savannah
Confident, friendly, intelligent, active
Overview
Origin
United States
Life Span
12-15 years
Height
10"- 13"
Weight
9-15 pounds
Group
Large-sized short-haired
Price
$1,500 - $25,000 (depending on generation)
History
The first Savannah cat was the result of an accidental breeding between a Siamese queen owned by Judee Frank and a male serval that Frank was watching for another breeder. The kitten, born in 1986, was named Miracle, but soon after, was re-named “Savannah.”
In 1989, Savannah bred with a Turkish Angora cat. She had three F2 kittens; two lived, and one was stillborn. Savannah subsequently changed hands, finding herself with a breeder named Lori Buchko. Two of her kittens from later breedings were sold to Patrick Kelley, who had seen pictures of Savannah in a 1986 copy of the Long Island Ocelot Club newsletter.
Kelley joined forces with an exotic cat breeder named Joyce Scroufe, who wasn’t at first enthusiastic about the concept of the Savannah cat. Soon, though, word of the new hybrid spread and in 1996, a small group of breeders including Kelley and Scroufe wrote and presented the Savannah cat breed standard to The International Cat Association (TICA).
Four years passed before TICA ended a moratorium on new breeds, and in 2001, the Savannah was accepted for registration only. By October of 2001, the breed advanced to exhibition only status, and soon, Savannah cats were impressing judges at TICA cat shows across the United States.
The Canadian Cat Association accepted the Savannah in 2006 and soon, the breed gained recognition and popularity worldwide. TICA granted the breed Championship status in 2012, allowing Savannah cats to compete against other breeds and further expanding popularity.
Care
Nutrition
The closer your Savannah cat is to its serval relative, the wilder their diet needs to be. These cats truly appreciate fresh food—raw diets with proper feline supplementation are often recommended by breeders. Of course, you can also offer a high-quality dry or dehydrated food along with a high-quality wet food. If you do choose a commercial food for your Savannah cat, their diet should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Grooming
Savannah cats do a fantastic job of keeping their short coats in tip-top shape, so weekly brushing sessions are usually sufficient. Grooming helps to strengthen the bond between you and your cat, and it’s also a fantastic way to remove excess hair before it has a chance to wind up on your furniture. Grooming short haired cats helps to reduce hairballs, too.
Exercise
Savannah cats can develop destructive behaviors if they’re allowed to become bored, so companionship, safe toys, and plenty of space are absolute essentials. Teach your cat to walk on a leash and harness if you can. Regular walks provide plenty of mental and physical stimulation, and give these friendly cats even more opportunities to socialize.
Health
Savannah cats are generally healthy, however they are at risk of two heritable diseases: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD). Responsible Savannah cat breeders try to avoid producing kittens with these diseases by performing genetic testing on their breeding adult cats.
Breed Standard
Body
Savannah cats have a long, lean appearance, with males typically larger than females. In general, Savannahs bear some resemblance to servals, with later generations expressing more domestic traits.
Head
The head is small in proportion to the body, with the face forming an equilateral triangle. The nose protrudes slightly and the muzzle is tapered with no break. Viewed in profile, the forehead appears straight to slightly convex, and also forms a triangle that extends from the top of the eye to the tip of the nose, then to the jawline and back up to the eye. The neck is long and lean.
Eyes
The eyes are of medium size and rest beneath slightly hooded brows. The bottom portion of the eye has an almond shape, and the upper corner of the eye creates the beginning of a visual line that slopes toward the nose. Eyes are positioned at least one eye’s width apart. All eye colors are permitted.
Ears
A Savannah cat’s ears are wide with deep bases and rounded tops. The ears are positioned high on the head. Ear furnishings may be present and ocelli markings are highly desirable.
Color
Several colors are accepted, including black, brown spotted tabby, black silver spotted tabby, and black smoke. Markings are distinct and tear duct lines are visible. Black Savannahs have black nose leather, while spotted Savannah cats may have black noses, pink to brick noses with black liner, or black nose leather with pink to brick center stripes. Paw pads are deep charcoal or brownish-black in all color combinations.
Coat
The coat is short to medium in length with a slightly coarse feel to the guard hairs and a softer feel to the undercoat. The Savannah cat’s spots feel softer than guard hairs.
Tail
The Savannah cat’s tail is of medium to thick thickness and medium length, stopping between the bottom of the hock and ground level. The tail has a slight taper and a blunt end.
Legs & Paws
The legs are longer than average, with an athletic appearance—neither heavy musculature nor excessive delicacy is displayed. The back legs are slightly longer than the forelegs and the paws are medium-sized ovals.
Personality & Temperament
Savannah cats get their exotic appearance from the serval, a small African wildcat with stunning spots, long legs, and massive ears. The domestic cat contributes all the wonderful personality traits that make domestic cats such desirable companions.
If there’s one thing you should know about the Savannah cat, it’s this: These cats are typically have an extreme amount of energy, even when they’re several generations along. They do love to settle in for snuggles but their play drive is incredible, and they are also wonderfully intelligent. This means lots of cat proofing is required. Without it, your Savannah cat will happily explore every cupboard and drawer in your house, probably while removing various items for a thorough inspection.
Most cats will go to great lengths to avoid water, but Savannahs are the opposite. An aquarium soon becomes a coveted fishing spot, a koi pond presents an opportunity for swimming (and fishing), and your faucets quickly become favorite playthings. These cats quickly learn how things works, and when given the chance, will hop up onto countertops to activate a stream of water for splashing. Open toilets are fair game, too.
Savannahs can be quite vocal at times, demanding food or attention as the need arises. Their vocabulary ranges from insistent meows to adorable chirps. The odds are good that if you speak to them, they’ll carry on a conversation with you.
If you’re lucky enough to bring a Savannah cat into your family, prepare for daily adventures, and be ready to offer lots of love and patience as your cat learns. Savannah kittens are quite a handful, and adults retain their need for ample activity throughout their lifetimes. We’d love to say that Savannah cats are fantastic for all families, but the truth is, this big, active cat comes with unique needs. Chat with the breeder or rescue you’re considering to make sure that you’re ready to be a cat parent to a Savannah.