5 years ago
Hello Kitty! Cat lovers are scooping up a brand-new somewhat heftier designer breed of cat. But the Savannahs come with a price tag bigger than they are, and a bit of controversy.
9 News' Stacey Cohan reports on what some consider cat-contraband.
Stacey Cohan's report
They sure are pretty kitties. Even a cat critic might be taken in by their extraordinary markings and for feline fanatics like Kim Orrell, the Savannah cat is irresistible.
"They are affectionate", says Savannah breeder Kim Orrell.
This life long cat lover never considered breeding animals, until she got a glimpse of this brand new animal.
What they are is a hybrid, a creation born of a domestic cat and an African Serval, a wild animal. And therein lies the controversy.
Still, plenty of people are buying the cats, at about $4,000 apiece. Maybe, it's the exotic look or the Savannah's large, athletic build, or what Kim calls a dog-like personality.
But not everyone thinks they're the cat's meow.
Michael Markarian with the Humane Society says they have potential to be dangerous, being that they're a mix of a wild animal.
The Humane Society is not alone in opposing Savannahs. The cat is banned in New York City and several states have laws deeming all exotics and hybrids illegal.
So far Savannahs are safe in Virginia, home to Kim Orrell. And she's so hooked on her pets, she says she'll leave the state if her Savannahs become unwelcome.
Click on video to see Stacey Cohan's report.
Written by Stacey Cohan
