Certain cats serve as status symbols in addition to being pets. Some breeds have always been desirable because of their unique characteristics, exotic appearance, and exclusivity. All cats are unique, but some have high costs that even the most committed feline lovers might find surprising.
These exquisite cats are the priciest in the world for a reason: their distinctive look, lineage, or the difficulties involved in breeding them. You’re in for an intriguing trip through the world of rare and expensive cat breeds if you’re wondering why these cats are so valuable.
Every one of these cats, from sophisticated hairless varieties to uncommon fur patterns, has an unique characteristic. Let’s examine the list of the most expensive cats you can buy and learn why their values are so astounding.
- Wild cats at home – the most expensive of them
- Serval
- Caracal
- Ocelot
- Puma
- Lynx
- Reed or swamp cat
- Hybrid cat breeds are the most expensive
- Savannah
- Chauszi
- Safari
- Bengal
- Toyger
- Ten most expensive domestic cat breeds
- Khao-mani
- Nibelung
- Manx cat
- American Curl
- Russian Blue
- Serengeti
- LaPerm
- Canadian Sphynx
- Himalayan cat
- Maine Coon
- Experimental breeds
- Karaket
- Elf
- Bambino
- Laika
- Kohona
- Video on the topic
- 10 MOST EXPENSIVE CATS IN THE WORLD
- The Most Expensive Cat Breeds in the World. Top 10
- MOST EXPENSIVE CATS IN THE WORLD – THE BEST BREEDS
- The most expensive cats in the world. Top 10
Wild cats at home – the most expensive of them
Since the turn of the century, wild cats have gained a lot of popularity as pets. Despite the fact that their ownership costs are very high for both acquisition and upkeep.
Serval
With the exception of the Sahara, this distinct species of cat belongs to the family of domestic cats.
This animal is tall, long-legged, brightly spotted, and has high-set ears and a short tail. Withers to a height of 65 centimeters, a body length of nearly 1.5 meters including the tail, and a weight of roughly 20 kg.
Humans in ancient Egypt domesticated it. It was a fur trade object for many centuries. There are fourteen subspecies, with the northern subspecies being designated as endangered in the Red Book. under the CITES Convention’s protection.
In the first ten years of this century, owning a domesticated Serval was thought to be a must for living a life of luxury; a kitten could cost up to $50,000. These days, you can purchase one of these pets for $10,000 from reputable breeders, but upkeep will also cost a lot of money. The animal requires an aviary, a sizable space for games, and only fresh, raw meat.
Caracal
The translation of this word from the Turkic peoples’ language is "black brush" or "black ear." A sizable portion of Africa, India, and Turkmenistan are still home to this particular species of predatory mammal.
Morphologically more akin to a puma, but bears resemblance to a large lynx with reddish ticked solid fur and tassels on large ears. Growth at the withers up to 50 centimeters, body length up to one meter including the short tail, and weight approximately 20 kg.
Professional breeders manually grow kittens, removing them from their mother at birth, and are well tired of this intelligent and cautious animal. Price: starting at $10,000.
Ocelot
This raptor cat has the most exquisite coloring in the entire world. Its vividly spotted skin was once a popular target for fur traders, but trading in them is currently prohibited, and the area is protected.
A wild animal cannot be tamed, and socializing even motherless kittens can be incredibly challenging. However, this cat’s unusual beauty makes it desirable for exotic pet owners to own one. Kittens start at fifteen thousand dollars. An aviary is required for maintenance, ideally with a small reservoir.
Puma
Originating from both Americas, "Mountain Leo" This enormous cat, with a length of up to two meters and a weight of roughly seventy kilograms.
Since they are hard to tame, even a hand-fed kitten that reaches puberty should only be kept in an aviary. Russia does not have any breeders at the moment. Getting a kitten is not an easy task. The price range for it is around $20,000.
Lynx
Breeders refer to a common pet subspecies of North American or Canadian lynxes as Bob Cats. The dimensions of the body are approximately one meter in length, up to 65 centimeters at the withers, and fourteen kilograms at weight. smaller than a common lynx by twice. The large ears end in distinctive tassels, the fur is quite long and brown-red in color, and the tail is short.
It is advised to only keep the animal in an aviary. A kitten costs approximately five thousand dollars.
Reed or swamp cat
Since the dawn of Sumerian civilization, people have tamed house cats. This species then made its way to ancient Egypt. This medium-sized cat’s disposition makes socialization simple for it. Short, reddish-gray ticked fur.
With the right care, hand kittens can be fully socialized and raised to live in a home next to a human. A kitten will set you back roughly seven thousand dollars.
Hybrid cat breeds are the most expensive
Although tame kittens can be dangerous to humans once they reach sexual maturity, wild cats are still very attractive. They frequently need to be entirely moved to avian maintenance. However, when they are crossed with a regular domestic cat, new, much more socially adept breeds are produced.
Savannah
This is the biggest house cat that exists today. hybrid breed created by mating a domestic female (Bengal) with a serval. resembling its wild ancestor in appearance.
In the felinological system, a new breed is only registered after the fourth stable generation. The first two generations’ hybrids are nearly as big as a serval, but starting with the third generation, they get much smaller. This domestic cat variety is now fully developed and was registered in the US in 2001.
Well-mannered and attractive animals show loyalty and intelligence to their owners. A kitten from a nursery can cost anywhere between $15,000 and $25,000.
See a savannah article for more information.
Chauszi
Despite the fact that the experimental group first appeared in 1995, the hybrid of the Nile cat House and Abyssinki is only officially recognized as a home breed in the USA as of 2013. Even fourth-generation pets maintain their growth and weight, and their size and structure are identical to that of their wild ancestor. Flax and mobile cats are incredibly devoted to their owners, well-socialized, and resemble dogs in many ways.
The standard is only a solid thickest, and about half of the cases have the coloring tabby born, which adds complexity to the breeding process. Only first-generation hybrids and, extremely infrequently, second-generation hybrids priced at $10,000 are available for purchase in Russia.
There are many fascinating things written here about Chausie or Hausi.
Safari
A cross between the American Shorthair and the Geoffroy cat. The 1970s marked the start of the breed’s research and development. Its color is similar to that of a Bengal cat, despite its entirely different morphology.
It gets along well with other animals and is social. First and second generation kittens are priced between $10,000 and $12,000 each.
Bengal
This marks the inception and pinnacle of American geneticists and breeders’ endeavors. In the wild, the Asian leopard cat (ALC) or small Asian leopard is undoubtedly wild. However, by the fourth generation, exceptionally beautiful and well-socialized individuals are born when it is crossed with a domestic cat.
These days, fur comes in a variety of colors, from snow to coal, but it is always tabby. Gold is the most popular color, followed by silver.
For three thousand dollars or more, one can purchase a genuine Bengal for breeding.
Toyger
Is a Bengal that is "defective." Mackerel is the variety, but it has a tabby color. The spots blend together to create tiger-like stripes.
They are similar to a Bengal cat in both appearance and personality, with the exception of the fur pattern.
Read more about toygers over here.
In addition to their exceptional beauty, some of the most expensive cats in the world are valued for their rarity and exclusivity. Breeds with wild appearances and opulent appeal, such as Ashera, Savannah, and Bengal, are well-known, and their prices frequently reflect their scarcity and unique breeding. Enthusiasts who are prepared to shell out a substantial amount of money to have the status of owning such exotic pets are very interested in these cats.
Ten most expensive domestic cat breeds
The list of domestic breeds recognized by the largest global felinological systems is the TOP-10 most expensive cats.
Khao-mani
The earliest known Thai variation dates back to the fourteenth century, and it can be heard in the old manuscript "Book of Poems about Cats." The translation of "Khao-mani" is "diamond eye." Heterochromia is a common condition in which the fur is exclusively white and the eyes are blue.
Khao-mani are renowned for their intelligent, devoted, and placid demeanor despite their lively and joyful nature.
In Thailand, the USA, Slovenia, France, and other countries, individual catteries sell kittens for ten thousand dollars or more. These creatures are extremely uncommon.
Nibelung
The "child of the fog" has only one color for his semi-long hair, which is blue, and one color for his eyes, which are green. These kitties are well-known for having amazing personalities. They are silent, serene, never hostile, and genuinely and profoundly committed to people.
These extremely rare cats are available for purchase in France and the United States of America. The cost of kittens starts at $10,000.
Manx cat
Ireland is proud of this breed. The name derives from Maine, the name of the island where the first people were discovered.
They resemble lynxes in appearance, have short tails, and typically have tassels on their large ears. The tail’s length can range from normal to total absence. Short hair in different colors. Cymric is the name given to the longhaired breed.
Kittens can cost anywhere from $500 to $4,000, depending on the class.
American Curl
There is another extremely rare and expensive American breed. Its ears turned back are what make it unique. In addition, kittens have normal auricles at birth. The ears start to curl in two to ten days and completely change in five months.
Active, gregarious, intelligent, and they love their owner and every member of the family.
In US catteries—which are, incidentally, quite rare—kittens range in price from $1,000 to $3,000.
See the American Curls article for more information.
Russian Blue
Since the sixteenth century, this breed has been recognized in the Tsarist Russian province of Arkhangelsk. Wars and revolutions almost entirely eliminated the privileged favorites of the tsars and nobility. However, American and European breeders were able to bring them back to life, and in the 1980s of the previous century, they were brought back to Russia.
These cats are prized globally not only for the attractiveness of their green eyes and short blue hair, but also for their endearing personalities. Pets that are friendly, serene, quiet, faithful, and devoted consistently rank among the top in terms of popularity. Kittens can be purchased for between $500 and $2,000.
Serengeti
Karen Southman, a breeder, crossed an Oriental and a Bengal to create a domestic cat that looked wild. She was successful, because Serengeti resembles a tiny version of Serval.
Pets that are gregarious, joyful, energetic, and devoted are mostly seen in America. Kittens can cost anywhere between six hundred and two thousand dollars.
LaPerm
Due to an accidental gene mutation, this breed came into existence. Their owner is a regular American citizen who was only astonished by her pets’ remarkable appearance—their fur looked as though it had been left behind by a permanent wave—and had no idea that she owned cats that were unknown to felinologists.
It is generally accepted that LaPerm belongs to hypoallergenic breeds. These animals are smart, devoted to the owner and energetic. Kittens cost from four hundred to two thousand dollars.
Canadian Sphynx
For many years, hairless cats would occasionally spontaneously give birth to regular, short-haired cats. However, the discovery of a nude kitten on Toronto’s streets marked the beginning of the species’ evolution. Natural genetic mutations are the cause of the absence of fur.
Humans must give these pets more time and attention. They can easily get burned, quickly become cold in the winter, and overheat in the summer sun. They are loyal to their owner, amiable, and submissive. Kittens in the pet class typically cost around $400; however, breeding and exhibition animals can cost up to $2,000.
You can learn a lot of fascinating facts about Canadian sphinxes from this article.
Himalayan cat
The outcome of breeding Siamese and Persian cats to produce a long-haired cat with a color point. The primary background is typically light shades, with almost black points.
These animals have a golden disposition; they are gentle, serene, submissive, and reserved. Kittens from a cattery can cost anywhere between $500 and $1,500.
Maine Coon
The Savannah was thought to be the largest breed of domestic cats until they overtook them in size. Individuals measuring up to 1.5 meters in length, including the tail, are known.
Because of the popular belief that they are descended from a raccoon and a wild female, they are known as "raccoon cats" in the United States.
They have enormous lower jaws, long hair in a variety of colors, and tassels on their enormous ears.
These animals have a calm, reserved nature despite their frightening appearance. Depending on the class, kittens can cost anywhere from six hundred to one and a half thousand dollars.
See the Maine Coons article for more information.
Experimental breeds
Many years of breeding work are done before the breed is officially registered with the largest felinological organizations, which are usually the American TICF and the European WCF. Cats must participate in specialized exhibitions, and the breed standard needs to be developed and approved by professionals. Animals that have failed the required iterations can only be registered as experimental breeds with TICA.
A large number of varieties remain "unrecognized." However, this decision is not final. Following a successful selection process, an animal may be classified as a "domestic cat." These cats have already piqued people’s interest, and the majority of them are quite famous.
Karaket
This is a very young variety, developed at the start of the twenty-first century by American and Russian breeders. hybrid created by mating Caracal and Abyssinian; they are only found in the first and second generations at this time.
Cats that are elegant, strong, and graceful are well-socialized. Their appearance is essentially the same as that of the Caracal.
In the USA, where we live, their starting price is fifteen thousand dollars, which is significantly more.
Elf
The result of breeding work with two popular breeds, the American Curl and the Canadian Sphynx, was a naked cat with tucked-back ears.
Playful and intelligent, infinitely devoted to the owner and yearning for his separation. Despite the lack of recognition for this 2006-only variety, American breeders are still conducting experimental matings. The newcomer has captured the hearts of rare cat enthusiasts, who are excitedly awaiting its development. The cost of an elf can vary from six hundred to two thousand dollars.
Bambino
Munchkins and Canadian Sphynxes participated in the selection. The cat combined two traits from its ancestors: short legs and a nude body. In the same litter, kittens with normal-length limbs may also be born.
They are currently only recognized as an experimental breed by TICA. This endearing and humorous pet, who looks a lot like a dachshund, loves to get into mischief and play with strange things.
Adorably devoted to its owner, it lives the life of an eternal child. By now, the first people are ten years old. These animals are rare, so it’s hard to find them. Kittens are priced starting at one thousand dollars.
Find out a lot of fascinating information about the Bambino here.
Laika
2010 saw the first appearance of extremely unusual kittens in the state of Virginia, most likely due to a spontaneous genetic mutation. Their undercoat is completely absent, and in some areas their bald body is visible due to their extremely sparse fur. They are colored like a roan horse, and they have big bald ears. These creatures may not seem particularly attractive at first, but their kind, lively, and gregarious personalities make them endearing.
The Greek word "laika" means "wolf." The breed’s name was chosen through comparison to a frightful figure from American horror movies.
In 2012, TICA registered the breed as experimental. The starting price for these unique pets is $1,000.
Kohona
In Hawaiian, kohona literally translates to "naked, naked." It goes by the names Hawaiian rubber cat and Hawaiian naked. There are currently fewer than fifty examples of this breed worldwide. Atypical nude kittens with entirely nude skin, or "rubber," were born in Hawaii in the 1980s.
An explanation for hairlessness is a natural mutation. Their body structure, type of skin folds, and lack of any vegetation on the body are all different from those of the Sphynx. Not even eyebrows or whiskers are present. They have a kind and loyal personality. Kohona is priced starting at one thousand dollars.
Breed | Average Price |
---|---|
Savannah | $20,000 |
Persian | $5,000 |
Bengal | $4,000 |
Peterbald | $3,000 |
British Shorthair | $2,000 |
Being the owner of one of the priciest cats in the world is an experience unlike any other. In addition to their exquisite appearance, these breeds are highly valued for their unique personalities, uncommon genes, and lengthy histories.
There are other expenses to take into account besides the hefty price tag. For many of these cats to thrive, they need particular environments, diets, and care. It’s critical to be ready for the obligations that come with having a rare breed as a pet.
Whether you find their unique charm or exotic appearance fascinating, these cats will always be associated with exclusivity and luxury. Nevertheless, the love and company they provide are invaluable in the end.