Full Grown F1 Savannah Cat: Origin, Character Health

 Tall, native to the United States, short-haired, and with a spotted tabby coat, the Savannah cat is a breed of cat that originated from crosses between a Serval and a spotted domestic cat. Intelligent, nosy, and sociable, he is appreciated for his gentle personality and his affectionate character. But that's not all that makes the charm of the full grown Savannah F1 cat.

Origin of the Full Grown F1 Savannah Cat

The Savannah cat is a breed of large tomcats native to the United States. Created (yes, that's the word) by the breeder of American origin Judee Frank, on April 7, 1986, it is the beautiful result of crossing a domestic feline with a Serval, male or female. The first Savannah was a cat name; Savannah.

She is considered the MOTHER of all generations of this large cat. For a good reason, it was Patrick Kelly, bitten by wild-looking kitties, who decided to make it a breed after having been, in 1989, the happy owner of a female kitten, Kitty, from the first Savannah .

He then encourages various breeders to try crossbreeding, but only Joyce Sroufe joins him in this thrilling adventure of mating two animals of the same species, but of different breeds.

Together, they developed a standard presented to TICA (The International Cat Association) in February 1996.

A year later, Joyce Sroufe presented the Savannah at a Westchester cat show in New York State and obtained the first fertile male Savannahs.

Five years after this zoological feat, the TICA (yes, again it) plans - not without conditions - to recognize this new breed of little hairballs in the same way as other domestic cats.

Indeed, only third-generation pups resulting from hybridization with the Serval were accepted. This means that the F1 and F2 generation hybrids were rejected. First and second-generation savannahs are considered too wild to be accepted.

Savannah, what are the physical characteristics of a full grown F1 Savannah Cat?

In appearance, the Savannah bears many similarities to the Serval, also called the serval cat or African tiger cat. He is recognizable by his spotted tabby coat, yellow to golden green (or amber) color, and long, thick, muscular neck. The Savannah's head is triangular. He is longer than it is wide and is small compared to the rest of the body. The eyes are medium size. They have a beautiful gold or green shade. They have an oval shape, similar to almonds, and are generally accompanied by white tears, specific to the breed. The Savannah cat has large ears positioned high on its head. These are characterized by an extremely wide base and rounded ends. Savannah's nose is long. The chin is small. The hair is short or medium. The legs are long and thin. Feline feet are tiny. They display long fingers. And the cat's posterior looks high. The tails of savannah cats are relatively thick and short. It has rings and ends with a rounded tip of dark color. The spots of these animals, small, black, and very pretty, are mainly concentrated at the level of the legs and the head. They can take different shapes: round, oval, and elongated. The belly of the Savannah cat is usually white, decorated with spotted patterns. His measurements:

It can measure up to 17 inches (shoulder-leg);

Weigh between 18 to 51 lb; These Are impressive compared to the classic domestic cat. The male Savannah is generally more muscular than the female; it is a specimen with an even more athletic look and more prominent musculature. Assets that he inherited from the Serval or wild cat of the African Savannah.

What is the character of the cat Savannah?

The Savannah has the appearance of a wild feline and the gentleness of a domestic cat. It is known:

Clever

Asset

Curious

Soft

Affectionate

Sociable (unlike the serval cat which is known to be a great loner).

Full grown F1 Savannah cat is prized for its unique adaptability. He is lively, overflowing with energy, likes to jump in all directions, and sometimes gets into mischief.

A direct descendant of a formidable hunter, the Savannah is also an animal of keen skill and an agile climber. As a result, it is common to see him perform technical feats such as opening a tap, to name a few. Do you have a Savannah cat at home? Whatever the case, this little ball of fur must exert itself in fun activities such as a game of hiding and seek, the game of fishing rod, cardboard, ball, or in long walks on a leash to be fulfilled entirely hence its nickname cat-dog.

He is a charming cat to live with. He knows how to give love and how to receive it. The Savannah is a faithful, loyal 4-legged companion with many human qualities.

Unlike other breeds of cats, he likes water and does not hesitate to take a bath, on the contrary. If a situation does not suit him, he will be sure to let it be known with his hoarse meows.

Life conditions

Savannah breeding is not incompatible with apartment living. This feline loves to have little comforts, and a house with a garden would be good. You can make him a spacious, furnished, and secure enclosure, allowing him to play without restricting his powerful movements.

He has a taste for adventure and a feline instinct that drives him to run away as an adult, despite the affection he may have for his master. The Savannah kitten, mainly from F1 and F2, close to Serval, must be educated and accustomed to human warmth from an early age.

Savannah's Hygiene And Care

 Regarding the care and grooming of the kitty, it is advisable to:

Check and clean his ears and eyes regularly to prevent infections.

Brush his coat at least once a week to ensure cleanliness.

Bath him from time to time to ensure his hygiene.

  Don't forget to change his drink constantly.

Savannah Feeding

The diet of Savannah breed full grown f1 savannah cat and kitten is no stricter than that of their congeners. He must be :

 Rich in caloric substances for a complete energy supply.

Contain fats and proteins to preserve muscle mass and wnsure their sporty appearance.

Include fatty acids for optimized upkeep of their own.

All accompanied by good hydration.

Savannah Cat Health

Savannah is not exposed to any particular health problem. The veterinary literature has not identified any pathology specific to this large cat. He is not particularly prone to genetic diseases, unlike the Persian cat. Full grown F1 Savannah cat nevertheless requires quality care and a healthy lifestyle.

 The Savannah stands out from other breeds of cats by its great life expectancy: he can live between 13 and 20 years depending on the generation, while the longevity of a "normal" domestic cat is around 10 - 16 years. In addition, adopting healthy and balanced nutrition has a positive impact on the feline's health. Like all breeding cats, the Savannah must be vaccinated (rabies, leucosis, typhus, coryza) to avoid common ailments.

In case of disease, the use of a veterinarian is strongly recommended.

Best Products for Full Grown F1 Savannah Cat

Serval cat: meet this fascinating animal

The African savannah is full of predators. But one of the most competent is the serval cat. This feline kills half of the prey it targets, unlike others such as lions. Moreover, two of his most characteristic features help him: kilometer-long legs and exceptionally sharp ears.

It is a beautiful animal, so many people consider breeding it in captivity. Is it capable of adapting to homes? How do they function in a wild environment?

Characteristics of the serval: the unruly cousin of cats

About the Serval cat, everything is confused. He is smaller than other felines, such as leopards or tigers, and has a name that evokes domestic life. But these animals are far from the calm Persians or Siberians. They are natives of Africa, and their terrain is wild.

Like all predators, evolution has given them the tools to be a hunting machine. First, they have a slender body of about 80 centimeters, and their maximum weight is 18 kilograms.

He is the second fastest feline and stands out for the length of its limbs and the large size of its ears.

All this makes it the second fastest cat in the world after the cheetah. He shares the golden fur with dark flecks with him, but he has curious and large ears that clash with the small size of his skull.

It is not a trait that nature has given you for free. The serval cat has an excellent sense of hearing and can hear its prey even when they are hiding inside their caves. To catch them, jump over them in spectacular vertical jumps. Its legs are its springboards: it has earned the position of a feline with the longest legs concerning its volume.

Types of serval cats: from African to black

There are more than a dozen subspecies of this feline. The best-known variant is the African serval, but it is also possible to find the black serval cat.

The latter is easily distinguishable thanks to the color of its fur. But, as its name indicates, instead of the usual yellow, it has a dark body, and he can be found especially in Tunisia and Algeria.

The Savannah cat is one of the animals most closely related to the serval. It is the result of crossing these wild cats with a Siamese, giving rise to hybrids larger than their wild relatives and suitable for domestication.

The Savannah cat is a domestic hybrid resulting from crossing the serval with the Siamese.

They usually have brindle or dark fur, a narrow face, and rings on their tails. They also stand out for their curious character, passion for water, and ability to jump up to two meters, some peculiarities that will be more evident the more significant the genetic load of their ancestors.

Where do serval cats live? Their habitat

Savannahs can live in a house or a flat, but a serval cat's habitat is outdoors. Specifically, throughout the African continent, both in the center and south.

Its ideal environment is the Savannah, the jungle, and spaces with thickets. They look for areas with spots in which to hide, and they have a habit of raising their offspring in burrows built by other animals.

The serval cat loves water and bushy areas where it can hide

They are exceptionally comfortable on plains with tall grass where they can hide. In addition, they love to swim, so it is easy to find them near ponds and other water sources.

Is a serval cat suitable as a pet?

Like many other exotic animals, the serval cat is in the spotlight of many individuals. It is hard to resist the temptation to make them pets, but the truth is that they are not made to be tamed.

Their strength, claws, and predatory nature do not allow them to live safely with people or other pets. Nor does the legislation allow it: they can only be in zoos, and express authorization is required to keep them in these enclosures.

They must be sterilized unless they are kept for reproductive purposes. And you also have to be careful if you want to cross them with a domestic cat.

To achieve the one in Savannah, you need a special permit. In addition, it is dangerous since this wild cat is much larger than domesticated females, which can be injured during copulation.

An anxious before the plate: what does the serval cat eat?

The Serval cat feeds on small prey. He usually captures them at night, which he chooses from various dishes. It eats birds, hares, rodents, and reptiles or amphibians. If he catches a bird, he has a curious way of removing its feathers: he throws it into the air several times and hits it with his head.

It is not a compassionate animal with its victims. He likes to play with them before devouring them, although he has some anxiety when he starts to feed. Sometimes he does it so fast that he chokes and has to expel the food—small revenge on the protagonist of your menu.

Serval cats are carnivorous, so this food cannot be missing from their diet. Likewise, vitamin and mineral supplements are not missing from their diet. However, they don't like it, making them enjoy their food less.

Taking care of a Serval cat is dangerous, both for those carrying out the task and for the animal itself, which does not have the elements that it would have in nature at its disposal. In the same way, you will become an expert in the whole range of exotic animals that can be found in a zoo or a nature reserve. 

The descendant of the Serval cat: the Savannah

Suppose you have fallen in love with these exotic animals and imagine living, not with a Serval, but with a savannah. In that case, you can have one well socialized from the fourth or fifth generation without meeting special requirements. The costs of one of these exotic animals are still in the four figures, but they are much more affordable than those of the first generations, which can cost the same as a car. Having a hybrid cat or a Serval requires financial resources and specific knowledge.

Another hybrid, the result of crossing an Abyssinian cat with a Caracal, is the Caracat. However, this one is even more difficult to get than the Savannah. If you do not want such an exclusive animal but an exotic one, you can find out about the Bengal cat.

Returning to the Savannah, as a mini version of the Serval, it is very similar to its predecessor but has its differences.  Many Savannah cats form a very close bond with their humans and are always in their vicinity. However, when it comes to playing, they are a bit rougher and more ferocious than other cats. That's why it's easier to have two Savannah cats at once so they can wildly entertain each other. Keeping them with calmer breeds like a British Shorthair or a Persian is not recommended, but experienced cat keepers will know to spot the exceptions. If you want to share your home with a Savannah, you must have experience with felines.