The Savannah is a hybrid cat breed. It is a cross between a serval and a domestic cat.
History A Savannah cat is a cross between a domestic
cat and the serval, a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became
popular among breeders at the end of the 1990s, and in 2001 the International Cat Association
accepted it as a new registered breed. In May 2012, TICA accepted it as a championship
breed. Bengal breeder Judee Frank crossbred a male
serval, belonging to Suzi Woods, with a Siamese to produce the first Savannah cat on April
7, 1986. In 1996, Patrick Kelley and Joyce Sroufe wrote the original version of the Savannah
breed standard and presented it to the board of The International Cat Association. In 2001,
the board accepted the breed for registration. Physical features
The Savannahs' tall and slim build gives them the appearance of greater size than their
actual weight. Size is very dependent on generation and sex, with F1 hybrid male cats usually
being the largest. F1 and F2 hybrids are usually the largest, due to the stronger genetic influence
of the African serval ancestor. Male Savannahs tend to be larger than females. Early-generation
Savannahs can weigh 20 lbs or more, with the higher weight usually attributed to the
F2 or F3 neutered males, though this is not the norm. Later-generation Savannahs are usually
between seven and 30 lbs. Because of the random factors in Savannah hybrid genetics,
size can vary significantly, even in one litter. The coat of a Savannah depends on the breed
of cat used for the domestic cross. Early generations have some form of dark spotting
on a lighter coat, and many early breeders employed "wild-looking" spotted breeds, such
as the Bengal and Egyptian Mau, for the cross to help preserve these markings in later generations.
The International Cat Association breed standard calls for brown-spotted tabby, silver-spotted
tabby, black, and black smoke only. In addition, the Savannah can come in nonstandard variations
such as the classic or marble patterns, snow coloration, and blue or other diluted colors
derived from domestic sources of cat coat genetics. Most breeders are trying to cull
these nonstandard colours out of the gene pool by selling nonstandard coloured cats
as pets, but some Savannah breeders are interested in working with these colours to introduce
them as new traits. The overall look of an individual Savannah
depends greatly on generation, with higher-percentage Savannah cats often having a more "wild" look.
The domestic breed used will influence appearance, as well. The domestic outcrosses for the Savannah
breed that are permissible in TICA are the Egyptian Mau, the Ocicat, the Oriental Shorthair,
and the Domestic Shorthair. In addition, some Savannah breeders use "impermissible" breeds
or mixes, such as Bengal and Maine Coon cats for the domestic parentage, but these outcrosses
can bring many unwanted genes, as well. Outcrosses are rarely used these days, as many fertile
males are available, and as a result, most breeders are exclusively breeding Savannahs
to Savannahs. The main exception would be when using a serval to produce F1 cats, and
even then breeders prefer to use a Savannah with the serval, rather than a non-Savannah
female. A Savannah's wild look is often due to the
presence of many distinguishing serval characteristics. Most prominent of these include the various
color markings; tall, deeply cupped, wide, rounded, erect ears; very long legs; fat,
puffy noses, and hooded eyes. The bodies of Savannahs are long and leggy; when a Savannah
is standing, its hind-end is often higher than its prominent shoulders. The small head
is taller than wide, and it has a long, slender neck. The backs of the ears have ocelli, a
central light band bordered by black, dark grey or brown, giving an eye-like effect.
The short tail has black rings, with a solid black tip. The eyes are blue as a kitten,
and may be green, brown, gold or a blended shade as an adult. The eyes have a "boomerang"
shape, with a hooded brow to protect them from harsh sunlight. Ideally, black or dark
"tear-streak" or "cheetah tear" markings run from the corner of the eyes down the sides
of the nose to the whiskers, much like that of a cheetah.
Most F1 generation Savannahs will possess many or all of these traits, while their presence
often diminishes in later generations. Being a newly developing, hybridized breed of cats,
appearance can vary far more than cat owners may expect.
Reproduction and genetics
As Savannahs are produced by crossbreeding servals and domestic cats, each generation
of Savannahs is marked with a filial number. For example, the cats produced directly from
a serval/domestic cat cross are the F1 generation, and they are 50% serval.
F1 generation Savannahs are very difficult to produce, due to the significant difference
in gestation periods between the serval and a domestic cat, and sex chromosomes. Pregnancies
are often absorbed or aborted, or kittens are born prematurely. Also, servals can be
very picky in choosing mates, and often will not mate with a domestic cat.
F1 Savannahs can be as high as 75% serval. All 75% F1s are the offspring of a 50% F1
female bred back to a serval. Cases of 87.5% F1 Savannah cats are known, but fertility
is questionable at those percentage Serval levels. More common than a 75% F1 is a 62.5%
F1, which is the product of an "F2A" bred back to a serval. The F2 generation, which
has a serval grandparent and is the offspring of the F1 generation female, ranges from 25%
to 37.5% serval. The F3 generation has a serval great grandparent, and is 12.5% Serval.
A Savannah/Savannah cross may also be referred to by breeders as "SV xSV", in addition to
the filial number. Savannah generation filial numbers also have a letter designator that
refers to the generation of SV-to-SV breeding. The designation A means one parent is a Savannah
and the other is an outcross. B is used for both parents are Savannahs with one of them
being an A. The C designation is when both parents are Savannahs and one of them is a
B. Therefore, A x = B; B x = C; C x = SBT, SBT x SBT = SBT. F1 generation Savannahs are
always A, since the father is a nondomestic outcross. The F2 generation can be A or B.
The F3 generation can be A, B or C. The F4 generation is the first generation that can
be a "stud book tradition" cat, and is considered "purebred".
Being hybrids, Savannahs typically exhibit some characteristics of hybrid inviability.
Because the male Savannah is the heterogametic sex, they are most commonly affected, in accordance
with Haldane's rule. Male Savannahs are typically larger in size and sterile until the F5 generation
or so, although the females are fertile from the F1 generation. Currently, breeders are
noticing a resurgence in sterility in males at the F5 and F6 generations. Presumably,
this is due to the higher serval percentage in C and SBT cats. The problem may also be
compounded by the secondary nondomestic genes coming from the Asian leopard cat in the Bengal
outcrosses that were used heavily in the foundation of the breed.
Females of the F1-F3 generations are usually held back for breeding, with only the males
being offered as pets. The reverse occurs in the F5-F7 generations, but to a lesser
degree, with the males being held as breeding cats, and females primarily offered as pets.
Temperament
Savannahs are commonly compared to dogs in their loyalty, and they will follow their
owners around the house like a canine. They can also be trained to walk on a leash and
to fetch. Some Savannahs are reported to be very social
and friendly with new people and other cats and dogs, while others may run and hide or
revert to hissing and growling when seeing a stranger. Exposure to other people and pets
is most likely the key factor in sociability as Savannah kittens grow up.
An often-noted trait of the Savannah is its jumping ability. They are known to jump on
top of doors, refrigerators and high cabinets. Some Savannahs can leap about 8 feet high
from a standing position. Savannahs are very inquisitive, and have been known to get into
all sorts of things. They often learn how to open doors and cupboards, and anyone buying
a Savannah will likely need to take special precautions to prevent the cat from getting
into trouble. Many Savannah cats do not fear water, and
will play or even immerse themselves in water. Some owners even shower with their Savannah
cats. Presenting a water bowl to a Savannah may also prove a challenge, as some will promptly
begin to "bat" all the water out of the bowl until it is empty, using their front paws.
Another quirk Savannahs have is to fluff out the base of their tails in a greeting gesture.
This is not to be confused with the fluffing of fur along the back and full length of the
tail in fear. Savannahs will also often flick or wag their tails in excitement or pleasure.
Vocally, Savannahs may either chirp like their serval fathers, meow like their domestic mothers,
both chirp and meow, or sometimes produce sounds which are a mixture of the two. Chirping
is observed more often in earlier generations. Savannahs may also "hiss"—a serval-like
hiss quite different from a domestic cat's hiss, sounding more like a very loud snake.
It can be alarming to humans not acquainted to such a sound coming from a cat.
There are three basic factors that affect the nature of the Savannah cat behavior: lineage,
generation and socialization. These three factors follow the nature vs nurture argument
with nature being breed lines combined with generation and nurture being social up bringing.
As of 2014 the Savannah breed development is still in its infancy and most Savannah
cats have a very broad range of behaviors. If a breed line has a tendency for a specific
behavior over other behaviors it is likely to be passed to the breed lines offspring.
As outside lines are used there is a merging effect of the base behaviors.
When breeding lines starting from early generations such as first filial and second filial generations,
behavior stemming from the wild out cross, the Serval, is more apparent. Behaviors like
jumping, fight or flight instincts, dominance, nurturing behaviors are more noticeable in
early generations. Since fertile males that are F5 and F6 are used in most breeding programs,
later generation Savannah cats behaviors tend to act more like traditional domestic cats.
Overlying behavior traits for all generations are high activity and high curiosity.
Probably the most influential factor is early socialization. Kittens socialized with human
contact from birth and human interaction each day reinforces kitten and cat human interaction
behavior that lasts throughout the cats life span. Kittens within litters will tend to
have varied social skills with some that like human interaction and others that fear it.
If kittens that fear humans never grow past that fear they will tend to exhibit a more
shy behavior and are likely to hide when strangers are present. Kittens that look forward to
their human visits and like to engage in play with their humans tend to grow to cats that
are more welcoming of strangers and less frightened of new environments. These cats tend to be
more the life of the party versus a cat that will find a hiding place until the party is
over. Human cat socialization should be practiced each day with positive reinforcement for kitten
to grow into a well rounded social Savannah cat. Kittens that go for long periods of time
without human interaction and only interact with their mothers or siblings many times
do not develop a strong bond with humans and tend to be less trusting of their humans.
These kittens tend to be more shy and are likely to hide when humans that they don't
know are present. Health considerations
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a health concern in many pure breed cats. A link has recently
been found between Bengal Cat and HCM; there are cases that indicate that HCM may also
be a reoccurring health issue in servals. Several responsible Bengal Breeders have their
breeder cats scanned for HCM on an annual basis, though this practice is not as widespread
in the Savannah community. Some veterinarians have noted servals have
smaller livers relative to their body sizes than domestic cats, and some Savannahs inherit
this, but the medical consequence of this is unrecognized and is likely to be of no
consequence. There are no known medical peculiarities of hybrid cats requiring different medical
treatments than that of domestic cats, despite what many breeders may believe. The blood
values of Savannahs are not known to be different from the typical domestic cat, despite its
serval genes. Like domestic cats, Savannahs and other domestic
hybrids require appropriate anesthesia based on their medical needs but to do have specific
requirements as breeders sometimes erroneously infer. It is unclear among the veterinary
community how a particular anesthetic agent, specifically ketamine, has been listed as
causing ill effects when this has not been found to be accurate. It is possible this
comes from a misunderstanding of the drug and its common effects.
Another inaccurate breeder recommendation is that of using only a killed vaccine. Modified
live vaccines are appropriate for use in Savannahs and will not 'cause' the disease. Savannahs
are not more or less sensitive than the general population of domestic cats to a vaccine reaction.
Modified live vaccines induce much better immunity than killed vaccines, and many modified
live vaccines have the desirable bonus of lacking an 'adjuvant', a component in killed
vaccines that predisposes the cat to vaccine-associated sarcomas.
Rabies vaccines are recommended but not approved for non-domestic cats. If a non-domestic cat
bites someone it will be treated as "unvaccinated" whether it has been given a vaccine or not.
This means a state veterinarian may require a cat who has bitten someone to be euthanized
or quarantined according to state laws. Some breeders state Savannah cats have no
known special care or food requirements, while others recommend a very high quality diet
with no grains or byproducts. Some recommend a partial or complete raw feeding/raw food
diet with at least 32% protein and no byproducts. Some recommend calcium and other supplements,
especially for growing cats and earlier generations. Others consider it unnecessary, or even harmful.
Most Savannah breeders agree that Savannahs have a need for more taurine than the average
domestic cat, and therefore recommend taurine supplements, which can be added to any food
type. Ownership laws
Laws governing ownership of Savannah cats in the United States vary according to state.
The majority of states follow the code set by the United States Department of Agriculture,
which defines wild or domesticated hybrid crosses as domesticated. Some states have
set more restrictive laws on hybrid cat ownership, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Georgia.
Some cities may have laws that differ from the state. For example, Savannahs more than
five generations from the serval are allowed to be owned in New York state, but not in
the city of New York. The Australian Federal government has banned
the importation into Australia of the Savannah cat, as the larger cats could potentially
threaten species of the country's native wildlife not threatened by smaller domestic cats. A
government report into the proposed importation of the cats has warned the hybrid breed may
introduce enhanced hunting skills and increased body size into feral cat populations, putting
native species at risk. The report states the Savannah cats are not worth the risk.
Savannah cats are legal in every province of Canada, although some provinces have restrictions
on the ownership of F1 and F2 generations, and importing Savannahs from the United States
requires rabies vaccination and special permits. Many other nations have few or no restrictions
on F2 and later generations. References
External links Hybrid Ownership Laws in the USA
Savannah Breed Profile TICA's Official Savannah Breed Section
The Savannah Cat Club