Owning a Designer Cat May Cost More Than You Think

People flashing their cute little teacup chihuahuas and dressed-up canines is an ongoing fad -- the smaller the better. I remember to my surprise, when I was vacationing in Florida, I stopped at a small pet-boutique to do some browsing and a woman reached in her purse and pulled out a mini-dog! It easily fit in the palm of her hand! The poor little dog just sat their shaking as the owner spoiled the pet like it was her baby.

To keep up with the latest in pet trends, the evolution of designer felines is beginning to take the world by storm.

Breeders are taking the plain old domestic cat and cross-breeding it with an Asian leopard or in some cases, even a jungle cat! These hybrid kitties are going for a very hefty price tag -- anywhere from a few hundred dollars to around $20,000.00.

Designer cats have become more of a style statement than anything else. Hybrid felines are being bred just for the mere fact that breeders know they can make some serious moula with these pets. Unfortunately, breeders don't tend to take into consideration what damage they are doing to either breed of the cat.

Crossbreeding is not a good idea because it ultimately destroys the bloodline and DNA of pure-bred cats.

Designer cats are seemingly becoming the latest trend in the hybrid pet craze, but at what price? Not only do they cost a lot, the long term care and health complications arising from mixing the breeds has side effects that can't be treated by a simple visit to the vet.

As a result of cross-breeding, there are true physical malformations and health risks that some of these felines encounter. Mixing breeds can be dangerous to both the pet and the owner.

Just because your new hybrid kitty seems perfectly fine on the outside, doesn't mean that internally he may be have several health complications. When breeds are mixed between domesticated and wild -- the development of vital organs can become altered.

Keep in mind that a hybrid designer cat may not be as sweet and mild-mannered as the house cat you are used to. Remember, some have roots that stem from living and surviving in the wild -- the instincts they carry over from the wild to domestication, can be deadly. Many hybrid cats become quite big and their instincts to kill and hunt still reside inside of them. This spells a dangerous situation for anyone -- especially young children and small family pets.

These factors aren't stopping designer cat enthusiasts from going out and purchasing these felines. When money is not an object, some potential buyers rarely think about what conditions these animals initially came from. Another problem is many of these pets are bred day in and day out and their bodies are not able to recover fully to regain proper strength and stamina. Many cats housed with these breeders are not receiving proper medical care and are not up to date on their shots. This puts them and others at risk of getting sick. Most breeders only care about putting money in their own pocket and not focusing on the care of the cats.

Because most of these animals are not registered through a club or organization, a question could be raised as to how the pets are being treated during the breeding and pregnancy stage. If a breeder is just in it for the buck --some of these cats may be in danger or at an increased risk for developing health problems, especially during their pregnancy and delivery stages.

The hybrid cat scene has remained quite controversial due to the fact that they are selling for such a high price.

Some breeders are even trying to cash in on mixing pure-bred felines with mixed-bred felines. They are selling the cat for much less than an exotic cat, or worse yet, scamming people to believe they are buying an exotic cat and charging them hundreds of dollars for the feline.

With designer kittens that resemble small snow leopards or mini-black jaguar -- the look appeals to all ages. Some seek them out as distinct gifts to give to their favorite debutante or "super spoiled" child who may not be capable of taking care of an animal whose roots come straight from the wild.

These cats are merely being bred and sold to simply "show off."

None the less, as with designer dogs, designer cats are the newest up-and-coming trend in the lifestyles of the wannabe chic and famous.

As tempting as it would be, if you consider purchasing a darling little kitten that resembles a mini-leopard -- think twice. Consider the long-term repercussions of owning and caring for a designer cat -- you may get more than you bargained for!