MyCatBreeds
Savannah cats have been bred to look like a Serval but it is essentially a domestic cat. The first Savannah cat was born in the United States in April 1986. The person who was successful in making this happen was Judee Frank.
She bred a Serval wild cat and a Siamese cat and they produced a female kitten with the name of Savannah – named after the African savannas from where the serval cat comes from.
It will take your Savannah kitten about 3 years to reach his adult size. The Savannah will give birth to up to 6 kittens. The cat was recognized by TICA in 2001.
Today when you’re looking to buy a Savannah kitten, you’ll notice the cats are always described with a filial number, for example, F1, F2, F3, F4, and so on. The filial number describes the generation a cat comes from.
Because this cat belongs to a hybrid group, the feline is banned in a number of states and cities in the United States of America.
The Savannah Cat is a fairly large cat that weighs anything from 3 to 8 kg. It is a cross between a domestic cat and one of Africa’s smaller wild cats, the Serval.
Because of the Serval in the mix, the Savannah cat is able to leap into the air too because of his long legs. The cat has a short tail, and similar to the Cheetah has tear markings running from the corner of the eyes down to the whiskers.
A striking feature of this cat is his hooded eyes and the large ears. The Savannah cat has exotic looks and is regarded as a low maintenance cat with its short fur. The coat is tawny-colored with black spots but it comes in 4 background colors – smoke, silver, brown, and black.
An interesting aspect with the Savannah Cat is that they are sometimes compared to dogs. They become loyal pets and companions and will follow their owners around and can even be trained to walk on a leash.
The Savannah is an intelligent cat and can be taught a trick or two. Because the Savannah cat is a hybrid, they aren’t predictable in nature. Some are friendly and social while others are more wild and hostile. Some of them don’t like meeting strangers and will growl and hiss with uncertainty.
They enjoy playing in water and it will be a good idea to invest in a paddling pool for this cat’s outdoor enclosure. It’s an active cat and will require daily exercise. It is better suited to homes where there are older children.
The Savannah cat's temperament is exceptional, and when you’ve got a Savannah in your home, you’ve got a true companion.
Cat lovers who have owned one of these cats will tell you that this cat is similar to a dog in many ways. The intelligent cat will follow his owners around and be a friendly, loyal, and devoted companion.
With so much intelligence, beauty, and energy, this cat has all the qualities of a splendid feline companion.
The Savannah will form a particularly strong bond with the human family member who grooms and feeds him.
Everybody who has known the social, affectionate, loyal cat has nothing but good words to say and he may just be the cat companion you want.
The Savannah is generally a healthy cat. The cat can also fall prey to some of the typical cat illnesses there are -
Allergies happen with cats when their immune systems become sensitive to certain things. Cat allergies can be environmental, from fleas or from food allergies.
While some allergies may come and go, others will require an examination by the vet as they can include itchy skin problems. Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing and coughing, runny eyes, diarrhea and vomiting.
This is a gastrointestinal disorder. Cats of any age are affected but it is found more in older cats. Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can come about because of a food allergy for instance or parasitic or bacterial infection. Your Savannah cat will be vomiting and lethargic and have diarrhea and weight loss.
These are parasites that invade the small intestines of a cat. It can cause anemia and inflammation of the small intestine. Hookworms can produce symptoms such as weight loss, coughing, and diarrhea as well as skin irritations.
This condition causes thickening of the muscular walls of a cat’s heart. The heart’s left ventricle is thickened. The heart can beat rapidly and this results in more oxygen usage. It can also lead to oxygen starvation which causes heart cells to die off. A condition known as arrhythmia develops where the heart beats irregularly.
The Savannah cat's diet needs to be a high-quality type of food with efficient levels of protein and taurine. The reason for this is that all cats are carnivores. A properly balanced raw diet will be the best nutritionally balanced food you can provide.
The Savannah has a short coat, which makes him low maintenance. He will still need to be brushed once a week. This will ensure a healthy sheen, and it will remove loose hairs and dust.
Provide for this intelligent cat’s physical and mental stimulation. He will need a variety of interactive toys. You yourself, need to become involved with your feline friend and give him a game too.
Make sure your Savannah is up-to-date with all his vaccinations. If you’re in any doubt about your pet’s health and wellbeing, get him to the vet who can provide you with valuable information on his health and his diet to ensure optimal health for your feline friend.