Ashera is the most scandalous cat breed.
Asherah The Ashera is the most scandalous cat breed in the history of felinology. On the one hand, it constantly appears in all sorts of rankings, such as "biggest cat," "most expensive," "most of the best," and so on, but on the other, this breed doesn't even exist. We say "Ashera," but we mean "scam"—a single letter error has cost many tens of thousands of dollars.
From the history of the Ashera breed
The fake cat known as "Ashera" recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. In 2006, when cats had already taken over the internet, the biotech company Lifestyle Pets, to the delight of allergy sufferers, announced the creation of a remarkable breed, which they named after the goddess of fertility, the progenitor of the pagan gods – Ashera.
According to the company's staff, the breed was created using African servals, wild leopard Bengals, and several domestic cat breeds. The result is a dream cat: 60 cm at the withers, weighing up to 15 kg, the largest domestic cat in the world. Slender and graceful, with the gaze of a wild predator and the personality of a plush kitten, completely tame and safe, affectionate and playful. But most importantly, thanks to the diligent work of geneticists, the breed was free of proteins and enzymes that cause allergic reactions in humans. The Ashera will purr joyfully in your arms, provided your lap can handle it, requires no special housing conditions (except perhaps a larger bowl), has the character and devotion of a dog, and is easily trained to walk on a leash.
Overall, the advertising campaign was a success. A vivid, incredibly intriguing, and enticing description was complemented by beautiful photographs of enormous cats with a beautiful leopard-like coat.
Promotional video about the Ashera breed:
A long-awaited purchase
Oddly enough, the hefty price tag and the difficulty of acquiring it were enticing. Asheras cost up to $22,000, and potential owners were required to pay only a $6,000 deposit and wait patiently for several months.
Asheras were sold only at one year of age, with the rationale being that all their renowned qualities manifest themselves at this age, and that it was necessary to raise the kitten and ensure it met all requirements. All animals were required to be spayed to maintain the purity of the breed and prevent "low-quality" kittens from entering the market.
Exposure
In a very short period of time, the Ashera became one of the most prestigious and desirable breeds, but its popularity had its downside. The new breed attracted the interest of professional breeders and felinologists, especially those working with hybrids. It reminded them too much of a rare breed that was developing at the time. savannah - a hybrid of a wild serval and Bengal domestic cat.
The final piece of the puzzle was put to rest by Chris Shirk, a Savannah breeder from Pennsylvania, USA. He immediately suspected a trick, and later, among the photos, he recognized the Asher cats he had once sold but had been unable to trace.
Legal proceedings began. The American company US Fish and Wildlife conducted an investigation and a series of genetic tests. It was found that the Asher's DNA was a complete match to the breeding stock from Shirk's nursery, specifically the purebred hybrids, which professionals designate as F1 and F2. These so-called first- and second-generation hybrids contain a large percentage of their wild counterparts. They are not sold or exhibited, but are used only for breeding.
Incidentally, hybrids are not cute cats. They are strong, large animals with pronounced wild instincts. It's very difficult for uninitiated and unprepared people to feed and care for them properly, especially in an apartment.
Fenita la comédia
The scammers at Lifestyle Pets, led by Steve Brody, decided to make some easy money and took advantage of the fact that the new Savannah breed was little known at the time. The hybrids were truly beautiful, and the promise of hypoallergenicity attracted a larger audience. According to media reports, the main suspect in the fake cat case is currently wanted. However, the company's website remains active.
As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. The hype surrounding the Ashera has significantly increased interest in feline hybrids, and in purebred cats in general.
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