The $22,000 Kitty

What do you get when you blend the exotic bloodlines of the African serval and the Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat? You get the Ashera, a feline recently introduced by Lifestyle Pets Inc. to tickle the fancy of cat and exotic pet enthusiasts alike.

Lifestyle Pets Inc., the Wilmington, Del., company behind the hypoallergenic cat, has introduced to the wealthy public the Ashera, the worlds most exotic and rarest breed of domestic cat. Its leopard like spots and contrasting tiger stripes give the feline a distinct wild quality and, growing up to 30 pounds, it is believed to be the largest domestic cat available today.

Its not even the mini-leopard like qualities that the felines are gaining attention for, its the cost. For $22,000 an Ashera kitten will be hand delivered to your door in 9-12 months. For an extra $5,000 you can have your kitten in as little as 3-4 months.

The cost became the primary target for Ashera critics. "It wasnt about the cat," said Simon Brodie, inventor of the hypoallergenic cat and founder of the new sector in the pet industry known as lifestyle pets. "It was more about the price."

Although the Ashera is akin to the size of a medium dog, the company states that the cat is affectionate, sociable, and good with children and other pets. The Ashera also takes well to being walked on a leash, an unusual trait for a domestic feline.

"They are smart, affectionate and vocal," Brodie said. "I have two and they sleep with us at night. We also have two dogs and they get along great."

According to Lifestyle Pets the Ashera requires no different care than an ordinary house cat. Their only recommendation is that you feed it a premium-quality dried food. The company asserts that the feline is highly intelligent, able to use a litter box like any other domestic cat. According to Lifestyle Pets an automatic cleaning litter box is the best choice for the leopard-like cat. Their website recommends the extra large one.

A Beverly Hills family received one of the first Ashera cats this past summer and, according to Lifestyle pets, they couldnt wait to introduce the feline into their family.

It was that same customer that Brodie recently heard from. "I heard from a customer today that said she was getting on great," said Brodie. "They love it."

Although the response to the Ashera has been both positive and strong in the United States, it has been more so in Lifestyle Pets international markets. According to Brodie, Russia has been a big market for the cats, selling two of the pricey cats there just this last week. The response has also been strong from China and Europe. Lifestyle Pets offices have opened in Hong Kong, Mexico, Israel and South Africa just to name a few.

The Ashera will be limited to less than one hundred per year. Only 50 of the cats will be available annually in the United States.

"We have quite a long waiting list," said Brodie. "We were limited to less than one hundred per year but were going to sell a lot more than that."

Each animal will come with a certificate of authenticity that includes an image of each cats unique DNA fingerprint. Lifestyle states that while other feline hybrids already exist, genetic monitoring of the Ashera standardizes the breed. This monitoring ensures that the defining characteristics and size remain consistent.

Included with the Ashera purchase are complete and updated vaccinations, mandatory spaying or neutering, a microchip identifier implant and one year premium veterinary health insurance through Pets Best. A veterinary health certificate, required for travel is also included. Consultation access for 10 years to internationally recognized animal behaviorist Dr. Rolan Tripp is also included in the package.

It was Lifestyle Pets that introduced the hypoallergenic cat in 2004. A hypoallergenic Ashera, the Ashera GD, will be new for 2008. Lifestyle has already produced two litters of the Ashera GD with an average of six kittens each. Four of the $28,000 cats have already been sold.

Also on deck for the company is the Jabari GD, a hypoallergenic small dog that will run for $15,000 set to be introduced in 2009. Another feline project is set for Lifestyle in the near future, although Brodie could not say what it was.

"The crazies are really going to go nuts over this one," said Brodie of his critics and his mystery project.

The public will just have to wait and see.