Ashera Cat

The Ashera cat is a hybrid breed that has caused some controversy.

The breed was marketed by Lifestyle Pets as an African Serval paired with Asian Leopard cat paired with a domestic cat.

However, it was later discovered through DNA testing that the breed was actually an F1 Savannah cat, which is the closest generation to the Asian Leopard cat.

The breed is a cross between the Serval, which is a wild African cat, and a domestic feline.

The Ashera is the first generation of kittens born to this breeding pair. The first one was produced in 1986 and approved in 2001.

Ashera Cat Breed Characteristics

The Ashera cat is much larger than your typical domestic cat as they can reach a height of almost four feet!  That is one tall kitty.

Asheras can weigh anywhere from 26 to 33 pounds, where most cats weigh 10 to 12 pounds. The Ashera’s are very big cats – and really more the size of a medium-sized dog.

The Ashera is a beauty with big green eyes and a cream-colored body with very distinctive brown spots across their bodies.

There are some white Ashera cats that also have amber patches.

Some Ashera cats are also bred specifically to be a hypoallergenic cat.

Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance

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Ashera Cat Personality

While the Ashera is a very large cat and can appear intimidating and maybe even dangerous, they are actually very calm and quiet cats.

While they enjoy being around people and are social cats, they are also OK to be left alone in the house.

This is not a cat that will have separation anxiety!

However, leaving toys out for your Ashera to play with and scratching posts is always a good idea.

Asheras are smart and very trainable.

If you would like to take your very big cat on a walk, they are usually amiable and happy to be outdoors.  This is a cat that you should be able to train to walk on a leash.

Their coat has very thin fur, so you really only need to brush your Ashera once a week to keep it in good shape.

Common Health Conditions in Ashera Cats

As a purebred cat, the Ashera does have some potential health concerns that are important to know upfront:

Some Ashera cats inherit the Servals tendency to have a smaller life expectancy, although this doesn’t have many medical impacts on their overall health and condition.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a very common heart disease in cats of all breeds. HCM occurs when there is an abnormal thickness of either one or more of the areas of the walls of your cat’s heart.   It will usually occur in the left ventricle.

In fact, it is possible that the Bengal Cat, which shares genetics with the Ashera, has links to the disease as well as the Ragdoll.

There aren’t always symptoms of the disease which is why it’s important to have your Ashera’s heart monitored from time to time.

The treatment for feline cardiomyopathy usually involves the administration of drugs that help to restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a disease that is common among cats and even dogs and will occur when the gums or any part of the cat’s mouth is inflamed.  While any cat can have periodontal disease, Ashera cats, Cymrics and Manx are known to have periodontal disease at a higher occurrence.

Brushing and inspecting your cat’s teeth are often recommended.  (Not that it’s easy!)

Should You Buy Pet Insurance for Your Ashera Cat?

Since the Ashera cat does have a predisposition toward HCM, pet insurance can allow you to provide the treatment they need if the disease is present.

The right provider is even willing to cover the tests to determine their HCM status through congenital or hereditary illness as well as all the lab work that goes with it.

And with cat insurance, you can be reimbursed up to 90% of your medical expenses!

Ashera cat insurance can cover a variety of situations, though it does depend on your cat insurance policy.

Emergency vet fees can be expensive, especially during longer treatments. In addition, cat insurance policies typically cover emergency treatments, medications, and testing.

Even if your Ashera, hopefully, doesn’t have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, there are many other illnesses or even accidents that can occur during your cat’s life.

If your cat were to swallow something dangerous, you could potentially be spending $5,000 or even more to cover the various medical expenses.

You never want to be in a position where your cat gets ill or hurt and you can’t afford the care to help your Ashera. That is exactly why pet insurance exists.

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Finding The Best Pet Insurance for Your Ashera

The best way to find pet insurance for your cat is to compare different companies to make sure it’s the best fit for you.

The first thing you should do is talk to your veterinarian about the potential health conditions that could occur with your cat.

Make sure that your pet insurance covers hereditary and congenital conditions that might be inherent in your Ashera.

Plans like Petplan, Embrace and Figo will cover all of these conditions and more in all of their plans.

The best time to enroll your cat in a pet insurance policy is while they are young before any pre-existing conditions occur.  There aren’t any pet insurance companies that will cover pre-existing conditions.

Look for a benefit level that will suit your needs and give you a high enough limit so you are never paying out of pocket.  Healthy Paws is one of the few pet insurance companies that have unlimited benefits in all their plans.

When choosing a plan, a comprehensive policy offers the most well-rounded coverage and is always the best option so that you know if your cat gets hurt or ill, you are covered for the treatment and testing that is necessary.

There are other plans that cover only accidents, but those plans tend to be too limiting as you want to be covered for illness too.  If you have an older cat, an accident only plan could be a good alternative option.

Have your questions ready and think about your cat’s needs. Get a couple of quotes from a few pet insurance companies.

If you want to find a new cat insurance policy that offers comprehensive coverage and more, our list of best cat insurance providers is a great place to start!

 

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Cat Breeds

 

We have worked hard to provide you with all the free resources possible to help give you insight into the best pet insurance for cats, additional cat breeds info, common cat health issues, and a fun look at frequently asked cat questions.

 

Additional Cat Breeds:

 

American Curl Cat, American Wirehair Cat, Arabian Mau Cat, Ashera Cat, Balinese Cat, Burmese Cat, Chartreux Cat, Chausie Cat, Cymric Cat, Domestic Medium Hair Cat 

Himalayan Cat, Japanese Bobtail Cat, Manx Cat, Nebelung Cat, Norwegian Forest Cat, Orange Tabby Cat, Oriental Cat, Persian Cat, Pixie-Bob Cat, Russian Blue Cat

Scottish Fold Cat, Selkirk Rex Cat, Siamese Cat, Siberian Cat, Singapura Cat, Somali Cat, Thai Cat, Toygers Cat, Turkish Angora Cat, LaPerm Cat, Maine Coon Cat

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