Savannah Cat Profile
First bred in 1986, the Savannah cat is a hybrid breed, meaning it is a mix of two already established cat breeds. The first Savannah cat was a mix between a serval cat and a Siamese cat. Nowadays, savannah cats can be bred between a serval and a variety of different domestic cat breeds. The savannah cat originates from Africa. They are very recognizable because of their unique, spotted fur that resembles a cheetah. When it comes to size, savannah cats are usually tall and skinny, and weigh anywhere from 3 to 8 kg. In fact, they are the tallest breed of domesticated cats. The average life span of a savannah cat is 16 years. Similar to the African Serval cat breed, savannah cats have very long ears.
Savannah cats are a desirable cat breed for many reasons. They have a very calm temperament and almost always obey their owners. Some savannah cats can even learn how to walk on a leash.
Breeding Savannah Cats
While the initial savannah cats were hybrids between serval cats and domestic breeds, most savannah cats today are bred from mating savannah cats with savannah cats. It is legal to own Savannah Cats in every state, but there are some restrictrictive laws in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Texas.
Types of Savannah Cats
The type of savannah cats are classified as the following (F1, F2, F3, F4, F…, and purebred). The letter F and the corresponding number refer to the number of generations removed from the original serval cat. For example, a savannah cat whose grandfather was a serval cat, would be a F2 savannah cat. As you would expect, purebreds refer to a savannah cat whose father and mother were both savannah cats. The savannah cats that are the most exotic (meaning F1 or F2) are the most desirable. This is because savannah cats that are close in generation to the serval cat experience high levels of infertility, meaning they are very rare. High levels of infertility is common in many types of hybrid cat breeds.
How much does a savannah cat cost?
The cost of a savannah cat is directly related to the classification of the savannah cat. Since they are the most rare, F1 savannah cats are the most expensive. They usually cost more than $18,000. This is because only a couple F1 savannah cats are bred each year. The litter size of F1 breeds is typically just 2-3, which is a lot smaller than the average of 4 kittens per litter for regular cats. F2 savannah cats are typically cheaper, since they are less rare. F2 Savannah cats usually cost anywhere from $6,000-$16,000. F3 savannah cats are even cheaper, costing anywhere from $1,000-$6,000. Since they are not rare at all, you can usually buy a purebred savannah cat for less than $1,000.
If you plan on buying a savannah cat, it is very important that you ensure the breeder has all the proper paperwork. They should have verified documents that show the breeding history and genealogy of the savannah cat you are planning on buying. We recommend letting the savannah cat stay with the breeder until they are at least 12 weeks of age. This is because savannah cats can be very sensitive and sometimes scared as young kittens. Therefore it is important for them to have enough time to be socialized with their siblings and mother. Once your savannah cat starts to trust you, they will become very loyal and obedient.
