How Much Does an Ashera Cat Cost? (2022 Price Guide)
The Ashera cat is one of the most expensive cat breeds in the world. Why? Well, for starters, it’s an exceptionally rare breed. This breed is a cross between the domestic house cat, African serval, and the Asian leopard that was first developed in the 2000s by the animal breeding company known as Lifestyle Pets. The Ashera looks like it is part wild cat, too; physically, this cat is much larger than your average cat, standing at 4-5 feet tall and weighing up to 33 pounds. Because these animals are sterile, you can only purchase them from a laboratory where they are bred. Since only a handful of Ashera cats are bred each year, you will have a truly unique pet if you are willing to cough up the money to purchase one.
In this article, we will discuss the total costs associated with owning one of these animals, including the initial fee to adopt, the cost of supplies, and lifetime expenses you can expect to pay to house, feed, vaccinate, and otherwise care for your pet Ashera.
The one-time cost of buying an Ashera cat is significantly higher than that of even the rarest purebred domestic breeds. Because this breed is sterile and so rare to begin with, you shouldn’t expect to find one of these animals up for adoption at your local shelter. In addition to the one-time cost of purchasing an Ashera, you should also consider other costs, such as the supplies you will need to purchase before you can bring one of these cats home. Since they are so rare, you may also need to factor in the costs associated with traveling to pick up your new pet.
Breeder
Up to $125,000
If you are hoping to buy an Ashera cat, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars to get one, with an Ashera costing roughly $125,000. For a more affordable but similar-looking cat, consider the Savannah cat. The Savannah shares two of its ancestors with the Ashera: the domestic house cat and the African serval. While they are still expensive, the Savannah will cost you less than half of what you would pay for the Ashera at “only” $50,000. Do your research before you buy one; Savannah cats are banned in some U.S. states.
Your breeder may include certain services in the initial purchase price, such as microchipping and vaccinations. Still, there are several supplies you will need to purchase before bringing your Ashera cat home. Determine what kind of food and litter box you will buy. Most domestic cat breeds will use a litter box in the home, but the Ashera may be simply too large. Because the Ashera is so big, you may want to consider purchasing a harness and leash and taking it out for walks instead. Depending on what medical costs are included in the purchase price, the price of buying the initial supplies you need to properly care for an Ashera cost will likely start at around $950.
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List of Ashera Cat Care Supplies and Costs
ID Tag and Collar
$15-$20
Spay/Neuter
Up to $200 (may be unnecessary because Asheras are sterile)
X-Ray Cost
$100–$250
Ultrasound Cost
$250–$500
Microchip
$45-$55 (may be covered by the breeder)
Teeth Cleaning
$50-$300
Bed/Tank/Cage
$50
Nail Clipper (optional)
$7
Brush (optional)
$8
Leash
$10-$15
Harness
$15-$25
Toys
$30
Kennel
$150-$300
Food and Water Bowls
$10
How Much Does an Ashera Cat Cost Per Month?
Health Care
$70–$165 per month
The health care costs associated with keeping an Ashera are slightly higher than those associated with your average domestic cat breed. For starters, you will need to budget more money for food than you would for your average cat due to the Ashera’s sheer size. You should also consider additional costs associated with caring for an exotic breed.
Due to the size of the Ashera, you will need to make sure to budget a larger amount of money to feed one of these cats than you would need to feed a regular house cat. Cats need to eat about 24-35 calories per pound each day, so an Ashera that weighs 30 pounds needs to eat between 720 and 1,050 calories per day. That shakes out to about 2-3 cups of food per day. At that rate, you will need to buy one 16-pound bag of cat food about once per month.
Grooming
$5-$15 one-time cost
Luckily, you won’t need to spend too much time or money grooming your Ashera; like other cats, it will clean itself. However, you may want to invest in a good brush for your Ashera’s coat. Brushing the coat every once in a while will not only help manage shedding, but it will also help keep your pet’s coat clean and shiny.
An annual visit to the vet might cost you about $50 on average. However, you should keep in mind the Ashera’s status as an exotic animal. Some vets may not accept exotic pets or cats the Ashera’s size, and a trip to an exotic vet is likely to cost you more. Additionally, because the Ashera is a hybrid breed, it is likely to need a higher level of care than your typical house cat.
Pet Insurance
$25-$100 per month
Pet insurance for a hybrid breed such as the Ashera is likely to cost more than insurance for the average domestic cat breed. Investing in a good pet insurance plan can help prevent you from having to pay high out-of-pocket costs down the road in the event that your Ashera has a health issue later on. This is a relatively new breed with a very small population, so very little is known about the types of health problems these cats are susceptible to. While $100 may seem like a lot of money per month to spend on your pet’s health insurance, in this case, you might want to opt to be safe rather than sorry.
Entertainment
$15–$35 per month
Like all cats, Asheras need mental stimulation and physical activity to be happy and healthy. These are energetic and playful cats that require more exercise than you may be used to in a cat. While going for walks can help your Ashera get the exercise it needs, another great way to get your cat moving (and avoid ruining your furniture) is to provide it with plenty of cat toys. The problem is, your Ashera is a powerful animal that can easily destroy most cat toys. One solution you may want to consider is investing in a cat toy subscription box. The price of the subscription varies a little bit depending on the brand, but you can expect to pay up to $35 a month if you want to pursue this option.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning an Ashera
$85–$200 per month
In addition to the initial one-time costs of adopting one of these cats, you can expect to pay up to $200 per month if you plan to buy an Ashera. As you might expect given the outrageous purchase price for one of these cats, the Ashera is not a pet you should buy if you are on a budget.
While you shouldn’t need to budget for additional costs on a monthly basis, it’s a good idea to have some extra money set aside for things that inevitably come up from time to time. An example of a “sometimes” cost associated with keeping one of these pets is the cost of pet care when you go away on vacation. You may have a hard time finding friends, family, or even paid sitters who are willing to look after an animal like your Ashera, so you could find yourself paying a premium for a sitter that isn’t intimidated by your cat’s size and doesn’t mind taking it for walks. If you have a good pet insurance plan, you hopefully won’t be blindsided by things like visits to the emergency vet, but anything could happen. It’s a good idea to have an additional pocket of money set aside for the inevitable extra costs of having a pet.
Conclusion
There is a reason why the Ashera is considered to be the most expensive cat breed in the world: they can often go for over $100,000. But when you consider how much one of these cats is going to cost you, you need to think beyond just the initial purchase price. Like any animal, you should be prepared to pay to feed, groom, entertain, and keep your Ashera healthy. In addition to the thousands of dollars it will cost you to buy an Ashera, you should expect to pay up to $200 in monthly expenses associated with keeping one of these cats. Over your cat’s lifetime, that could amount to well over $20,000. Most cat owners that are willing to pay $125,000 for an animal won’t balk at an extra $200 per month, but if you aren’t willing to dedicate extra money to giving your cat a good life, you may want to reconsider buying an Ashera.
Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat can live happy, healthy, and care-free.
