Asher cats have a rather interesting history of origin, which can rightfully be called the loudest scam in the history of felinology. Representatives of this species are considered one of the largest in the world. Ashera is the most expensive cat and not everyone can afford it. The breeders attribute the high cost to the aristocracy of the animal. Thoroughbred pets emphasize the high status of their owner. At first, the breed was considered exotic, but it still has not received its recognition.
In this case, the rich are ready to lay out fabulous money, if only to acquire this miracle.
Origin history
The history of Asher cats originates in 2006. The American company Lifestyle Pets announced to the world about the creation of a new unusual variety of cat. Breeders talked about its incredibly large size and unspeakable external beauty. It was noted that the cat has a gentle nature and is great for keeping at home. Another advantage of the usher is their non allergenicity.
The creator of this unusual breed is Simon Brody. By the way, now he is wanted for his scam. It all started in 2008, when a breeder named Chris Shirk accused Lifestyle Pets of falsifying the Asher cat breed. He stated that this species is absolutely accurate plagiarism of savannah cats. By all external characteristics, the animals had an amazing resemblance.
After such a statement, litigation began. A genetic examination was appointed that revealed almost one hundred percent compatibility of asher and savannah.
But even despite these circumstances, there is still a debate about the authenticity of the breed. There were many arguments that could confirm the originality of the variety. Now many exotic lovers are ready to give more than 20 thousand dollars for a kitten of this breed. It is worth noting that the process of their breeding is very slow, so it’s not enough to give such an amount of money for a pet, you need to stand still in line for the animal.
To do this, everyone can leave a request on the breeder's website.
Description
Ashera looks like a small domestic leopard. Luxury lovers appreciate these cats. This breed was bred by crossing the standard and Bengal variety of cats, as well as the African serval.
The animal gained its fame thanks to its impressive size, it is rightfully considered one of the largest and most expensive varieties of the cat family.
- The head of the animal is relatively small, the muzzle has the shape of a blade.
- The shape of the ears looks like small bows, has an average size. Their base is quite wide, and the tips are pointed.
- The cat’s large eyes are almond shaped. They are usually colored in gold, green or amber.
- In height, the body on average can reach 100 centimeters.
- Ushers weigh from 15 to 18 kilograms. It is noteworthy that males are much larger than females.
- A leopard pet has thin limbs and a long tail. The body is proportionate. This feature gives the animal an extraordinary harmony and elegance.
- This type of cat has a short coat. A characteristic difference is its hypoallergenicity.
There are 4 types of color cats of this breed.
- Standard. Six representatives of this type are completely covered with dark leopard spots.
- Snowy. In terms of color, such cats resemble a Belgian tiger in miniature.
- Hippoallergenic. It is interesting to know that it is not wool that causes allergies, but cat saliva. Therefore, the company Lifestyle Pets tried to breed animals whose coat color has a small amount of protein substances in their structure. Thus, the owners of such a pet will not have problems with this.
- Royal. This type of cat is considered the rarest. The fur of these animals is covered with a small number of golden spots. In the year of royal kittens, no more than 4 pieces are born.
Character Features
Asher cats are famous for their intellectual abilities, they are very curious and easily trained. Thanks to their sociability and friendliness, they easily find a common language with all households and quickly join the family. A large pet is very energetic, so it is advisable to provide him with a sufficient number of toys. Fragile home furnishings are best removed away from the pet’s eyes, because, due to its size, it may not notice them and damage them.
Asher games usually come down to activities that are related to hunting. They like to lurk in a secluded corner for the purpose of attack or can chase the so-called prey. This feature connects pets with their relatives - servals.
Cats constantly need walking. They are usually walked with a leash, while animals can be trained in various teams. By virtue of their intelligence, they will be able to quickly remember them. During the walk, cats carefully examine the area.
Ashera is a very devoted animal, she quickly becomes attached to her owner and is present when solving all household chores.
Despite the fact that the ancestors of these cats were wild, they are not inclined to show aggression against household members. The main thing is to educate them in this spirit from childhood, then the pets will calmly feel close to people. The ushers are very understanding animals, and if you explain to them in a strict voice what they can and cannot do, they will immediately understand this and will adhere to the established rules.
It is necessary to immediately make it clear to the pet who the boss is in the house. Brute physical force is not recommended for cats, otherwise they can completely lose confidence in their owner. The same goes for the raised tone.
Unlike many representatives of their species, cats of this breed are very fond of water. They can spend hours swimming in ponds. If you fill a small container with water and put toys in it, you can entice your pet for a long time. They will catch objects from the water, like their wild ancestors fish during fishing. Flowers standing in the water, it is better to keep away from the animal to avoid damage to the subject.
In some cases, the behavior of the usher can be unpredictable. Despite the fact that they undergo sterilization treatment at a fairly early age, a thirst for domination is inherent in their nature. Therefore, if you act against the wishes of the pet, it is not known what it can develop into.
Sharp and loud sounds adversely affect pets. In this case, they may invoke aggression from the household and take action. Kotov is undesirable to leave alone, as they like a lot of attention to their person. Alone, a tender and affectionate pet can transform into a wild baby leopard, which, in turn, entails many unpleasant surprises for the owners.
Pros and cons of the breed
Before you get a thoroughbred kitten, you should carefully familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this species, as well as consider in more detail all the advantages and disadvantages of such pets.
The advantages of the breed include the following factors:
- chic appearance;
- high stress tolerance and calm behavior;
- the pet has a good disposition;
- likes to play with children and gets along well with them;
- Ashera is a short-haired animal, therefore, problems with combing hair will not arise;
- leopard pets are very fond of water and swimming will not cause any difficulties;
- energetic character, the pet can not sit in one place for a long time;
- good immune system, lack of predisposition to genetic diseases;
- rarity of cats asher.
Among the minuses of the breed, the following signs are noted:
- the huge size of the animal and the need for regular walks;
- expensive food;
- tendency to ignore the authority of the owner;
- Asher does not tolerate loneliness, so leaving her for a long time is not recommended;
- careful attention to the diet of the pet;
- the need for regular consultations with the veterinarian;
- excessive activity that contributes to damage to things in the house;
- weak stomach;
- high price.
Do not get a cat of this breed just because of its prestigious status. Ashera is a very friendly cat and will fit perfectly into your family as soon as possible. This pet has a very soft character, a bright appearance and is relatively picky about care.
Conditions of detention
The main point in the maintenance of such a huge pet is providing it with appropriate space. Therefore, it is unlikely that a cat can fit into a small apartment. It is advisable to keep the kitten in a large house, but most likely this will not be a problem for people who want to purchase it due to the high cost of the animal.
It’s easy to accustom a pet to the toilet. It is enough to show him several times a place to cope with needs and he will do it on his own. The pot must match the size of the usher, otherwise it will constantly turn it over. If the kitten lives in the house, then it is better to teach him to go to the toilet in the yard, so you can avoid incidents in the form of a puddle on the carpet.
Such cats, like their counterpart, the savannah, do not require careful grooming. Therefore, a lot of effort to spend on this will not have to. These pets are short-haired animals, so combing them will not need to spend a lot of time. This question should be paid attention to when molting a pet. In this case, the procedure is recommended to be carried out daily. At least once a week, the coat must be combed.
It is necessary to ensure proper pet oral care. Ashers by nature have very strong teeth and healthy gums, but to maintain them in this state throughout their lives, you need to clean them from time to time. To do this, you need a suitable brush and paste for cats.
Several times a week, you should walk your pets. This favorably affects their well-being. It is necessary to accustom a cat to walks from childhood. For walking it is advisable to purchase a leash.
Surprisingly, asher is very good at water. Therefore, on bathing days it is better to devote more time to water procedures. If this is not urgently needed, then you need to bathe your pet no more than once a month.
To avoid furniture damage in the house, pet claws are best treated with a special tool. If this method does not help, then you can resort to their circumcision. It is recommended to put a big house for the cat, so she will be able to use up all the accumulated energy in a day, and also place a scratching post next to him. So the pet will be able to escape from things and furniture.
Feeding
Feeding an asher cat will seem as expensive to the owner as buying it. This is due to its weak digestive organs. To choose the right balanced diet, it is best to consult a veterinarian and follow all his instructions in the future.
It is recommended to choose the type of food for your pet, which is based on natural products. The meat must be non-greasy, it is better to serve it raw. It could be:
- turkey;
- beef;
- a hen;
- veal.
Do not feed homemade leopard pork. His stomach is too weak to digest such fatty meat.
The animal’s body should be saturated with vitamins, for this reason it should include in its diet such products as:
- egg yolk (raw);
- cucumbers
- zucchini;
- carrot;
- rice
- barley porridge.
The pet's body also needs to be saturated with taurine. This amino acid is essential for the vision of ashera. Feed your cat boiled fish at least once a week.
It should be noted that meat and fish must be frozen in advance in the refrigerator. This procedure must be carried out in order to get rid of possible parasites.
Unwanted in the diet, ashers are fermented milk products in any form. Therefore, you should not feed the cat with fermented baked milk or cottage cheese. Cheese also adversely affects the digestive system of the animal.
Many veterinarians oppose feeding usher dry food. Such a product can greatly harm the pet and contribute to the appearance of urolithiasis. If it is not possible to avoid the use of feed in the diet of a cat, then it is advisable to purchase products belonging to the super premium class. The number of meals per day should not exceed 4 times, while portions should be small.
Keep track of your pet’s water and change it regularly if possible.
Health
When buying an asher, the owner agrees to purchase a special package of services for pet care:
- consultation with high-class veterinarians (valid for 10 years);
- veterinary certificate;
- insurance;
- comfortable transportation of the animal to the house of its new owners;
- microchip identification.
Breeders claim that your pet should not have special health problems. It is proved that hereditary diseases are not terrible for a cat of the Asher breed. They are born with a very strong immune system.
Many representatives of this breed have a very weak digestive system. This is perhaps one of its main disadvantages. Therefore, it is so important to carefully monitor the diet of ushers. In case of problems with nutrition, you should immediately consult a specialist.
To maintain good pet health, you must adhere to the following rules:
- take preventive measures in a timely manner to avoid the appearance of various parasites on the animal's body;
- regularly carry out wet cleaning in the house, the place of the pet should be clean;
- after bathing it is necessary to wipe the cat well;
- ventilate the room in which it is located and from time to time let it out for a walk;
- Get rid of drafts in the house.
Asher's lifespan can vary from 15 to 20 years. The main thing at the same time is to adhere to all recommendations for caring for her. It is also necessary to create a pet comfortable living conditions and surround it with the attention of their households. In street conditions without supervision, the maximum age of such a cat will not exceed 5 years.
Breeding
The main task of breeders who breed Asher cats is to breed healthy and quality offspring. It is worth noting that hybrid breeds of males can be infertile. This trend is usually seen in the first 4 representatives of the generation.
Asher can be crossed with representatives of the following breeds:
- bengal cat;
- Siamese cat;
- ocicat;
- Egyptian Mau.
Most often, for breeding, breeders take representatives of one breed. The main thing is that partners have a calm disposition and a strong psyche. Thus, specialists can consolidate all the qualities of the variety at the genetic level and continue to work to improve it.
As mentioned earlier, breeding such animals is not an easy process. People can stand in line for asher kittens for years. At home, getting new offspring is quite difficult. Cats are very picky, not every partner will like them. Not always knitting can be successful. The owner will have to constantly pay attention to the pregnant female. It often happens that the offspring of a cat appears prematurely and it is almost impossible to leave kittens without human help.
In the process of breeding asher many difficulties happen. Therefore, only experienced professionals are involved in this. This also explains the high cost of cats of this breed.
About the relationship between a baby and a cat of the Asher breed, see the video below.