Modern day ‘Noah’ makes it his mission to save rare cat from extinction: ‘Moral and spiritual obligation’
A modern-day Noah is on a mission to ensure a rare cat breed not only survives but thrives.
Brooklyn Rabbi Michael Salita — brother of welterweight boxing champ Dmitry Salita — owns three of the only documented Kanaani cats in the world. He describes his work as a “moral and spiritual obligation” to preserve the breed and its rich symbolism.
“This is my boat — and I’m trying to save this breed,” Salita told The Post. “You’re not going to find anyone else who has it.”
The Kanaani, named after the land of Canaan that preceded Israel, originated in Jerusalem in the 1990s. Holocaust survivor and artist Doris Pollatschek developed the breed by crossing a rescued African wildcat with a local stray.
For the past year, Salita, 52, has devoted himself to nurturing the breed, calling it a personal journey to “strengthen the connection between past and future.”
“In our generation, there is no one else standing between the Kanaani and extinction,” said Salita, who is a registered World Cat Federation Kanaani breeder. “I see this as my rabbinical mission. [G-d] gave me this assignment, and I’m very thankful.”
Salita’s three Kanaanis — Haifa, Arbuz, and Laila — are not just pets. He even walks them on the terrace “like a dog,” he said, and treasures the moments they rub noses with him. “It feels like love,” he added.
The cats are playful, intelligent, and “talkative,” forming strong bonds with humans. The breed is distinguished by large, tufted ears, almond-shaped green eyes (the gold standard), a short hypoallergenic coat, a triangular face, and a slim, elongated body.
“It’s the most beautiful cat in the world — if King David were to choose a cat, it would be a Kanaani,” Salita said. He hopes to get the rare breed into the hands of President Trump to help protect this “holy breed” from disappearing.
Salita also draws a spiritual connection, claiming the Kanaanis have roots in Eden. “These cats come from Eden — they’re not regular cats; they’re special.”
The breed was registered with the World Cat Federation in 2000, followed by two other cat associations. But the exact number of Kanaanis worldwide remains uncertain.
Not all experts, however, recognize the Kanaani as a distinct breed. “The experimental Kanaani is registered for tracking purposes only. It is an experimental record, and we do not recognize it as a breed,” said Letty Chavez, registrations supervisor for the International Cat Association.
Selling Kanaanis isn’t an option due to their small numbers, Salita said. He has been offered $3,000 for one by a cat lover who “appreciates their spirituality,” but he emphasizes that the focus is on preserving the breed, not profit. “The person has to appreciate them and vow not to sterilize them,” he said.
There’s hope for the future: Haifa is pregnant and may soon deliver up to four kittens, giving the rare breed a chance to multiply.
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