Savannah
The Savannah is a cross between the African serval and the domestic cat, first bred in the United States in 1986.
Generations are numbered by distance from the wild ancestor: an F1 has a serval parent, an F5 is four generations removed, and size, temperament and legal status all change sharply along that scale.
An F1 male can reach 11 kilograms and 43 centimetres at the shoulder, making it among the largest domestic cats; later generations are closer to an ordinary large cat. They are extremely active, jump remarkably high, often enjoy water and can be lead-trained. They are also restricted or banned in many jurisdictions, and the early generations are a serious undertaking rather than an unusual pet.
- Origin
- United States, 1986, from African serval and domestic cat
- Size
- 5–11 kg for early generations; smaller from F4 onward
- Lifespan
- 12–20 years
- Generations
- F1–F5; size, temperament and legality vary by generation
- Legal status
- Banned in Australia and several US states; restricted elsewhere
- Health
- Early-generation males are usually sterile; anaesthesia care advised
3 savannah photos, newest first
Living with a savannah
Check the law before anything else, and check it for the specific generation. Savannahs are banned outright in Australia, prohibited or restricted in a number of US states and cities, and licensed in some countries. An F1 and an F5 are treated very differently by many of those rules.
Early generations need far more space than a house provides. Serious keepers build large secure outdoor enclosures; a flat is not adequate for an F1 or F2.
They jump two metres from standing and open doors and cupboards. Household proofing is a real project.
Males up to about F4 are usually sterile; females are fertile throughout.
Some vets advise caution with ketamine in early-generation hybrids. Use a vet with hybrid experience, and expect to travel for one.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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