You may be wondering if a Savannah cat is a good fit for you and your family, in this short breed guide you can find some informative facts to help you decide. Savannah Cats are highly intelligent, have a moderate to high energy level, are rambunctious, affectionate, expressive, curious, and outgoing. It can be a good pet but some laws prohibit it, so double check before you purchase.
- Savannah Cat Height: 10 to 19 inches
- Savannah Cat Life Span: 10 to 12 years typically
- Other Names: None
- Savannah Cat Price: $1,000 to $22,000
Savannah Cats Basics
Savannah cats usually have a broad head, more long than wide, and the front of the face is normally a symmetric triangle shape, with their nose long and a small chin. They have medium eyes, low on their forehead and set deep. Tear stains are usually between and along the nose and eyes. Their ears stand large and high on their head. Savannah cats are often viewed bigger than they are because their frame is taller, thinner, and longer than many domestic cats.
The Savannah cats have coats that are dense and shorthaired with soft or coarse texture. Coat colors usually seen on Savanna cats are brown, black, silver, and smoke.
Their patterns usually consist of solid dark round or oval spots, that run across their bodies and do not connect. Savannah cats also have stripes that run parallel from the back of their head and run a little over their shoulders, and then come out over their back. Some small spots can be found on their legs and feet or on their face.
Some states have laws against owning a Savannah cat, and it is the buyer or owner’s responsibility to make sure it is legal to have a Savannah cat in their home. To check your state laws, visit Hybrid Law.
Savannah Cats Temperament
Savannah cats can have an outstanding temperament when they are socialized properly as kittens. Some say that they are the feline version of a dog and are intensely loyal to household members. They are extremely intelligent and able to learn commands. Savannah cats seek social attention, and they don’t fear water like other domestic cats.
Some Savannah cat owners have said that their feline has taken showers with them, others have been known to open cupboards and doors. These unique cats are also known for jumping up to 11 feet in the air! They vocalize by chirping or meowing, some do both, or can mix the two, while others have been known to hiss like a snake.
Three rudimentary factors can determine a Savannah cats’ behavior, socialization, lineage, and generation. So, if a breed tends to have a specific behavior or behaviors rather others, that or those behaviors will most likely carry on to the offspring. With Savannahs there are outside blood lines used so the result could be a merging of these base behaviors.
Savannah Cats Price
Breed Standard, temperament, scarcity and demand determine the base price of a Savannah cat. For example, F1 generations have small litters, have low fertility, and the pairing is tremendously difficult so the price for this Savannah cat can range from $17,00 to $22,000. F2 generations are a little less difficult to pair but are still low in fertility and have small litters as well so their price ranges from $6,000 to $10,000.
Lower generations like F3 to F6 have easier pairings, higher fertility rates, and bigger litters and cost anywhere from $1,200 to $4,000. Basically, the kittens closer to the Serval linage are larger in size, have smaller litters, and are more expensive. The kittens in further generations will be smaller in size, have bigger litters, and cost a lot less.
Savannah Cats Pros and Cons
Pros
- Intelligent
- Dog Like
- Loves water
- Affectionate
- Low shedding
Cons
- F1 and F2 generations are hard to come by and very expensive to buy
- Destructive when not properly socialized
- Can be exhausting
- Kittenhood can be difficult
Savannah Cats Life Span
Savannah cats have a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years normally, but that depends greatly on their heritage, and it has been proven that felines who have a suitably balanced diet of a raw meat mix can live longer than most.
Savannah Cats Health Issues and Genetic Problems
When choosing a new pet, you always want to look at the breeds’ known health issues. Although many vets believe that Savannah cats are a healthy breed and haven’t been known to have any genetic ailments, but there are some general issues to consider.
HCM, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a concern in a lot of pure bred felines and are scanned on a yearly basis, but Savannah cats are not scanned as often.
Rabies vaccinations are recommended in the U.S., but they aren’t approved for non-domestic cats. According to state laws, if a non-domestic cat that bites someone, may be quarantined or put down, by a state vet, whether the cat was vaccinated or not.
Savannah Cats Kittens
A known Savannah kitten philosophy is “Expect only what you put into a Savannah Cat”. So, with proper daily care and if you train a Savannah kitten young, you will get a happy, healthy, stable, adult feline. To properly care for and train your kitten, you will need to kitten-proof the house, and pick a quarantine room. You will also need to provide exercise that is physical and mentally adequate.
Quarantine is a crucial introduction time for you to spend one on one time with your Savannah kitten that should last 2-3 weeks. Rushing this period would be destructive to your kittens’ personality development and can lead to behavioral issues.
All other animals in the house should be kept from the quarantine room to keep bacterial and viral infections from your kitten. This is an opportune time to enforce litterbox habits, so make sure the box is easy to locate for your kitty.
Savannah Cats Rescue
Adopting a Savannah from a shelter may be a rare feat, but it can happen. If you find a Savannah cat in a rescue or a shelter, make sure to ask these questions:
- What is this cat’s energy level?
- Does this cat tolerate other animals?
- How does this cat react to people and children?
- What is this cat’s personality like?
- How old is this cat?
- Does this cat use the litterbox?
- Is this cat known to bite?
- Does this cat have any known health problems?
No matter the age, take your Savannah cat to a veterinarian after adoption so he or she can spot any current health issues and help prevent future problems if any occur.