ABC

A Chicago family is sparing no expense after they lost their rare cat while vacationing in San Diego, Calif.

The Fosco family's male cat, Ivy, went missing July 17, according to ABC News Station KGTV. On top of the $5,000 reward for the safe return of the cat, the family hired a bloodhound team from Los Angeles Wednesday, hoping the dog can sniff out Ivy.

Ivy is a rare Savannah cat, which is no regular housecat. A Savannah is derived from breeding an African serval wild cat with a domestic cat. A first-generation cat can cost more than $20,000. Ivy is a second generation, but still worth a lot of money.

"It's really got nothing to do with the money in my eyes," said Paul Fosco, whose son Mike owns the cat. "He's wandered away before, but Mike's always been able to find him."

The family plans to stay in the San Diego area for a few more days as the search continues for the one and a half year old cat.

The family said Ivy was equipped with a microchip and hopes the tracking device will reunite them.

"For people who own pets and are truly in love with them, it's not just a pet," Fosco said. "It's a member of the family. It's more than just a cat or a dog."