What makes some CryptoKitties more valuable than others? And why do some kitties plummet in value while others don't? How can you tell ahead of time?

Let's talk.

Kitties get their value from two things: SCARCITY and DESIRABILITY. If a cat maintains both over time, they'll hold their value much better than the new hotshot cat with shiny antlers. Here are some things to think about before buying the expensive kitty in the window.

WHICH CATS ARE SCARCE?

Gen 0 Cats – There will only be 50,000 Gen 0 cats. (They will stop being produced in November 2018.) Other generations can be created through breeding, but Gen 0 cats cannot. They will easily be more scarce than higher generations.

Low-Generation Cats with Mutations – There are five tiers of cattributes: Basic Traits, Tier-1 Mutations, Tier-2 Mutations, Tier-3 Mutations, and Tier-4 Mutations. Gen 0 cats only come out with Basic Traits (so far, at least). The other traits have to be developed through mutation and breeding. A low-generation cat with mutations is difficult to create and will thus remain rare for longer. The new traits that pop up in Gen 0 cats, however, are Basic Traits and will spread quickly. Those traits will only be rare for a few days, then they’ll be as common as tulips. But a Gen 2 manx with wingtips? Hooo….that’s goooood.
TRAITS ARE NOT INHERENTLY RARE. CERTAIN CATS WITH CERTAIN TRAITS ARE RARE.

Tiers of Cattributes - The darker the blue, the harder to get in low-gen cats.
(The blanks are undiscovered cattributes.)

Fancy Cats – These cats, like SantaClaws, have special artwork and can only be created through breeding a perfect blend of cattributes. They’re harder to create so they usually maintain their rarity for longer.

Purebred Cats – For each trait, cats have a dominant gene and three recessive genes. When all four genes match, it is a purebred cat in that trait. They’re difficult to create (especially purebreds in multiple categories), so they maintain their rarity longer. They're also really useful because they give more predictable breeding results, and they'll become increasingly rare as more genes are introduced into the game.

Exclusive Cats – These are cats like Genesis or the Bug Cats. They cannot be created through breeding, so they have definitive rarity. There will only ever be one Genesis. Period.

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WHICH CATS ARE DESIRABLE?

What makes a cat desirable is obviously very subjective, but here are some ideas.

Pretty Cattributes – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but over time, we might start seeing trends as to what a broad audience prefers. For example, wingtip eyes seem more popular than crazy eyes.

Fancy Cats – Their special artwork and collectability factor generally make Fancy Cats more desirable. (Except that DuCat. What’s up with that guy?)

Useful Cats – Some cats are very useful for breeding. Virgin cats have great cooldown speeds, and low-generation cats make kittens with great cooldown speeds. Cats with several rare traits are great for breeding rare traits, and purebred cats are more predictable when breeding.

Celebrity Cats – Cats like the Wikileaks Cats may be more desirable because they’re well-known and associated with something notable. Also, as the game evolves, cats may have awards linked to them, making them famous in their own right.

Cool Cats – Early cats (cats with a low kitty #) may be more desirable for nostalgia or rarity. Other cats, such as Kitty #444444 who’s also a Gen 44, may have extra desirability just because it’s kinda cool. First-of-its-kind cats (first mainecoon, first SantaClaws) may also get extra credit. Who knows at this point.

Gamer Cats – As third-parties start developing games and interactions for the kitties, cats may become more desirable based on their ability to perform in those environments. Maybe those crazy eyes actually have a superpower?!

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In short, if you're looking to buy kitties that hold their value, don't just dump a bunch of ETH on the latest new trait. Think about what will be scarce and desirable over time.

Or just buy a cute kitty and love it forever. That's actually the best approach. :)

Happy Kittying!
-- Jodiferous, cryptokitties411.com

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(This is my very first Steemit article. If you found it helpful, I would sure appreciate the upvotes. Thanks!)