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The Ashera was marketed in 2006 as the world's largest, rarest and most expensive domestic cat — a leopard-spotted giant with a price tag to match. Its real story, however, is one of the most famous cautionary tales in the cat world.
- Origin
- United States
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–20 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 6–14 kg
- Coat
- Short, sleek and spotted
- Colours
- Leopard-like spots on a golden ground; also a 'snow' white-based variety
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Ashera was launched by the US company Allerca Lifestyle Pets and its founder Simon Brodie, who claimed it was an exotic three-way hybrid of African serval, Asian leopard cat and domestic cat, sold in Standard, Snow and 'hypoallergenic' tiers for around $125,000. In 2008 three 'Ashera' kittens seized at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport underwent DNA testing that revealed the truth: they were simply Savannah cats. Investigators found the company had bought early-generation Savannahs from another breeder and resold them at an enormous markup. No feline registry recognises the Ashera, and it is widely regarded today as a rebranded Savannah rather than a genuine breed.
🧼 Care & grooming
Because 'Ashera' cats are, in genetic terms, Savannahs, their care mirrors that breed: they are tall, athletic and highly intelligent, needing vertical space, sturdy climbing furniture, plenty of interactive play and often a securely fenced outdoor run. Many enjoy water and can be leash-trained.
🩺 Health notes
With no distinct breed behind the name there are no Ashera-specific health data; prospective owners are really considering a Savannah, whose early filial generations can be large and demanding and may face ownership restrictions in some regions. The main hazard the Ashera story highlights is financial — paying a designer premium for a cat that is not what it claims to be.
