Savannah Cat FAQ
Does
a Savannah cat make a good pet?
The Savannah cat can be a great family
pet and one like no other you have known before. They are a high energy, intelligent
breed and not your average, lazy house cat. The Savannah cat is desirable
because it is very exotic in looks, much like it's ancestor, the African Serval.
However, the Savannah can live as a house pet without the specialized needs
of a wild cat. They can get along with dogs, kids and other animals. We have
four kids ages 10 months, 11 yrs., 13 yrs. and 15 yrs. We raise the F1s right
alongside the baby. Both are well mannered and taught respectable rules. In
fact, it seems the F1s prefer the company of the baby over anyone else. They
are often found laying very nearby to him or they will bring him "gifts"
such as the kitchen sponge, socks, their toys, etc. We do have to watch out
for that. There is also a fine line between baby toys and cat toys and neither
knows what that is.
What
generation Savannah is right for me?
Once you have decided to
add a Savannah to your family, the next decision is what generation? You will
read and hear talk of F1, F2, F3 and so on. The "F" stands for Filial
Generation and indicates how many generations removed the cat is from its
African Serval ancestry. F1 is one generation away from the Serval and therefore
at least 50% Serval. F2 is two generations away and at least 25% Serval. F3
is three generations away and at least 12.50% Serval. There are several things
to consider when deciding on the right generation for you.
Size: The F1 and F2 generations are generally the largest generations. They can run anywhere from 15 to 25 lbs. Their tall, slender build gives them the appearance of even greater size. Savannahs are more about the height than weight. Savannahs start getting more average domestic size from the F3 generation down, although generally taller or longer legged than the average cat.
Cost: Savannahs can run anywhere from $800 up to $8,000 depending on generation and quality with F1s being the most expensive and lower generations such as F5, F6 and F7s being much less expensive.
Behavior: All Savannahs can be great house pets but the different generations will have different levels of energy, persistance and antics. I find the earlier generations such as F1s are more persistant about something they want and so you just have to be more creative in training. They also have boundless energy and require outlets for this energy such as more games with a wand toy, fetch, chase with another pet or a walk outside (safely with a walking jacket!).
Is
a male or female better?
Whether to get a male or female is
usually personal preference. With Savannahs, pricing and availability can
sometimes play a role. Because F1s are so hard to produce, the females are
often kept or sold as breeders and are more expensive than the males. Male
Savannahs from F1 thru F4 are sterile due to Haldane's
Rule, with the exception of a few lucky F4 males. These sterile males
can not be used in a breeding program so they are sold as pets cheaper than
their female counter parts. Once you get to the fertile generation of F5 and
lower, the males become more valuable. However the number of breeder quality
males actually in a litter is lower and so many are made available as pets.
Breeder quality male and females sold as pets may be higher priced.
What
does A, B, C and SBT mean?
You will often see Savannahs listed
as A, B, C or SBT for example: Sirius is a F6 "C" Savannah or Tamu is a F6 "B" Savannah. The letters indicate how many Savannahs are
in the line. An "A" Savannah will have one Savannah parent and one
outcross parent. Due to the F1 thru F4 males generally being sterile, outcrosses
had to be originally used to start the breed. A "B" Savannah has
two Savannah parents. A "C" Savannah has two Savannah parents and
grandparents. A "SBT" has two Savannah parents, grandparents and
great grandparents.
What
does BST mean?
BST stands for brown spotted tabby. Most Savannahs are BST. This color ranges from a cool brown to a more golden color.
Why
are Savannahs so expensive?
The first generation of Savannahs (F1s)
are created by breeding a Serval to a domestic cat. This is a VERY difficult
endeavor. Many breeders put a lot of time, energy, care and financial investment
into a F1 program. Due to the gestational difference between the Serval and
domestic, often the kittens are born premature and needing 24 hr. around the
clock care. There are a limited number of F1s made available each year.
Why
don't I just get a Serval?
Servals are cheaper than F1 or F2 Savannahs
because they are more easily bred and readily available. However, in many
states, cities, counties and townships pure wild cats are illegal. Much more
than hybrid breeds such as the Savannah. (Check your local laws at HybridPride.org
) Further, Servals don't make good house pets. We, ourselves were so smitten
with our Serval that we thought we would get one as a pet. That is until we
researched the very, very highly likelihood that a Serval, even if neutered
or spayed, WILL spray. We have an adult Serval and let me tell you...the smell
is not pretty. In fact, it is a very strong, musky cat urine smell and they
spray a lot each time. Not something you want in your house. They are also
more difficult to house train, keep off counters and be kept safe. Another
consideration is that their diet is much more specialized.
Do
Savannahs use a litter box?
Savannahs are just like domestics with litter
box habits. The only difference is that occasionally the F1s prefer a large,
open box. The kittens are usually litter trained before leaving the breeder's
home to come to yours. They should be spayed or neutered to prevent spraying.
Even females can spray if left intact.
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