when frightened, the serval may run away and not return. They swim well and are able to swim across a river with a large current. They are strong and hardy animals. Many people are interested in how much a serval costs, but the price for a purebred kitten can reach $5 thousand.
Diseases
Savannah, unlike many artificially bred breeds, does not have any genetic abnormalities. This, of course, is a huge “plus” (thanks to the blood of wild servals). And they live a long time: 17-20 years. But there are a number of nuances.
These cats often have an upset stomach due to improper nutrition. Cereal porridges should not be included in their diet: they are useless and cause constipation and flatulence.
Some individuals have heart problems, namely hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart ventricle). Primary is caused by a predisposition at the gene level, secondary - by diseases (infections, disruption of the endocrine system) and age-related changes. The disease cannot be cured, but supportive therapy and constant monitoring of the condition help maintain the cat’s standard of living at a decent level.
Cats of this breed take a very long time to “grow up” for felines – as much as 3 years.
Vaccination is mandatory for Asher. They, like other cats, are susceptible to various kinds of infectious diseases, and pathogens can easily be brought into the house on clothes, shoes, and even children’s toys. So don't take any chances.
Breed defects
The main breed problems of the Savannah are associated, first of all, with errors in its breeding. The standard creates strict requirements for the exterior of an animal - the more clearly expressed its wild image, the higher the quality of a particular specimen. Any deviations in the direction of a domestic cat (violations of body proportions, white spots and other inconsistencies with the “leopard” color) are considered disqualifying defects, which clearly transfer the individual to the breed marriage format.
A bright “wild” image is the main sign of the quality of the breed
However, such minor defects in appearance are important only for show and breed class animals - they will in no way reduce the pleasure of communicating with your pet. A tendency to disease is a much more serious consequence of improper breeding work and thoughtless matings. Producers for breeding must be selected most carefully, and the slightest doubt about their health should place a taboo on participation in breeding.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Smart.
- They learn quickly.
- They get along well with other animals and get along with children.
- Friendly.
- They hardly shed.
- They have strong immunity and rarely get sick.
- They love walking and swimming.
- Difficulties with breeding.
- If there were problems in breeding, big health problems will arise.
- They cannot stand loneliness.
- Requires long walks and physical activity.
- Without strict upbringing they can become uncontrollable.
- They are expensive.
Mister Cat Recommends: Temperament Features
Representatives of the company Lifestyle Pets declared the exclusive cat as fully socialized and with a wonderful character. It was announced that these cats are excellent for playing with children, love walking on a harness, have a dog-like temperament, are devoted to their owner, are easy to train, and are able to follow many commands.
In order to raise a tame hybrid, it must be socialized from the first days of life, being taken away from its mother early.
But this characteristic of the “divine cat” temperament is also fully consistent with the behavioral characteristics of Savannah cats.
Photo gallery
Below are photos of Ashera cats.
Breeding
The breed is bred in specialized nurseries. In this way, breeders prevent the uncontrolled reproduction of Ashers by maintaining the quality of the offspring produced.
Big cats require proper upbringing; the animal's aggressive behavior harms the owner and family.
The educational process begins in the nursery. Skills are instilled, a line of behavior is formed. The sale of sterilized kittens keeps the price of representatives of the Asher breed high.
Mating and choice of partner, pregnancy and childbirth
To maintain the breed level, it is prohibited to crossbreed related animals. The children's parents are indicated in the pedigree, which also contains information about the parents' parents.
Maine Coon
The Maine Coon (Maine Coon Cat) is a native cat breed descended from the long-standing "coon" cats found on the farms of Northeast America (Maine). The external similarity of these cats with a raccoon and their habitat gave the name to the breed - the May raccoon, or Maine Coo. Now Maine Coons are large domestic cats, distinguished by a kind and easy-going disposition, good appetite, large size and heavy weight, reaching 15 or more kilograms.
The color range of the breed is quite varied. If at first the natives noticed cats that were exclusively black in color, now you can find almost any color, from dark to light tones. The Maine Coon is the largest cat breed listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Stewie (that’s the name of the record holder) is 123 centimeters long from his tailbone to his head. His owner, Robin Hendrickson, considers him not just the longest cat, but the best animal in the world, gentle and smart. Stewie lives in America (Reno, Nevada).
Psychology
At first glance, the Asher cat is a formidable predator. But behind the bestial grin, powerful body and wild color hid a typical domestic pet with the habits of an ordinary cat.
- She loves to sleep, enjoys playing with children and purrs affectionately when near her owner. Geneticists from the biological company Life Style Pets stated that the Asher cat has an easy-going character, and therefore she is able to get along well with all family members.
Once in good, caring hands, such a pet will always respond with affection and show friendliness
Important! However, the character of an animal largely depends on its upbringing. Having wild roots, representatives of this cat breed still show their essence in rare cases. Therefore, you should start socializing your kitten as early as possible!
- The Asher cat is highly intelligent and sociable. She will quickly find a common language with guests who appear on the threshold of your home, and will not leave anyone indifferent to her person.
You can read about other sociable cat breeds here:
- Such an animal will easily get along in the same house with other pets if they do not show aggression.
- This big cat is as playful as a child. She will happily chase a small ball, a toy mouse, or a red dot from a laser.
Asherah is easy to train and quickly understands what is required of her.
If the owner spends enough time and effort on instilling decent behavior and good habits, then in the future he will not have any problems with the behavior of his cat.
Any manifestations of aggression should be stopped in a timely manner, but under no circumstances should you beat the animal.
Recommendation! Showing who is in charge is quite simple - just lift the kitten by the scruff of the neck and shake it lightly several times. But remember that your pet should not be in pain, as severe fright will provoke him to further attacks against you!
Lifespan
The wild African serval lives on average up to 20 years. This is the main reason why the savannah also has a fairly high life expectancy. Research by many Savannah cat breeders has shown that the Savannah cat has an average lifespan of 17 to 20 years, while other breeds live an average of about 15 years.
Savannah
