The Most Expensive Cat Breeds in the World

Pedigree cats can cost thousands of dollars. Multiple factors such as breed, gender, age, coat color, and the breeder can change a cat’s price dramatically. In addition, the number of wild genes in specific breeds can also dramatically raise the price of a cat.

There are some elite cat breeds that can be very expensive. This is especially true if you are purchasing one from a reputable breeder while the cat is still a young kitten.

In this article, we will list the most expensive cat breeds and explain why these feline friends are so expensive.

Most Expensive Cats

Here is a list of some of the most expensive cats that money can buy.

American Curl Cat

What is an American Curl Cat?

American curl cats get their name from their unique ears that curl backward.

This is a very new breed of cat originating from a natural genetic mutation found in a California cat back in the 1980s.

The American Curl cat is often displayed in cat shows and is considered to be highly prized.

The cartilage in these cats’ unique ears is not very strong and they should be treated carefully.

These are actually very active cats, so they require daily exercise in order to live healthy and happy lives.

How Much Does an American Curl Cat Cost?

Typically these cats cost around $1,000, but you could pay up to $3,000 for a show-quality American Curl cat.

American Wirehair Cat

What is an American Wirehair Cat?

This is a fairly rare and intelligent breed that has short hair. These cats have wiry short hair that gives them a unique look. They originated in the state of New York in the 1960s.

As with other unique cats on this list, one kitten (named Adam) was noticed as being different in a cat litter and selective breeding led to the American Wirehair Cat.

To this day, all American Wirehair Cats are descendants of Adam!

The American Wirehair usually has a loving and gentle temperament, which makes them affectionate with the members of their family.

How Much Does an American Wirehair Cat Cost?

These cats tend to cost between $800 and $1,200 depending on what breeder you purchase from.

Ashera Cat

What is an Ashera Cat?

The Ashera has been dubbed one of the world’s most expensive domestic cat breeds, and there is a very good reason for that.

Ashera Cats are very rare. They have a truly wild appearance, being a hybrid cat breed between the Asian Leopard Cat, the African Serval, and a domestic house cat.

These wild-looking cats can weigh up to 30 pounds!

What Does an Ashera Cat Cost?

Due to their rarity, these cats are usually pretty expensive, and the price range for these cats is $15,000 to over $100,000.

Ashera cats tend to be too expensive for most people so you won’t see many of them but they are beautiful!

Bengal Cat

What is a Bengal Cat?

The Bengal cat was originally a cross between the Asian leopard cat and a domestic feline. They are a relatively new cat breed. They really look like wild cats!

Bengal cats were first recognized as a breed in 1983 by The International Cat Association.

A lady named Jean Mills is credited with being the originator of the Bengal cat breed.

Considering their wild lineage, these exotic cats can be pretty expensive, especially when they have a lot of wild genes in them.

This is not the only factor that contributes to a Bengal cat’s price though. Things like age, gender, coat color, and lineage factor into a Bengal Cat’s price as well.

Like most other cat breeds, females are more expensive than males and kittens are also more expensive than adult Bengal cats.

In addition, the rarer a coat color is, the more expensive they tend to be as well.

How Much Does a Bengal Cat Cost?

Due to this wide variety, a Bengal cat can cost anywhere between $600 and $6,000 depending on the above factors and breeder.

Egyptian Mau Cat

What is an Egyptian Mau Cat?

The Egyptian Mau is an ancient breed. They are a favorite amongst cat enthusiasts because of their large ears and green eyes.

Egyptians Maus are known for their spotted coat which is somewhat unusual for a domestic cat to have.

Mau simply means cat in the Egyptian language.

Although this is a completely domestic cat breed, the Egyptian Mau does have a stunning wild look.

How Much Does an Egyptian Mau Cat Cost?

The average price tag for a well-bred Egyptian Mau is between $600 and $2,000.

Like all of the other cats on our list, the price of an Egyptian Mau depends on their age, lineage, and coat colorations.

The more established a Mau kittens lineage is and the rarer their markings and coat color are, the more expensive they will be.

Khao Manee Cat

What is a Khao Manee Cat?

The Khao Manee Cat is an ancient pure white cat that originated from Thailand. These cats often have two different colored eyes.

Usually, one eye will be blue and the other will be green. However, it can vary, and many of these cats have two blue eyes instead of odd eyes.

Although this is a breed that is hundreds of years old it wasn’t officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association until fairly recently.

The name, Khao Manee, is said to mean “white gem”. Fitting name for an all-white cat of this stature.

How Much Does a Khao Manee Cat Cost?

The average price for Khao Manee cats is $1,000 to $2,000 and sometimes even more.

Maine Coon Cat

What is a Maine Coon Cat?

Maine Coon cats are big! It is known as a good hunter and is one of the oldest and most popular cat breeds in the United States.

Being from Maine, the Maine Coon is the official state cat and the only long-haired breed native to the United States.

The Maine Coon breed gets its origin from cats that stowed away on sailing vessels and came to Maine.

Some say the unique name for this cat comes from a sailor named Charles Coon. While others credit the name to the cat’s unique look with a bushy tail that resembles a Raccon’s tail.

These large cats have luxurious long fur and a cute face, which melts the hearts of cat lovers everywhere.

How Much Does a Maine Coon Cat Cost?

It may surprise many people that Maine Coons are expensive cats, especially considering how popular they are.

When getting a Maine Coon kitten from a reputable breeder you can expect to pay anywhere between $600 and $2,000 depending on the cat’s age, gender, and coat color.

Norwegian Forest Cat

What is a Norwegian Forest Cat?

This beautiful cat has long hair and is originally from Northern Europe. The Norwegian Forest Cat breed is in fairly high demand due to its stunning good looks.

Its thick fur coat, that repels water and provides insulation, makes this cat ideal for withstanding cold European winters.

What Does a Norwegian Forest Cat Cost?

A Norwegian long-haired cat only tends to cost from $500 up to $900 if you get one from a good breeder.

Coat color does not alter the price of this cat too much although age, gender, and lineage are still price factors.

Persian Cat

What is a Persian Cat?

The Persian cat is an ancient breed originating in Persia. By the way, this area is known as Iran today.

It is said that England’s Queen Victoria loved Persian cats.

Records show that this long-haired cat was first brought to the United States in the 1800s.

How Much Does a Persian Cat Cost?

Persian cats can cost as little as $500 or $600 and all the way up to $6,000. There are many factors that go into the price of one of these expensive pets.

Typically a female kitten of a unique coat color from an established reputable breeder will be among the most expensive Persian cats out there.

This is because females are more expensive than males, and kitten Persians are more expensive than adults.

Of course, the rarer coat colors will increase the price of a Persian cat as well. Purchasing a cat from an experienced reputable breeder will also be more expensive.

Peterbald Cat

What is a Peterbald Cat?

Another recent cat breed, the Peterbald was created in the 1990s after a hairless Sphynx was bred to an oriental shorthair. Like the Russian Blue, they originated in Russia.

Interestingly, they were from St Petersburg, Russia, and can be hairless. Hmmm, I guess that makes the name Peterbald! Clever!

While these cats can be hairless they can also have a coat of fur. They tend to have the body and facial structure of their oriental shorthair parent.

The Peterbald is known to be a friendly, playful, and intelligent cat. As a result, this is a cat that you can train if you want to do so. They are often sought after as show cats.

How Much Does a Peterbald Cat Cost?

These cats are pretty rare in the United States, so the price tag on a Peterbald kitten is high at around $1,000 or more.

Ragdoll Cat

What is a Ragdoll Cat?

These popular, fluffy cats are adorable, and one of the highest in demand in the United States as a result.

In addition to being such loving cats, they are so popular because of their striking blue eyes!

First bred in the 1960s it is said Ragdoll cats get their name from the limp body posture that they exhibit when being held.

A lady named Ann Baker in Riverside, California is credited with the development of the Ragdoll cat breed.

These cats have long silky coats, and they tend to be good-natured and have a friendly, easy-going temperament.

How Much Does a Ragdoll Cat Cost?

The price range for these beautiful cats is between $500 and $3,000.

The main factor in the price for a ragdoll is whether the cat is show quality or not, and this is usually seen through their lineage and coat quality.

Russian Blue Cat

What is a Russian Blue Cat?

This is a Russian breed of cat, hence the name. The Russian Blue (as they are commonly called) was said to be the favorite cat of the Russian Czars!

These cats are famous for their blue dense coats (grayish) and loyalty to their owners. Many Russian Blue owners have reported that their cat greets them when they return home.

How Much Does a Russian Blue Cat Cost?

However, this also means that this can be a rare breed to find in the United States, which can make purchasing one fairly expensive.

Most Russian Blues cost around $500 to $750, but show quality Blues can cost much more depending on their lineage.

Savannah Cat

What is a Savannah Cat?

The Savannah cat is yet another domestic cat breed with wild ancestry and an exotic look.

These large cats have long legs and a muscular build, making them extremely adept jumpers and climbers.

This is because this cat breed was created by breeding a domestic house cat to an African Serval.

Like the Bengal, the more wild cat genes a Savannah cat is, the more expensive they tend to be.

How Much Does a Savannah Cat Cost?

Like all of the other cat breeds on this list gender, age, coat coloration, and lineage play a large role in the price of a Savannah as well.

Most pet quality Savannah cats can cost anywhere between $800 to a couple of thousand.

However, show-quality F1 cats can cost up to an astounding $20,000 or more! Their rarity is the reason they can sometimes bring such an extremely high price.

Scottish Fold Cat

What is a Scottish Fold Cat?

The Scottish fold is adored by their unique look from their folded ears and round face, which makes these cats distinctly adorable!

It is said that a gene mutation causes their ears to fold over at the top giving them this amazing look.

While history shows that cats with folded ears go back hundreds of years, the Scottish Fold breed dates back to the early 1960s.

How Much Does a Scottish Fold Cost?

Like many of the other cat breeds on our list, these popular pets tend to cost around $1,000 when purchased from a reputable breeder.

Different colors, age, gender, and lineage contribute to how much a Scottish Fold will cost.

Selkirk Rex Cat

What is a Selkirk Rex Cat?

This cat is one of the few cats that have the curly coat gene, and their long super curly hair is definitely a show stopper.

Once again, this is a new breed of cat showing up in the late 1980s. And you may wonder how it got its unique name?

Well, a lady named Jeri Newman is credited with developing the breed and named it after her stepfather Rex, and the Selkirk mountain range.

Often compared to the British shorthair cat in stature, these gentle giants have a large frame and an easy-going temperament.

How Much Does a Selkirk Rex Cat Cost?

It is reported that most Selkirk Rex cats cost between $600 and $1,500 in the United States.

Siberian Forest Cat

What is a Siberian Forest Cat!

The Siberian Forest cat has a thick, bushy, long coat that is designed to keep them warm through the harsh Siberian winter and other cold climates.

Yes, this is another cat breed from Russia that has been around for hundreds of years.

The Siberian Forest Cat was first shown to the western world at the famous Crytal Palace in London, England in the late 1800s.

These forest cats tend to be more expensive than their Norwegian Forest cat cousins. They are fairly large cats and it is said they once weighed as much as 45 pounds and were used to protect humans.

How Much Does a Siberian Forest Cat Cost?

Siberian Forest cats usually cost $1,000 to $2,000 from a reputable breeder. Show quality cats tend to be twice as expensive, and they can cost up to $4,000.

Sphynx Cat

What is a Sphynx Cat?

The Sphynx cat first came into being in Canada in the 1960s. In a litter of kittens, one was noticed as having no hair.

Careful breeding was utilized to create the breed of hairless cats with this genetic mutation. The Devon Rex and Selkirk Rex cats have this unique gene that leads to a Sphynx cat.

These hairless cats are arguably one of the most unique-looking cat breeds due to their lack of fur which was created naturally through a spontaneous mutation.

You won’t have to worry about shedding issues with a Sphynx cat! Although, some Sphynx cats do have some small amounts of barely noticeable fur.

How Much Does a Sphynx Cat Cost?

A hairless Sphynx cat can cost prospective owners anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000. This mostly has to do with their lineage. Show-quality Sphynx cats are more expensive.

There is such a thing as an “outcross Sphynx cat”. They basically have a different set of genetics and tend to be much less expensive than their hairless siblings because they have a normal coat of hair.

Conclusion

Owning an expensive purebred cat is sure to be a wonderful experience. There are many to choose from and they all will be loving pets.

Of course, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a feline friend! Many animal shelters and rescues have lots of adorable stray cats that need good homes.

Although many of these breeds are not fancy wild cat hybrids or purebred pedigree Persians, they all still make great furry friends.