For Those Considering A Hybrid Cat
My advice for those considering acquiring a hybrid is to spend some time with the cats at the breeder, study videos, and speak to other Savannah cat owners. If both you and the breeder socialize the kitten to humans daily in the first weeks of life, they are more likely to interact positively with people. Plan how to create a stimulating feline environment and a safe home for all who will interact with your unique and beautiful cat.
Do Serval Cats Make Good Pets What You Need To Know
Usually, its the big ears that first grab your attention. They make you stop mid-scroll when you come across a photo of a young exotic cat, covered in spots, with giant ears perched above their cute face. What is this adorable creature, you might think, and can I keep one as a pet?
Those ears and that face belong to a serval cat, a wild feline species native to Africa. Thanks to the worldwide obsession with finding newer and more exotic animals to keep as pets, many servals are bred and sold in the pet trade. But do serval cats make good pets? No matter how domesticated they may become, a serval cat will always be a wild animal at heart and does not make a good pet.
We do not endorse keeping serval cats as pets for several reasons which will be covered in this article.
What Is The Difference Between A Caracal And A Serval In Life Span
Caracals, on average live, to be 13 years old, but some have been known to live as long as 20 years! Caracals have one of the lowest mortality rates out of all cats because there isnt much human influence surrounding them, so they dont get exposed to many common diseases that plague house pets like dogs and cats.
Servals, on the other hand, live to be between 12 and 16 years of age! They are more likely than caracals to get sick because there is human influence around them. As a result, they usually die from diseases that humans bring into their habitats, like colds or pneumonia.
In captivity, however, both cats have lived up to around 19 years old!
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What Is A Serval’s Habitat
Servals are animals adapted to the habitat and natural climatic setting of Sub-Saharan Africa. Servals can adapt to semi-arid or even moist climatic conditions but they generally tend to avoid regions with desert-type climate. Servals mainly thrive in woodlands, thickets, open and grassy spaces that offer them the scope of a good hunt for their regular diet. They often mark their territory by spreading smell and urinating at different spots.
What Is The Cost Of Owning A Serval
Owning a serval has a cost attached to buying the cat itself. The bigger cost is to the serval. Having a pet involves taking a wild African cat, introducing it to a captive environment, and depriving it of the opportunity to breed.
There is a large market for savannah cats that are descendents of the serval. The price of these kittens depends on how much wild serval is bred into the cat. Kittens with 65% wild serval cost over USD 15 000.
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Serval Cats Vs Savannah Cats: Hunting Behaviour Differences
The Servals long legs and large ears are the keys to its hunting strategy. These cats are most active during the crepuscular hours . Later they will listen and wait for the prey before going for a dramatic pounce. And its dramatic!
The serval can jump 7-8 feet in the air to snatch the birds as e discussed above. With the help of long, flexible toes, they hunt the frog very quickly from bushes.
Servals can stay active for more extended periods on cold or rainy days. On hot afternoons, they rest or groom themselves in the shade of bushes and grass. Although they may be less careful when large carnivores or predators are not around, they are cautious of their surroundings.
While Savannah cats are somewhat domestic and have less desire to hunt, they never let other small pets with savannah cats if they are not familiar with each other from the beginning.
Who Are Savannah Cats
Before we find the answers to the questions, lets know who Savannah cats are. It is a domesticated cat breed cross between an African wild Serval and a domestic cat. All Savannah cats are assigned a Filial designation, from F1 to F5 to identify how close they are to their exotic Serval ancestors.
Serval cat is a medium-sized wild African cat with long legs and spotted coat. They have long ears and a circular patch on the back of their ears. Savannah cats due to their wild cat ancestors can be prohibited to keep as pets in many regions.They are banned in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Georgia. While New York state only permits the Savannahs greater than five generations removed from Serval till F5. However, New York City prohibits all the Savannah cat breeds regardless of their closeness to Servals.
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What Is The Cost Of A Savannah
A new breeder has to spend whopping $9000 just to start breeding Savannahs. Ive calculated the cost of an F1, so read on and know whats the total cost to breed the cat.
To begin with, a breeder has to purchase at least two cats. Let say, this breeder wants to start breeding from the F1 generation. For that, he would require a Serval male costing around $5000. The Serval counterpart F3 or F4 will cost between $3000 to $5000. So, if you take an average amount for the counterpart the total amount invested is $9000 just to start the breeding. However, in real, breeders start with two or three females generally and cost will go beyond $10k.
Now, the housing cost is the next consideration for the overall cost of an F1 Savannah cat breeding. An un-neutered male will begin to spray and mark territories inside the caged space. Breeders generally have to build up a cage similar to his wild habitat or remodel a garage in a similar way. While some of them would opt for an outbuilding. All in all, this will cost from $2000 to $10000. Lets take $6000 for our calculation.
The total cost so far is $15,000. Next on our list is the feeding cost. A growing Serval eats about two pounds of raw meat each day. His food mostly includes chicken thighs and breast. The chicken prices are not fixed so we would take $2 per pound. That will cost a breeder $4 a day. Nevertheless, this cost doesnt cover the supplements and additives to add in the chicken for Servals health and well-being.
Can A Serval Cat Kill A Dog
Although it does not frequently occur, there have been reported instances of escaped serval cats attacking dogs. Serval cats are wild animals and natural predators. Therefore, smaller dogs may be at risk around Servals.
In 2019, a deputy in Fairfield County, Ohio, shot and killed a serval cat after it had attacked a dog. Considering the physical abilities of a serval, including its claw size, bite strength, and sheer speed, it is certainly possible that a serval cat could kill a dog.
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Serval Cats Vs Savannah Cats: Ideal Owners
Serval cats are not allowed as pets, and you have to take a license and pass some tests to carry them as pets. These cats are not for domestic purpose.
While Savannah is a powerful, intelligent, and naughty cat and may not be the best choice for the first time owner, this cat requires a lot of attention and can sometimes be challenging. The practise requires an experienced hand to provide the proper training.
They have retained their wild cat ancestors hunting instincts, so they are not suitable for homes with small pets such as rabbits, birds, or even fish.
As well as being experienced, their owner should also be someone who has a lot of love and experience and is happy to play and interact with them. If they dont get the play and attention that they demand, you will find that they will require your attention in not so subtle ways or develop some behavioural problems
With proper socialization as a kitten, Savannah cat can feel great with other cats, dogs, and children.
Do They Require Vaccines Like Any Other Cats
Kittens should receive their first veterinary visit and set of vaccines by 10 weeks of age. It is the responsibility of the owner to get the remaining boosters. We recommend the 3 ways vaccines, live modified or killed. Here at Dragonflycats we prefer the live modified, we had great success with it and not many adverse reactions or side effects.
We dont vaccinate against feline leukemia or aids since our cattery is tested negative. It has been reported these vaccines have a lot and violent side effects in our breed, so for all these reason we dont recommend it.
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Serval Cat Vs Savannah Cat: Habitat Differences
Serval cats can find in various habitats, from dry grasslands to forested savannas to the moister areas bordering the equatorial rainforests. However, melanistic Serval individuals are more commonly found in hilly regions.
The Serval cant survive in the semi-desert because it relies on waterways. It can climb and swim, but it rarely does so.
A decrease in the Serval population can attribute to humans encroaching on its habitat and hunting for its pelt. It isnt at risk of extinction right now nevertheless, it may if commerce is not tightly restricted.
It is common to find servals in areas that are well-watered and have a lot of long-grass vegetation. They see in various environments, including alpine grasslands, thick woods, and grassy areas. However, in severe cases, they have used arid locations, including sections of southwest Africa.
Savannah cats are scarce but can find worldwide if a cat owner is willing to look for them.
Caracal Vs Serval: Habitat Differences:
The Caracal and the Serval both live in the continent of Africa. However, their habitats are different from each other. Caracals live in the savannas and grasslands of Africa, as well as semi-deserts. They do not, however, habitat in tropical rainforests.
Servals are much more adaptable than caracals, so their habitats vary widely depending on where they live! They have been known to survive even in large cities if they can find enough food and water sources in their area.
Servals can be found in as many as 18 different African countries. They are less picky when it comes to their habitat, and they live in grasslands often but also inhabit rainforests, live near rivers, and swamps because they are excellent at climbing trees and enjoy playing in the water!
The Serval likes to live in wet or dry savannas with tall grasses where it can easily hide from predators while hunting.
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How Much Does A Savannah Cat Cost
The Savannah Cat Price. The Savannah cat price can be anywhere between $800 and $20,000, depending on its age, breeder, gender, generation, size, geographic location, purity of the breed and additional products or services offered when you buy the cat. If you want to own a real Savannah cat, dont go for the cheapest you can find.
Servals In Captivity Vs Savannahs In Captivity
The Servals are quick, smart and curious. All valuables must be kept safe, and objects that Servals may damage must be protected or kept off-limits.
Again, Savannah is very interactive. They will play fetch and chase toys with their human family and friends. It is impossible to keep them happy and busy 24/7 so you can expect Savannah to get into mischief. Savannah Proofing is the same as for Serval but not as extensive unless you have an F1 generation.
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Serval Cat Vs Savannah Cat: Size Differences
Serval is a medium-sized cat weighs between 20-42 pounds. This cat stands about two feet tall on his shoulders. Their females are shorter and thinner than males.
While Savannah males range from 15 to 20 pounds, stand 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder, and are 17 to 18 inches long. Females range from 11 to 13 pounds on a lean, tall frame.
Risks Of Having A Serval Cat
As explained above, this isnt the superman version of a pet cat.
The serval is a wild animal, and for this reason several states have prohibited their ownership or required specific licenses to contain one.
There are many risks surrounding keeping a serval cat as a pet.
Please seriously consider all of the following before deciding to bring a serval cat into your home as a domesticated pet:
1. Serval cats need zoo-like areas to explore, swim, hunt, run and occasionally climb.
These habitats can be expensive to create, and keeping too small of an area or an interior-only option will not allow a serval cat to expel all their energy or fulfill their natural instincts.3
As a commenter below this article, J Freed, says, They are clever. When we moved into our new home, promptly escaped. We got her 3 days later after a tip took us to her location. The enclosures need to be sturdy, provide for their comfort, rough play and safety.
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Caracal Vs Serval: Life Span Differences
The average lifespan of a caracal is between 12 and 15 years in captivity while only living up to 11 or 13 years in the wild!
The Serval lives between 12 and 15 years in captivity but has been known to live up to 17 or 18 years. This is because they are very smart creatures with the ability to adapt quickly. They have survived for more than 20 years, successfully living on their own after being abandoned by their owners when they were young.
What Is An African Serval Cat
What Is An African Serval Cat? Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.
Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.
Can you have an African serval as a pet? Exotic population established overseas 0 Servals only exist in wild populations in Africa, and are kept as pets in the United States and Europe.
Is a serval cat a good pet? Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.
How much do servals cost? Do you know the answer to this question? Help our community by submitting an answer.
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Why Are Savannahs So Expensive
Establishing in a quality breeding program is a large financial investment required up front. Plus on top of that you have to add the proper care of all the cats on a daily basis. In addition of the upfront investment there is the difficulty associated with breeding Hybrids, the Higher the percentage the more difficult they are to breed. Servals are 100% wild animals with special needs In term of housing, caging requirements, diet and health care. Caring for pure servals and mating them with domestic savannahs is costly, time consuming, tricky and demanding but also rewarding.
It takes many years , lot of luck and skills to mate a Serval with a domestic cat. Only a few breeders worldwide have had success. If mating occurs there are still lots of risks. Because of the gestation difference between the Serval and domestic all F1s are born premature. Some are too weak to survive and need 24 hours care by the breeder to ensure survival. Also their litters are generaly small, averaging from 1-3 per litter.
A savannah cat is more than just a pet its a family member and here at DragonflySv we are working hard to give you and your family a beautiful, healthy and intelligent companion for the next decades.
Is F1 Savannah Breeding Not So Costly Yet
If $17190 isnt expensive enough, just wait and see because there is still more to consider. We havent included the cost of vet visits, vaccination, tests like PK deficiency, PCR testing for parents and kittens. Moreover, there are FedEx fees for time-sensitive testing. In addition, litter, litter boxes, scoopers, beds, water bowls, cat trees, scratch posts, leashes, and harnesses will add to the cost. In a nutshell, the cost for Serval and Savannah cats to keep them busy with activities, toys, and the pet supplies count.
How do they sell the Savannah litters? The business has to have an online presence and the cost to keep the website running are so high. The International Cat Association would charge for cattery registration. And apart from this, each cat and their litter needs to be registered with additional registration fees.
The list is not exhausted yet. When breeder finally has a kitten to sell, how little he earns per hour. For instance, if the breeder works for an hour per day and pays himself $5 for the hour, that totals $1825. And very few people would like to work for this much low pay.
The wages, vet costs, and other things will make the cost about $22,000. And there is one more risk we never discussed. A male Serval might never consider a Savannah for mating. And that makes all the expense till now for nothing. As a responsible breeder, he will bear the cost of Serval for his lifetime.
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Is An F1 Savannah Cat Right For Me
Weve shared a lot of information here regarding F1 Savannah cats. Only you can decide if this type of cat is right for you. As you decide, keep all of the data and details shared here at the forefront of your mind.
The first thing you should consider is the cost and whether or not you will be able to provide the necessary care and attention that your F1 Savannah cat will require. You will want to consider whether your lifestyle is compatible with caring for this cat and whether your home is set up to accommodate the cat.
These cats are very lovable. They are beautiful cats with fun personalities. They love to be catered to and taken care of but also value their personal space. They are not a lap cat but they are not completely anti-social either.
Before you jump on the bandwagon, consider all of the facts to know if an F1 Savannah cat is right for you!
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