World's most expensive cat ($24,000)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Looks like it's almost worth it, too...


http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=73449

[Lorien]

1. It's not worth it. I adopted one for free

because he was so bored at his original owner's home that he was chewing on everything that he could get his paws on. He would have made a fine enough (yet time consuming) pet for her if she would have exercised him daily and given him an outdoor enclosure, but instead she gave the cat to me.He was a purring companion one minute and an eat-you-face wild cat the next. Far too intelligent to keep indoors safely, too.

Edited to add: I don't know what the percentages of serval, Asian leopard cat and domestic cat are in the cat in your pic. Mine was/ is 1/2 African serval, 1/4 Asian leopard cat and 1/4 domestic cat. The cat in the article looks like it has a lot less serval in it than my Ashiki. Asian leopard cats are the worst part of the mix. They tend to be extremely solitary in the wild, so as a hybrid they don't make great house cats. When I did pet rescue I called bengals (Asian leopard cat hybrids) "boomerang cats" because adoptive owners often returned them to me. :-(

[Ian David]

5. Sure, but can it drive a car?

[JBoy]

9. Toonces!

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. Remember, though, Toonces always wound up driving off a cliff!

Notoriously bad drivers, cats are.

The one in the OP could probably reach the brake pedal, but I get the feeling it would expect to be chauffeured. It looks like it knows it's worth $24 grand, and you better not forget it!

Me: "Look, Rover, a mouse! Get it!"
Rover (the cat): "Get WHAT, you peon? By the way, I'd like to speak with you about your rather unfortunate choice of names. But first, I feel the need of a Perrier. Hop to it."

[Lorien]

11. Hey, I wouldn't have put it past him

he watched me lock a door one night and I soon found him standing on his hind legs and working the lock with his front paws!

[wicket]

32. That's one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen

Wow :thumbsup:

[MadHound]

2. Oh boy, designer cats.

Sorry, I don't think that this can quite qualify as a "house" cat. It is a cross of two different types of wild cats and a domesticated house cat.

Even if I had the money for a cat like this, I wouldn't get one. Cats always seem to find me, and the cat that finds you is always the best kind.

[yardwork]

10. It's sad to think of the animals that suffer in cages while scientists use their genes

to produce designer animals. It's unethical, I think. There are too many homeless kitties as it is. I've given a home to two of them. They're wonderful creatures that brighten my life.

[Lorien]

13. Actually there are no scientists involved

just breedings between cats that normally don't encounter one another. Even lions and tigers have managed to breed in zoos (remember the "liger")? The unethical part here is that it's a cat that is neither truly wild or truly domestic, so it can never fully feel at home anywhere.

[yardwork]

21. Maybe I misunderstood the article - it mentioned geneticists

British businessman Simon Brodie is selling the designer kittens for £10,796 plus shipping costs – and already has a nine-month waiting list.

The Internet entrepreneur used a team of geneticists to develop the exotic cats at his US laboratory.

[Lorien]

29. It's gotta be BS

I had one of those cats. It was the same mix of species and there were no laboratories in it's background-just a bunch of felines in heat! I think they are making up the "geneticists and US laboratory" myth to justify the cost.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. No Fair! Cheaters!

They cross-bred in two wild-cats.

There-fore, I declare that the Ragdoll is still the largest domestic cat. (and if you could see the furry rug at my feet you would agree)

[REP]

6. Ragdoll? I thought Maine Coons were the largest!

Or maybe it's just my Coons. Largest one I ever had was 24lbs, and he was a tad skinny. The toms living with me now - Stewart and Thomas - are relatively petite at 19 and 22 lbs.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. I should have been more choosy in my wording...

Largest fully domestic cat breed :)

[Lorien]

7. Actually the Norwegian forest cat is (on average) the largest domestic cat

with the Maine Coon coming in second (although Guinness has the Maine Coon as the largest domestic cat on record, with the cat in question weighing a lean 45 pounds), and the ragdoll coming in third. All three make far better pets than any exotic hybrid, believe me!

For some sense of scale: here's my 19 pound Maine Coon Oberon next to my average sized cat Puck, who weighs about 9.5 pounds. My Ashera cat Ashiki weighed a lean 35 pounds. The size difference between Oberon and Ashiki was nearly the same as between Oberon and Puck!

[timber84]

12. Really beautiful kitties there.n/t

[Lorien]

14. Thanks!

:hi:

[seemslikeadream]

15. Oh my they are BEAUTIFUL

[REP]

16. Overload!

Okay, not overload. Can't ever have too many pictures of Oberon or Puck. Who'd think a cat with such a noble look could be goofy?

[Lorien]

19. Noble? Who,

him?







:P

:hi:

[yardwork]

22. What wonderful cats! What happened to Ashiki? Is he no longer living?

Your Ashera photos are amazing - Ashiki looked like a force to contend with!

[Lorien]

30. He's back with his original owner

I guilted her into taking him back. He was happy to return, but she still wants to find him another home.

[Snarkturian Clone]

4. My cat, Bob Mowberg, is way cooler. NT

[yardwork]

8. This Post is Useless Without a Photo!

[Snarkturian Clone]

18. I'm at work. Maybe later! :):) NT

[SoCalDem]

17. World's stupidest purchase..

Cats are always available, almost everywhere, for free or next to free :)

Designer animals "bother" me.. I know that people like to have hobbies and it's abusiness & all..but sheez louise.. to blow that much moolah on a furry, purry critter seems pretty damn silly..

My freebie babies may not be as good-looking as that gorgeous cat, but I'm guessing that they are loved and as smart as that one :)

[Lorien]

31. Yep, and you can get one of those cats for free too

see post #1.

Adorable kitties, BTW!

[SoCalDem]

34. No thanks.. The more than 7, less than 9, we have are PLENTY

:scared:
Amber

Mommie

Evil Uncle Willie

SweetiePie

Chinny

Marvin

Sara

Bubby

[tuckessee]

20. Suckers! My calico only cost four grand.

Of course, she was "free" initially but many years & lots of medical costs (incl. a cancerous spleen removed) later she has tallied quite a ledger.

[bdamomma]

23. OMG, looks like a leopard.

Beautiful markings.

[devilgrrl]

24. Thanks but I'll keep my world's cheapest cat.

$10.00 got me this...

14 years and going strong.

[KittyWampus]

25. That is a gorgeous creature. I wonder if new owners are allowed to breed them.

[lonestarnot]

26. What a beautiful animal!

Is his name Spot?

[Vinca]

27. The expensive kitty is beautiful, but I'll take a pound animal any day.

Wow - what gorgeous cats you all have!