IS THE SAVANNAH A NEW CAT BREED?

Yes, it is. The first Savannah was born in the 1980's, and the breed got evaluation status in TICA in 2001, and championship status in 2012.

THE Fs AND A,B,C,SBT MARKINGS ARE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You can contact us to talk about Savannahs and answer all your questions. These markings apply to other breeds, too. Please, feel free to contact us for any question regarding cats, whatsoever.

WHY ARE SAVANNAHS SO EXPENSIVE?

Savannahs are rare, especially the early generations. They are also very difficult to breed, as there aren't many serval breeders. The Serval is a wild animal, and a special license is required in order to have one. Plus, the gestation period of the Serval and the domestic cat is different, resulting in very few successful outcrosses.

Furthermore, F1 and F2 female Savannahs sometimes reject the studs, and breeders have faced this problem many times, having to get more studs for the unwilling girls. It is assumed that the high generation females may have a strong tedency to mate with larger, stronger males, resembling the Serval.

ARE SAVANNAHS WILD?

SBT Savannahs are not wild at all. Early generation Savannahs may need to be kept by experienced cat-lovers, only because they are very energetic and have a stubborn personality. Savannahs in general are very sweet and they bond with their owners and other household cats and dogs. They are man-oriented, meaning their character resembles the loyalty of dogs. They like to be petted and follow the owners around the house, just to be with them. They wait in front of the door for the owners to come back home, they do a lot of headbutts, and they are not aggressive at all. What is important is for the responsible breeder to socialise the Savannah kittens during their kittenhood.

Furthermore, the Savannah is a very obedient cat, and can learn to fetch, walk on a leash, and obey other commands, like "Sit"!

Their endless energy levels make them a perfect company for active people, who are in search of a loyal, faithful companion. Savannahs, like many other cats do not like to be held for long periods, but they love to be petted. They are not considered lap cats, though.

Please note: A USDA license and/or a CITES permit are required in order to transfer Savannah cats from the US to Europe. Also, there are some regulations regarding Savannah ownership. In Europe all Savannah generations are allowed to be kept as pets. In Australia all generation Savannahs are banned. We hope this will change.

In Germany an outside enclosure is required in order to keep a high generation Savannah.

In the UK, a DWA license is required for F1s.

In Norway F1-F4 hybrids are banned.

In Poland and Greece all generations are allowed, with no special permits.

There may be other regulations regarding certain countries, so please do some research on your country's regulations regarding Savannahs before purchasing one.

We will be happy to help you find out more infrormation on this subject.

DO SAVANNAHS GET ALONG WELL WITH KIDS?

Yes, they do. They like to play with someone as energetic as them! Early generation Savannahs have to be well-socialised and kids have to learn to respect the household pets.

DO SAVANNAHS USE THE LITTER BOX?

Of course! Our kittens have already learnt to use the litter box before they settle to their new homes.

DO THEY REALLY LIKE WATER?

Most Savannahs like to play with water, they are not afraid of it, and many of them will join you in the shower!

WHY IS THE BREEDER ASKING ME ALL THESE QUESTIONS?

Responsible breeders ask a lot of questions to help you choose the right kitten. We are very protective of our kittens, and we want to see them happy with their new families!

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE PERCHASING A SAVANNAH KITTEN?

We advise all Savannah lovers to do some research around the web.

TICA's site is www.tica.org .

You can find much information there.

The Savannah Cat Association's website is www.savannahcatassociation.org .

Also, please be aware that there are many scams. The "Ashera" cat is just an overpriced Savannah cat, there is no "Ashera" breed. Also, if you spot a VERY underpriced Savannah, do a lot of research, as it may not be a Savannah at all.

I SAW A NON-STANDARD SAVANNAH. IS IT REALLY A SAVANNAH?

If it is sold by a reputable breeder, with a pedigree, yes, it is. Non-standard Savannahs can be marbled, rossetted, with other colours than silver, brown or smoke. For example, there are the snow/lynx Savannahs, which resemble the white Serval.

Yes, there are white Servals. There are also melanistic Servals.

DO THEY NEED A SPECIAL DIET, OR A SPECIAL VET?

No, they don't. Savannahs need good quality cat food, canned or dry. Raw food is the best, but it is only for experienced owners. We recommend leaving a bowl of dry food available at all times, and of course, water. They also do not need a special vet, but you can encourage your vet to do some research on Savannahs, if they want.

Savannahs, like Bengals, should not be given Ketamine as an anaesthetic drug. You can discuss other alternatives with your vet.

ARE SAVANNAHS DESTRUCTIVE?

Savannahs are not destructive, they are very energetic and playful even as adults, so their new owners should get many toys for them, and be ready to spend their life with a Savannah cat. Other important elements are: a cat scratching post, a nail clipper, and lots of affection!

Please DO NOT DECLAW.

Declawing in cats results in the amputation of a whole phalanx of the cat's toe. If you would like to learn more on this subject, please contact us.