A rare breed of cat known as the Ashera once captivated the luxury pet market, commanding prices as high as $175,000. The Ashera was marketed as a unique mix of African serval, Asian leopard, and domestic cats, and piqued the interest of affluent buyers. Despite its allure, the breed’s authenticity soon came under scrutiny, leading to revelations that challenged the claims made by its sole distributor, Lifestyle Pets. Questions arose about the legitimacy of the breed and whether any of the scientific claims could be substantiated.
In 2008, the exotic pet community first began to question the Ashera’s origins and price tag. The controversy originated when a Savannah cat breeder alleged that Ashera cats were merely rebranded Savannahs. Consumers also expressed discontent over the purported hypoallergenic characteristics of the breed, which Lifestyle Pets had claimed without verified scientific backing. These allegations led to further inquiries into the actual genetics of the Ashera cats.
What Was Special About The Ashera Cat?
Lifestyle Pets had promised an exclusive line of 100 Ashera kittens annually, with half available in the U.S. The allure of such scarcity, coupled with claims that the Ashera was hypoallergenic, drove demand and prices. The credibility of these assertions was put into question, particularly as experts began to examine the scientific evidence—or lack thereof—supporting such claims.
How Was the Ashera Scandal Uncovered?
Investigative efforts by media outlets revealed questionable practices behind the Ashera’s sales. ABC News arranged an undercover purchase that uncovered misleading practices by Simon Bodie, the owner of Lifestyle Pets. When confronted, Mr. Bodie backpedaled on his claims, eventually admitting to purchasing the Ashera cats from other breeders. These admissions contradicted the unique breed narrative that had captivated buyers.
Subsequent genetic testing confirmed the suspicions of skeptics. The supposed Ashera cats did not contain Asian leopard DNA, but rather the more common genetics of serval and domestic cats, aligning with findings that it was simply a renamed Savannah cat. The breed’s alleged hypoallergenic trait was also debunked without scientific evidence to support it.
The concept of hypoallergenic cats remains largely a marketing tool without scientific consensus. While some breeds like Bengals and Savannahs are marketed as low-shedding, they still produce allergenic proteins. Effective pet management strategies can help allergy sufferers coexist with their cats, such as frequent grooming and restricting access to certain areas of the home. Research continues on reducing allergens, yet as of now, no cat breed is completely hypoallergenic.
The Ashera cat scandal highlights the importance of due diligence in the luxury pet market. The case underscores the potential pitfalls of relying on unverified claims and highlights the need for transparency in breeding practices. Prospective pet owners should seek genetic verification when purchasing exotic breeds and remain cautious of extraordinary claims without scientific backing.
