The Ashera Cat
Status: Real
Want to own a leopard? That probably wouldn't be legal, but for $22,000 you can have the next best thing. A company called Lifestyle Pets is selling what it claims is a cross between an African Serval, an Asian Leopard Cat and a domestic cat. So it's like a smaller, tamer version of a leopard. They call this cat an Ashera. Their product page says, "Fully socialized, the Ashera gets along well with children and other pets and unusually for cats, the Ashera takes well to being walked on a leash."At first when I saw the Lifestyle Pets website, I thought it was some kind of elaborate hoax in the vein of GenPets. But the Ashera seems to be real. At least, it's being widely reported in the news. And these cats look big! (Well, big for cats.) I don't think any other cats in the neighborhood would mess with them. Not many dogs would either, I would bet. It would look pretty cool walking one of these cats around the neighborhood, but for $22,000 they're a bit out of my price range.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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I want one! But knowing my neighbourhood some asshole dog owner would poison it...
Posted by outeast in Prague, Czech Rep on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:00 AM
If one of my neighbours got one of them I would have to get a car with bigger tyres...
I would be one of those asshole dog owners Outeast!
Posted by Nettie in Perth, Western Australia on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:54 AM
I would be one of those asshole dog owners Outeast!
Are they really sure these things are safe to own? As Alex states they are:
"...a cross between an African Serval, an Asian Leopard Cat and a domestic cat."
I've got visions of seeing news stories of one chasing after and hunting down things it shouldn't (like people).
Posted by Peter in Melbourne, Australia on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 07:02 AM
"...a cross between an African Serval, an Asian Leopard Cat and a domestic cat."
I've got visions of seeing news stories of one chasing after and hunting down things it shouldn't (like people).
Now thats the kinda mouser I want in my home.... it could take out the ground squirles around here too... maybe even a moose or two
Posted by DJ_Canada in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 08:38 AM
Brigette Bardot opened a great cat sanctuary many years ago... Billy Mumy came to visit her there, was appalled at how Brigette had neglected her beauty regimen in order to care for the myriad leopards, cheetahs and ocelots, and set them all free, so that Brigette could resume her stature as a World Beauty... the plan worked well except for a few kinks: The big cats had forgotten how to hunt, Brigette forgot how to apply makeup, and Billy had forgotten where he left the Robinson's Rover. So there you have it: Beware great cats, ignore standards of beauty, and park in the fire lane. You're welcome
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 09:42 AM
After some consideration, I feel it is necessary to clarify my position on offering sanctuary to great cats. It has always been my belief that all things should be taken in moderation, including the concept of moderation. I hope that clears it up a bit.
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 09:44 AM
After receiving several e-mails suggesting that I'm inconsiderate in regards to Brigette Bardot's dedication to cats and aversion to cosmetic applications, please allow me to state an old maxim once entrusted to me by a Yaqui holy man: "Every man must find his totem, but no man can lose one". oooh, deep stuff from Hairy... oooh
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 09:48 AM
I want one!
Posted by MadCarlotta in Canada on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 12:43 PM
These domestic cat-wildcat hybrids show up every few years. In general, they make bad pets, because the animal's temperament is usually closer to that of the wildcat than that of the domestic cat.
Thousands of years of domestication have made dogs and cats into much better pets than any random critter you pull out of the wild.
Posted by Big Gary in Round Rock, Texas on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:24 PM
Thousands of years of domestication have made dogs and cats into much better pets than any random critter you pull out of the wild.
Okay, let Raoul get this right, okay? Why would any one want this big kitty cat for the kids? Hah ha ha, you get my joke, yes? A Kiddy Kitty... oh, that is so much... oh, no, I have blown Bosco out my nose from the laughing, but that is too true, you know. Thank me later when the cable goes out... Rrrraoul
Posted by Raoul on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:36 PM
Okay, Raoul must be clearing this air, you know. The thoughts of Raoul with Bosco Boogers is not so good, so scratch that from the score, okay? Let me start at square again. I, Raoul, The Neverending Battle For Truth, Justice and The Ramonian Way, had a small onyx when I was the boy, but that didn't stop me from rolling the cat's eyeball, if you get a drift, you know? Hah ha ha, you peoples fall too much for my teasings of you, but it is your own, so don't blame Raoul. Rrrraoul
Posted by Raoul on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Before I am going today, who is that beautiful young lady holding the leash of the big kitty? If she asked Raoul nicer, with a husky, passionate sigh, I would be her leash kitty. Hah ha ha, that is too much another joke, because no one ever has to ask, okay? Just so we are the clear on that, you know. Rrrraoul
Posted by Raoul on Mon Jun 04, 2007 at 01:48 PM
Sorry, if I can't have Baby I don't want another cat.
Posted by Charybdis in Hell on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 07:18 AM
this cat is just a savannah. the savaanah cat is a real hybrid breed working toward a domestic status. this guy is nothing but a scam artist ! and yes, savannahs DO make wonderful pets....there are many breeders, just google savannah cat !
Posted by D in usa on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 09:57 AM
The guy is a total scammer: you can't reinvent the wheel and then try to sell it to the public for several times more than it is worth! And without papers, no less!!! You guys that want a Savannah need to understand that they don't cost anywhere near 22k, and they need to be registered with TICA. This guy is not coming up with a new breed, just a new scam- well newer- he has tried it before...
Posted by Susan in USA on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 10:19 AM
There is no doubt in my mind that the so called Ashera is a Savannah. I've had my two Savannahs (Gambi and Adi) for over a year. The Asheras they show have the same markings, facial structure, etc. Basically the intricacies are identical. I paid $1,000 for both. Gambi currently weighs 25lbs and is still growing.
picture: http://www.quintsys5.com/gambi.jpg
They have a great demeaner, wouldn't trade them for anything. If you want to spend the money, buy a savannah and buy $21,000 worth of toys.
Posted by Dan on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:18 PM
picture: http://www.quintsys5.com/gambi.jpg
They have a great demeaner, wouldn't trade them for anything. If you want to spend the money, buy a savannah and buy $21,000 worth of toys.
The real Ashera cat??? Are you kidding? Read this:
http://ashera-savannah-cat.blogspot.com/
I mean the guys a scammer, but he does have a trademark for the name...
Posted by Susan in USA on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 03:35 PM
http://ashera-savannah-cat.blogspot.com/
I mean the guys a scammer, but he does have a trademark for the name...
Thanks, but I am a Savannah breeder too... and I know all about Serval blood making Savannahs...I was saying there is no real Ashera cat, it is about an F2 Savannah, probably with a NP outcross like a bengal...my interest here is in educating the public about the Ashera scam, rather than shameless self promotion...
Posted by Susan in USA on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 03:45 PM
The "Ashera" is cloaked in secrecy to boot, so there are no papers. TICA obviously isn't going to accept it as a new breed, since any cat crossed with a Serval is a Savannah, and it is already a breed. So not only are people considering spending 22k on a cat, they are getting a mongrel without papers...I love my cats, but as a breeder, our cats would be worthless unregistered...and yeah, I wouldn't want to muck up the gene pool in my program with his cats...
Posted by Susan in USA on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 04:05 PM
I guess spending several hours on my day off trying to educate people about this Ashera scam is at least trying to advocate for the breed. I am frustrated with this latest attempt to hoodwink the public. If you read the blog link I posted before, you will see other Savannah breeders who are trying to do the same thing...in fact as a breeder if you would read it and post your own comment it would help...we do need all the help we can get here. I feel like we are defending our breed against a very dishonest man, and I am angry...Savannahs are wonderful cats, beautiful, athletic, and loving. For someone to try to sell them for a ridiculous amount, without papers, and to whoever wants one, is wrong...prospective owners should be checked out to be sure they aren't fly by nights, or fickle...these cats, like any pets, are not to be taken lightly or thrown out...that is why I am doing this today. And thanks for your help too...
Posted by Susan in USA on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 04:52 PM
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