What is a Savannah?

A Savannah is a new hybrid of the wild African Serval and  a domestic cat. Sometimes called a Serval hybrid, the breed is a large cat that looks like a Serval in body type and coat pattern, but has a desired domestic temperament, taking on the best of both breeds. They are regal, elegant, and loveable. Savannahs are hightly active and extremely intelligent and can be very "talkative".  They are excellent with other pets and with children, and they form very strong bonds with their families. The Savannah is classified as a domestic cat by both the USDA and The International Cat Association. They do not need specialized care or diet.

What is a Serval?

The African serval is a wild cat who may have an unpredictable temperament, is hyperactive and on reaching maturity can become very solitary, limiting interactions even with their human families. Servals are larger than Savannahs and require special diets, large amounts of living space and specialized vet care. They also require large amounts of your time in order to maintain the bond developed as kittens. They are not safe around small children and other animals. Many Provinces/Counties/Cities have laws prohibiting the ownership of these cats.

How old is the Savannah Breed?

The first successful mating of a Serval with a domestic cat was accomplished on April 7, 1986. The unusual cross became popular among breeders in the 1990s, and in 2001 the International Cat Association accepted it as a new registered breed. In May 2012, TICA accepted it as a championship breed. Few breeders successfully cross the Serval to a domestic cat. For this reason, only a limited number of early generation Savannahs exist.

Are Savannahs wild and dangerous?

Many people define “wild” as unpredictable, aggressive and dangerous. This is not true. The African Serval is one of the most “domesticated” of the exotic or wild cats, and is one of the most common wild cats kept in the domestic setting not just today, but as far back as ancient Egypt. By crossing the serval with the domestic cat we get a high energy, interactive companion that makes a wonderful loving pet. It is important to note however, that the F1 Savannahs will have more serval traits making them more intense, energetic and independent than the F2’s and successive generations.

What does F1, F2, F3, etc. mean?

“F” stands for "Filial", which is “the sequence of generations following the parental generation” .  It tells us the Filial generation of the Savannah cat, or how far removed from the Serval it is. The numbers indicate how many generations are removed from the serval parent.   An F1 has a serval father, an F2 has a serval grandfather, F3 have a serval as a greatgrandfather, and so on down the line.  F1 are called foundation cats, and always have a serval father.

What does A, B, C and SBT mean?

The letters listed after the F generations indicate how far back an outcross has been used in the cat.  An "A" cat has a parent that is a non-Savannah.  So, an F1 Savannah will always be an "F1A" cat since a serval is a non-savannah.  "B" indicates one or more grandparents are non-Savannahs, but both parents are Savannahs;  so they have one generation of Savannah-to-Savannah breeding.  "C" indicates 2 generations of Savannah-to-Savannah breeding, so one or more great grandparent is non-Savannah.  "SBT" means "Stud Book Tradition" and indicates a cat with a 3 generation pedigree of all Savannahs.  T.I.C.A. (The International Cat Association), only considers an SBT as purebread Savannah cat.  It is one of the goals for Savannah breeders to produce SBT kittens. 

How big are Savannahs?

Some Savannah’s can reach 30 pounds, but this is rare. The average size of a Savannah is not much larger than an average housecat. They are commonly between 10-20 pounds, but their size varies depending on how many generations removed from the serval they are.  As a general rule, F1s range between 15-25 pounds when full grown and each subsequent generation decreases in size.  Males can be larger than the females of the same generation. Savannahs tend to be long, tall and slender, therefore, they appear larger than what they weigh. And yes, a big cat is definitely impressive, but it is not what makes a Savannah so unique and different from other cats.

Why are Savannahs so expensive?

They are difficult to breed and early generation kittens have a low survival rate. The serval frequently has no interest in the domestic cat and sometimes will not mate with her. Chromosomal differences between the serval and domestic cat can result in miscarriages, still births and litter absorption, as well as sterile males to the 4th or 5th generation. Also, the domestic cats gestation period can be up to 10 days shorter than the serval, resulting in premature birth and low survival rates without round the clock care and life support. Developing this breed took an incredible amount of time, money and heartache, but the result is spectacular. The number of F1 Savannahs is growing, but still small. Until there is a much larger gene pool and more breeders producing F1s who can be bred back to a willing and cooperative serval, improving the chances of kitten survival (eliminating the premature births), prices will remain high. Especially for the early generations.

Is the Savannah hypo allergenic?

The Savannah has a velvety soft coat and a low shedding coat.  Some claim that the Savannah breed is hypo allerginc, but we have not found reseach that supports such claims.  Although, the Savannah is a low shedding breed, and they are considered to have a low allergin coat. There have also been reports from some who have suffered from allergies to other domestic cat breeds but not to their Savannahs. It is case specific, and if you suffer from allergies it is best to visit with a Savannah before deciding whether or not to adopt one. A Savannah kitten's coat tends to look more fluffy, or fuzzy, from its long hairs. These longer hairs will shed at around 8 months and the short, velvet coat of the Savannah is exposed. 

Is the Savannah a lap cat?

Savannahs are very affectionate and always nearby but may not like to be picked up or held, although they will put up with it briefly. They show their affection by giving "head butts", enjoy jumping onto your shoulders or curling up beside you. They are very affectionate and loving.

Do I have to fix my Savannah?

Yes. As your Savannah matures, even the sterile males, will start to spray and mark their territory. If you want to prevent spraying, both females and males must be fixed at an early age.

Do Savannahs need a raw meat diet?

No. A high quality diet is recommended but it doesn’t have to be raw meat. Many breeders do feed a raw meat diet, but so do many other domestic cat breeders. Most breeders will have acclimated the kittens to a high quality commercial cat food. Ask your breeder for dietary recommendations and do not make sudden changes in their food. We recommend supplementing their diet with poached chicken breast.

Do I need a permit to own a Savannah?

The majority of provinces define wild/domesticated hybrid crosses as domestic, which means a Savannah of any generation is legal in those provinces. However, some provinces, states, counties and cities have more restrictive laws. Please check your local laws before purchasing a Savannah.

When are Savannah kittens ready to be adopted?

When we feel a kitten is ready to be shipped or picked up we will send him or her. This is typically around 9 to 12 weeks of age.

Do Savannahs use a litter box?

Yes. We make sure your kitten is litter trained prior to adoption. Kittens will use a litter box as faithfully as any domestic. However, if given too large of an area while settling into their new home, kittens may not be able to find their litter box and may have an accident. It is important to give your kitten run of the house slowly so as not to become disoriented. Male pet kittens, even early generation sterile male kittens, should be neutered to prevent spraying.

Do Savannahs really have a domestic personality?

Savannahs have a domestic “dog-like” personality. Owners are amazed at how their Savannah follow them around the house and come when he or she is called. As social as a domestic cat, Savannahs possess much more intelligence and have very high energy.

Do Savannahs get along with children?

Introducing a Savannah to the household is like introducing any domestic cat. The breed itself is extremely energetic, active and playful. While they get along well with children and other pets, most won’t allow children to hold them or pack them around for any length of time. Because of the high energy levels of both Savannahs and children, most Savannahs adore children. They will play, and play until even the child is tired. They love wand toys and will show off their jumping skills to catch the feathers at the end. They love to play fetch, and most will actually bring the toy back for another throw. As with any pet, it is important that small children are supervised during play sessions for the sake of the cat and the child.