Savannah Cat About - Creature Companion

 The Savannah cat is a hybrid cross between an African servant and a domestic cat. The savannah is named after the serval's habitat and its beauty echoes the lush green splendor of those golden plains of Africa. Like its wild ancestor, the Savannah is a tall, slender cat with long legs, large ears, and a long neck. Their coat shows the distinctive pattern of spots, often on a golden or brown background, with some bars. The savannah is a smaller version of the African serval weighing about half that or less. It is a sociable, affectionate breed that gets along well with other pets and older children.

History of the Savannah Cat

The first known calf was by Judy (or Judy) Frank, a Bengal breeder based in Pennsylvania, in the early 1980s. In the early 1990s, Patrick Kelly, founder of Savannahcat.com, enlisted Joyce Srouff to help develop the breed with Kelly using the offspring from that first hybrid cross. His efforts were successful, as were his efforts to persuade the International Cat Association to accept the new breed.

Although the Savannah cat is a relatively new breed, it has spread like wildfire. There are already dozens of Savannah breeders in North America and Europe, with over 60 breeders worldwide.

Registries that accept Savannah cats include The International Cat Association and The International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance.

Savannah cat genetics and nomenclature reveal how many generations a servant cat has. A male is usually not fertile until the sixth generation is separated from the servant parent. Females are usually fertile from the first generation.

An F1 Savannah cat has one servant parent and one domestic cat parent and is 50 percent serval. Subsequent generations are bred with one Savannah cat parent (F6 or more generations removed). At F4, the size and temperament of the cat are said to be more predictable. At that stage, at least one great-grandfather was a servant.

A traditional herding book runs the Savannah cat at least four generations away from the valet, but there are only Savannah cat parents for at least three generations, with domestic cats with no further outbreaks.

Because of their hybrid ancestry, Savannah cats have ownership restrictions in some states and cities. Regional laws may prohibit the ownership of exotic pets. These laws can change over time, so check your municipality or state's guidelines for what exotic pets are allowed.

Savannah Cat Care

The Savannah cat has an easy-care coat. Brush your cat weekly to keep hairballs away and clip his nails as often as needed, which can be weekly. Brush your cat's teeth frequently and make sure you get a proper veterinary cleaning.

The Savannah cat is said to be an excellent companion; He is friendly with other pets, highly intelligent and is always ready to give friendly blows to his owners on the head. They love lots of interaction with their humans and may follow you around the house. They want to be a part of all your activities, but often they only want affection when they are ready, and they will join you on the couch when they want a warm lap, not before.

Their long legs and athletic grace will often find them in high places (more convenient to hit the head), so provide a cat tree or other safe climbing opportunity. With their long legs, they are remarkably high jumpers and some can jump as high as eight feet or more. Your counters and fences are not safe from this breed of athletic cats. Like servals, they also like to play in water.

Savannah cats are called canines because they love to be fetched and are able to be trained to walk in a harness. You can clicker train them to do tricks and they will enjoy the interactive toys. It is no surprise that these cats have gained popularity so quickly, both as members of the family and in the ring.

They generally get on well with other cats and dogs, can be well suited to a household with many pets, and are good with older children. When buying from a breeder, it is important to make sure the kittens have been socialized in a home environment so that they are not too shy or fearful of humans.

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