Who doesn’t love a cute little kitty cat? If you are a cat owner, then you likely take picture after picture of your little furball to show him or her off on social media. We don’t blame you! Cats are wonderful animals who will always be there for us when we need them. Sure, cats may be more stand-offish than a dog will be, but they can and do bring millions of people happiness and joy.
Most cats are somewhat self-efficient, a plus for those of us with busy lives! An indoor cat does not need to be bathed, and it can disappear for hours at a time without bothering us. Many of them even shy away from affection while others will walk all over you at all times. Some cats love the taste of catnip and will go crazy when they are given it. They are fun animals that make the world a much better place!
In most cases, purchasing a cat isn’t an expensive endeavor. In fact, you can often find kittens being given away for free if you aren’t trying to pay for one! Shelters are often overrun with cats and kittens, especially in rural areas that have a large outdoor population of unneutered and unsprayed cats. Finding a cat for cheap is pretty easy when you live in the right area.
However, some cats still cost an arm and a leg to buy. This was the case for the world’s most expensive cat- the California Spangled Cat.
This particular cat was so expensive that it made it into the Guinness Book of World Records many years ago as the “world’s most expensive cat” breed. In January 1987, one cat in particular was purchased for a whopping $24,000. This lucky feline was so expensive that it even made it onto the cover of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book in 1986! The cat was such a hit on the cover that thousands of orders were then placed from customers all over the world.
Who wouldn’t want a cat that looked like a wild cat but had the temperament of a domesticated breed? Udana Power was a very close friend of the creator of this particular breed, Paul Casey, often talking about how Casey came up with the idea of the new cat. In the 1980s, the Bengal cat began to gain popularity among the public even as it diminished in numbers. Casey came back from Africa with an idea-maybe he could highlight the plight of the lower numbers of wild cats by combining a wild cat with a domestic cat. This was at a time when there was an increased interest in wild cat hybrids and new cat breeds.
The beautiful California Spangled Cat was completely domesticated, despite it being bred with a Bengal. Sleek and sophisticated, many pet lovers yearned to be able to purchase such an expensive cat. The California Spangled Cat may have even been sold for more than $30,000 at one point.
Unfortunately, the breed didn’t take off among the public, even after appearing on the cover of the Neiman Marcus book. The price likely drove people away despite the hype that surrounded the amazing breed. Maybe someday we will all be blessed with a similar breed. Until then, make sure to head to your local shelter to check out all of the amazing cats and kittens they have to offer. You’ll save a life while gaining a friend- a win-win for everyone involved. With plenty of cats to choose from, it won’t take long at all to find the feline of your dreams!
