MNN - Mother Nature Network

There are more than 150 million dogs and cats in the United States and close to four in 10 homes count a feline or canine as a member of their household. Most of those animals were saved from shelters or purchased from a pet store, costing no more than $100 or so, but pet owners looking for more specific breeds can spend hundreds getting a cat or dog with breed certification papers.

 

Then there are the rich pet owners who willingly throw down tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars for an animal that will not only provide comfort and companionship but might also make their friends jealous. Some of the most expensive cats and dogs in the world are intensively bred to be hypoallergenic while others are just rare.

 

Whatever the reason for the eye-popping price tags, the following cats and dogs can set you back an arm and a tail.