About Savannahs

Savannah cats are the hybrid offspring of African and domestic cats. A grassland cat, the Serval grows to 30-45 pounds in the wild, and their body can be as much as 25-40 inches long. Servals are water-loving cats that can also leap up to 10 feet straight into the air. Savannahs retain many of the characteristics of their wild forbears. They are playful, active, intelligent, stubborn, opinionated life forms and they will do their best to dominate your life, as any good cat would.

Q: Are Savannah's really larger than other cats?
A: It depends. Like all genetic rolls of the dice, sometimes Savannah's are larger than the average domestic cat, sometimes they are the same size.

Q: What wild behaviors might I expect in a Savannah?
A: Hunting, swimming, toy retrieval, climbing, leaping, yowling, territory marking - all dependent on the individual cat and neuter status. Savannah's are rarely passive lap cats. These cats are smart and active, investigating their world and everything in it.

Q: Are Savannah's suitable companions for other pets or children?
A: Typically, yes - but like all living things each cat has its own personality and preferences, and those are also influenced by the environment they are raised in. My kittens have full exposure to small children and dogs, and are habituated to frequent handling.

Q: Are there special licensing requirements to own a Savannah?
A: Most states permit the ownership of Savannah's without having a special license.

Q: Do Savannah's use a litterbox?
A: Yes, all my kittens are litterbox trained prior to leaving.

Q: Do Savannah's spray?
A: In some cases yes. In order to ensure your kitten does not spray, it must be neutered prior to 6 months of age. Male Savannahs are typically sterile until the F4 generation (at the earliest), however failure to neuter will result in spraying.

Q: How long will my kitten be growing?
A: Savannah kittens are thought to continue growing through their third year, after which their bodies stabilize and adult food may be provided.

Q: Why are Savannah's so expensive??
A: The Savannah is a hybrid breed that is difficult to achieve. Many litters abort inside the mother, or result in only one or two kittens. Because these babies are so rare and precious, they come at a premium.

Q: Can I show my Savannah?
A: TICA has accepted the Savannah as an experimental breed, and your kitten will come with the appropriate registration papers.

Q: Do Savannah's require outdoor enclosures?
A: The world is a dangerous place, full of diseases, but it is also a world full of crawling flying things your Savannah would love to catch. You will fight a constant war with your Savannah to keep him or her inside away from all those tasty temptations - but if they get out they will run for the hills. Do you want to risk it? I personally have a screened patio with catnip and other cat-friendly plants for my felines to bask and stalk.