*Image from linked website. No copyright infringement is intended*

Savannah cats and Bengal cats are frequently compared since they both have wild-looking coats and were created by crossbreeding a domestic cat with a wild cat. The breeds, however, are not that similar.

The hybrid cat breed known as the Savannah Cat is a hybrid of an African Serval and a domestic cat. The African wildcat is the source of the wild appearance. The first-generation Savannahs were typically 50% domestic cat and 50% serval; however, later generations may have a higher domestic cat percentage.

The breed has a strong level of activity and may probably form a bond with one or two family members but will generally avoid or reject human interaction.

Cat proofing the house is essential when you have a Savannah since these cats have high levels of energy that can turn destructive if they don't get enough mental and physical engagement.

Unquestionably a great breed of cat, but not for many families. They require a lot of upkeep as cats!

There are also restrictions on owning and traveling with a Savannah cat due to their wild ancestry and the breed's recent development. See if the restrictions on Savannah cat ownership fit your way of life before getting one.

Savannah Lifespan

Savannahs have an average lifespan 20 years.

*Credit: Kolomenskaya Kseniya / Shutterstock. No copyright infringement is intended*

Savannah Cat Ancestors

Judee Frank, a Bengal breeder, created the first Savannah in 1986. The kitten born as a result of this hybrid between a serval and a Siamese cat was given the name “Savannah”. In 2012, the Savannah was approved as a new breed by the International Cat Association (TICA). The Savannah is the most popular registered cat breed as of 2019.

Savannahs, like Bengal Cats, have to be several generations away from their wild relatives in order to "officially" classified as domestic pets.

A Savannah must be separated from its wild progenitor eight times before it can be categorized as stud book tradition (SBT).

Size of Savannah Cats

A Savannah cat is often not very large; the older generations were much larger. A world record for being the tallest race of cats currently belongs to the first generation of Savannah cats. Since the first generation, they have gotten smaller, below is a breakdown of each generation and their qualifications to be a Savannah cat, as well as their typical weight.

Savannah Cat Traits

In order to spot a Savannah cat, pay attention to these physical characteristics:

Ears: The Savannah's large, widely spaced ears are higher than they are wide.

Legs: Savannah cats have lengthy, disproportionately long legs for their size.

Body: Savannahs have a long, lean body, a short neck, and a long tail.

Coat: Savannah cats typically have marbled or spotted coats, with the pattern becoming more obvious with maturity.

*Image from linked website. No copyright infringement is intended*

Generations of Savannah Cat

The first three generations of Savannah cats have the wildest appearances and the most distant, and avoidant towards humans.

Savannahs are descendants of domestic cats who were mated with Servals/Savannah’s:

F1 (First Savannah Generation)

• Qualification: One of the two parent must have at least 75% of serval blood.
• Weight: Males may weigh up to 30 lbs. (14 kg), while females may weigh up to 25 lbs. (11 kg).

F2 (Second Savannah Generation)

• Qualification: One of the two parent must a F1 Savannah.
• Weight: Males may weigh up to 25 lb. (11 kg), while females may weigh up to 20 lb. (9.1 kg).

F3 (Third Savannah Generation)

• Qualification: One of the two parents must be an F2 Savannah.
• Weight: Males may weigh up to 20 pounds (9.1 kg), while females may weigh up to 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
• Qualified SBT: On the male side, the Savannah is descended from the Serval/F1/F2/F3 and Savannahs.

Savannahs are Hybrids

• Savannah (Male), Serval (Female) - F1 (Female, as males are infertile)
• Savannah (Male), F1 (Female), and F2 (Female, as males are infertile)
• Savannah (Male), F2 (Female), and F3 (Female, as males are infertile)
• Savannah (Male), F3 (Female), and F4 (Female, as males are infertile)
• Savannah (Male), F4 (Female), and SBT (Both Male and Female are fertile)

Breeders often employ F5 males to produce the second generation with an F1 female because F1 through F4 male Savannahs are sterile. Savannahs are hybrids, which means that they have some characteristics of hybrid inviability. According to Haldane's rule, male Savannahs are most frequently impacted because they are the heterogametic sex. While female Savannahs are fertile from the F1 generation onward, males are often bigger and sterile until the F5 generation or later.

Silver Savannah

Silver Savannah is a relatively recent coat color compared to the traditional golden Savannah, that most people are used to. Most people are unaware that the silver Savannah even exists.

The majority of silver Savannahs are found in the lower generations of the breed because, even when breeding for silver in the early generations, you might still get only golden (BST) kittens in a litter or, if you're lucky, you might get one breeding-quality female not too long after mating the silver queen to your serval.

*Image from linked website. No copyright infringement is intended*

Savannah’s Personality

While each cat has an own personality, Savannah cats share a few characteristics. They are intelligent, energetic, and playful. Additionally, they have a loud meow that sounds like a chirp. Many savannahs like the water, and some of them will even play with their owners while taking a shower!

They are renowned for being great hunters. They have a strong desire to hunt, and they will follow anything that moves. They can be trained to walk on a leash, and they are good climbers and jumpers. They like playing and have strong bonds with their owners.

Savannah Cats, though, can also be fiercely independent. They may not enjoy being picked up or snuggled because they don't always enjoy being handled. They must be socialized from an early age in order to develop into well-rounded cats.

Savannah’s Temperament, and as Pets

A Savannah is perhaps not the greatest pick if you're searching for a lazy lap cat. Savannah cats can leap an incredible 8 feet in height; therefore, they are more likely to do that than to dally by her food bowl. Savannah cats are athletic and active.

The Savannah cat is frequently described as more dog-like than cat-like since it is constantly seeking out new challenges to investigate. These lean and athletic cats also enjoy the water, so they won't think twice about joining you in the bathtub or wading in a kiddie pool. Savannahs are also simple to train, so some owners decide to put their cat on a leash and take them on outdoor excursions.

For the appropriate family, Savannahs are wonderful family pets, according to Tarticchio. "They are not suitable for a home where the owners are seldom home because they are high-energy and need a lot of attention. However, if they are reared with any animal, they will bond with that animal if it is open to receiving their unceasing love. For this reason, kids and dogs make wonderful companions."

If you're considering getting a Savannah cat, keep in mind that the litters are designated as F1, F2, F3, etc. These figures indicate the number of generations that have elapsed since the initial wild serval genes were incorporated into a certain line of breeding. Thus, it is more likely that you will observe slightly more crazy behavior as the number decreases (climbing, pouncing, and "hunting" their toys). Also keep in mind that Savannah's earlier generations tended to be heavier and bigger.

*Credit: Kolomenskaya Kseniya / Shutterstock. No copyright infringement is intended*

Cost for a Savannah Cat

Depending on the generation, a Savannah Cat might cost different amounts. A Savannah Cat (F1) from the first generation can cost up to $12,000, while a Savannah Cat (F5) from the fifth generation can cost as little as $1,500.

Maverick, an F1 Savannah Cat, was the most expensive Savannah Cat ever recorded and was sold for $125,000 in 2014. According to the individual who purchased him, Maverick would be used as a stud to produce additional Savannah Cats.

Fun Facts

• Savannah cats command hefty prices: the most expensive cat ever sold, was for more than $100,000.
• Savannah cats are not universally welcomed, and in certain jurisdictions, it is illegal to travel or even live with them, so before purchasing one, check your local laws, and think carefully about where you might be travelling to in the future, if you plan on bringing your cat along.