These are questions that have been asked of me via email, telephone conversations and in person at cat shows.

• I am not an expert by any means, nor am I a long-time breeder. I purchased my first SV over five years ago and my first breeder a little more than three years ago now. I have been heavily involved in the breed since though!

• I show my SVs regularly and I particpate actively on many SV-related email lists. I am the Secretary of the International Savannah Cat Club (www.savannahcatclub.com) and the Rescue Coordinator for the same club. Much of my answers below reflect what I have learnt from others over the past years.

• I hope the answers below help you to understand more about the breed and about my breeding program

Photos of other Savannahs

References:
SavannahCat.com
Biggest site with other breeders.

Savannah Cat Club
Alternative resource for Savannahs

TICA

The International Cat Association; registering body for Savannahs

What is the difference between a Savannah and a Bengal ?

Will the kitten be BIG?

When does a Savannah reach full size?

I want a GOLDEN kitten, will the kitten be gold?

How do I select the kitten with the most Servally looks when they all look cute as babies?

How do I choose the right SV breeder to get my kitten from?

Why is there such variation in the prices asked for kittens of the same generation?

Your website specifies that you are committed to only breeding SV to SV. Why is this important and what does it contribute to your program?

Why do I have to wait until 12 weeks, why can't I have the kitten at 8 weeks old?

What does the “F” mean in F1, F2, etc?

What does “A-registered”, “B-registered”, “C-registered” and “SBT” mean? Why is it important?

What are the most important attributes of the SV breed?

If males up until F5 (fifth generation away from the Serval) are sterile, why would I need to neuter a male kitten?

Will I need a Permit to own a Savannah ?

Will they get along with my cats and other pets?

Are Savannahs destructive?

Do Savannahs need special toys?

What is “Savannah-proofing”?

Will my Savannah play in water and jump into the bath with me?

Can you walk a Savannah on a leash like a dog?

Can a Savannah be an indoor/outdoor cat or will they stay inside my yard fence?

Do they spray? Do they use a litterbox faithfully?

What food do they eat? Will they eat “normal” cat food?

What health problems are common in Savannahs?

What is the difference between a Savannah and a Bengal ?

This is a question I am asked all too frequently! Therefore I decided that this is the question that I should answer first on this page.

Bengals are the more commonly-known domestic hybrid breed. The most obvious difference between the two breeds is that Bengals are derived from a different exotic cat than the Savannah . The Bengal is derived from the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) while the Savannah is derived from the African Serval.

The different wild cat used influences many attributes of these breeds so although both are spotted cats there is quite a difference in physical type. The Asian Leopard Cat is a smaller, more compact-bodied cat with “rosetted” spots (dark spots with a lighter center). It is a jungle cat and known to be less friendly and sociable, therefore it is obviously not a pet. The Bengal breed derived from this cat is well-socialized (breeders pay careful attention to this) while still retaining a lot of the exotic looks of the ALC…the amazing rosetted spots, the compact athletic body, the small ears and distinctive face with large round eyes.

The African Serval is a tall long lean cat with outrageously large ears. It is a confident, sociable wild cat that is known as the most “dog-like” of the exotic cats. Their outgoing personality is passed to the Savannah , in a more domestic form. Our goal with the Savannah breed is to retain also the long legs, the long neck and body, the tall ears… giving that long elegant look of the Serval. We also want those solid black spots! The face shape of the Serval is quite different from the ALC and therefore the Savannah should look distinct from the Bengal … the face of the Savannah is angular with large upstanding ears. The eye shape is not as big and rounded as the Bengal , instead with a flattened upper eye shape. The nose is longer and broader, the chin is not as strong. (top of page)

Will my SV kitten be BIG?

There are no guarantees. The heritage of Savannahs is both the very tall Serval and the normal-sized domestic cat, therefore the kittens could end up close to either size. The extremely tall kittens that we have produced here (eg Kirembo Babe, who can be viewed on our Previous Kittens page) started out very average-weight and sized as babies and did not show signs of longer-than-normal legs until 8-10 weeks old. We will not guarantee size but feel that previous kittens of our Queens give some indication of the size and legginess you might expect of future kittens.(top of page)

When does a Savannah reach full size?

Savannahs appear to grow for at least three years. Most of the height of a SV will be achieved in the first year, but still an inch or two might be added later on. More muscle mass is gained in the second year, the body will fill out once it is not growing upwards so fast.

The size of a Savannah will depend a little on the generation. Although there have been some huge F2 and F3 SVs, the largest generation is the one closest to the Serval…the F1 generation. By the time you get down to F4 and F5 generations mostly the SVs are simply taller and longer than a domestic but not much heavier. (top of page)

I want a GOLDEN kitten, will the kitten be gold?

This is also very hard to predict. Kittens that are born looking as brown as their siblings develop golden highlights as they age, and most kittens that seem extremely golden as babies end up the average brown-tone that you see in most Savannahs. Here at Kirembo Savannahs we are more concerned with type and if we had to consider color would focus more on spot boldness and contrast before background color. We feel that a bold spotting pattern looks most dramatic, no matter what the ground color. (top of page)

How do I select the kitten with the most Servally looks when they all look cute as babies?

This is a HARD question, and I am not sure I have the answer! Too many times breeders have sold a kitten they thought was “pet quality” only to see it grow up into a stunning cat and wish they had kept it.

There are some indications that a kitten will be better than another, but kittens grow and change so much in the first weeks that it really is difficult. It is easiest when there was a previous litter of the same cross. Then you could possibly see pics of how they turned out as older kittens or adults and compare that to baby pics to get an idea of how the kittens that are offered now might turn out.

If you can also see baby pics of the mother (or both parents) and compare to the parents now, then you might get some clues. (top of page)

How do I choose the right SV breeder to get my kitten from?

It's hard to decide where you might want to get your kitten from, to me it ought to be more than just who has a kitten available now. You are likely going to have that kitten (cat) for 20-odd years, so it ought to be a careful thought-out decision. The breeder should be part of that decision, it should be someone you feel you can trust and whose opinion you value. The best way to find out if the breeder is right for you is to communicate with them. Ask them lots of questions: about their breeding program, about the potential parents of your kitten, what those cats' personalities are like, ask about previous kittens and how they grew up. Basically, if a breeder is not prepared to answer all those questions patiently, then how much help are they going to be if any problems arise once you have the kitten (and they have their money)? Even if you are "only" looking for a pet, you still want the best available...and when you are paying a considerable amount for that kitten you will want a quality animal. So you still have every right to ask questions about the breeding program behind that kitten, to ask for a pedigree, and to discuss what breeds went into making that SV kitten. As this breed is young, there are a number of outcrosses that may be used to make that kitten...and all will influence how that kitten will look when grown up.

Why is there such variation in the prices asked for kittens of the same generation?

This happens in all breeds, some kittens conform more to the breed standard, therefore are more sought-after and the price reflects this.

If the breeding stock was selected as the absolute best then that breeder probably paid “top dollar” for their cats and might expect the same for the kittens produced.

Sometimes there is an element of “you get what you pay for”…a kitten that is not as typey might be priced lower than its littermate that is amazing looking. Remember that this does not mean the personality of the kitten is different or lesser-quality, and if you are looking for a pet then the blackest of black spots might not be as important as an outgoing friendly disposition.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that a kitten that is priced high is necessarily the "best" kitten available, just that the breeder is asking a premium price. Buyer beware, do your research and ask enough questions to know that the price is fair for that particular kitten. (top of page)

Your website specifies that you are committed to only breeding SV to SV. Why is this important and what does it contribute to your program?

Ultimately, the Savannah breed truly becomes a breed when it is breeding SV to SV. Our Breed has been restricted by the fact that early generation males (up to F5, five generations away from the Serval) are generally infertile. This has meant that we have had to choose other domestic spotted breeds to outcross to our SV females to get down to this generation.

Of course, outcrossing to other breeds not only dilutes the Serval influence but it also adds the influence of whatever breed was used as an outcross. What we hoped was that when we could use SV males then we would get better results in the progeny….at least that is what happened with the other hybrid domestic breeds (Bengal and Chausie).

I think in the past year we have seen a number of SV to SV litters being born, and the type has been wonderful. There is a significant increase of type seen when the Serval comes from both sides of the pedigree. Doing this just once has such an effect, we are very excited with the idea of what we shall produce when we do multiple generations of SV to SV breeding! (top of page)

Why do I have to wait until 12 weeks, why can't I have the kitten at 8 weeks old?

This is not because we want to keep the cute little babies to ourselves for as long as possible (although a pleasing side-effect). This has to do with the health of the kitten. The immune system of a kitten is barely developed at 8 weeks and realistically is the earliest opportunity to vaccinate the kitten to get a good immune response and protection against disease. It takes a further two weeks to develop a decent immune response, and so the absolute earliest time to leave would be 10 weeks. In the normal way of things, it never runs so smoothly and therefore 12 weeks is the time they will be leaving home. We also like to give them their second vaccination and microchip before leaving home.

Additionally, emotionally the kitten is far more mature and confident at 12 weeks than they are at 8 weeks. This confidence means that they cope with the huge change in their lives better, so less trauma to them. Remember, it might be exciting to YOU to have your kitten but to them it is not such a great thing. They are losing their siblings, their momma and the only home they have ever known. At 12 weeks old they are more adventurous and willing to accept change. So what is better for them is also better for you, the new owner. (top of page)

What does the “F” mean in F1, F2, etc?

“F” stands for “filial” generation… in the case of the Savannah breed, it refers to the number of generations away from the wild cat, the Serval.

For example, an F1 is one generation away from the Serval, the Serval is the parent of an F1. An F2 is two generations away, the Serval is the grandparent. (top of page)

What does “A-registered”, “B-registered”, “C-registered” and “SBT” mean? Why is it important?

These terms refer to the Registration Codes given to our cats by our Feline Registry TICA (The International Cat Association, www.tica.org ).

A-registered SVs are SVs with only ONE Savannah parent, usually the SV mother and a domestic outcross sire (such as one of our Permissible outcross breeds Egyptian Mau, Oriental Shorthair, Ocicat or Domestic Shorthair).

A SV is a B-registered SVs when both parents are SVs, but not all grandparents are SVs. For example crossing an A-registered SV to another A-registered SV will give you B-registered offspring.

C-registered SVs are when all four grandparents are SVs… or two generations of SV to SV breeding. Crossing a B-registered SV to another B-registered SV will give you C-registered SV offspring.

SBT stands for “Stud Book Traditional” and is a cat with three generations of SV to SV breeding, all great-grandparents are SVs. Two C-registered SVs will produce an SBT litter. This is what is considered a Purebred Cat and is the ultimate eventual aim of our Savannah Breed Section.

These codes are not terribly important to the pet buyer, but critical to a breeder. To develop this breed we need to progress through the codes to SBT. The importance to the pet buyer of codes might simply be that you might expect a B kitten to be typier than an A kitten. This is not true in all cases, as careful selection of the cats is necessary no matter what the “code” is. (top of page)

What are the most important attributes of the SV breed?

To me, size is not the most important attribute. Sure it is impressive to see a BIG cat, but to me the Savannah is so much more than that. The Savannah should be tall, long lean and ELEGANT in appearance. The ears should be tall and upstanding and the spots dramatic. But it is the relative proportions of the cat that make it look exotic and so simply being large is not going to make a cat an outstanding Savannah .

For me, the Savannah is ALSO about their personality. They are highly energetic, intelligent and sociable. It is hard to describe what it is like to live with a SV, but they make the most wonderful companion for people that like to interact with their pets. They can be trouble too, that energy and intelligence can think up a lot of pranks and you might not always be too impressed with what they come up with! So a sense of humor is essential if you want to live with a Savannah … and a place to safely display your breakables that they can't access. (top of page)

If males up until F5 (fifth generation away from the Serval) are sterile, why would I need to neuter a male kitten?

Although males may not make viable sperm, they still produce the male hormones and will exhibit male (tomcat) behavior that makes them undesirable as pets in the intact state. For example, they will still spray and mark their territory, and be continually searching for an available female to mate to. (top of page)

Will I need a Permit to own a Savannah ?

States, counties and cities differ in their laws and regulations. You must check before you purchase your Savannah kitten. Remember that even if your State allows it you must still check your local laws as they will override State regulations. www.hybridpride.org is a good place to start your investigation. (top of page)

Will they get along with my cats and other pets?

Yes, generally a Savannah gets along well with other animals. If you have a dog, it may take a SV a little while to adjust if they were not raised around dogs. Other cat breeds that are similarly high energy (Oriental breeds, Abyssinians, Ocicats) seem to work well, as do very patient breeds such as the Maine Coon, Ragdoll and PixieBob breeds.

I would not recommend a SV in a house full of birds and fish. I am sure that with the right caging for birds (or separate room) then it might work, or with secure tanks for the fish. But a SV has a strong prey drive and most likely will devote its time to working out ways around your safeguards to get to “play” with your bird or fish. (top of page)

Are Savannahs destructive?

Savannahs are high energy cats, with loads of intelligence, but I would not describe them as destructive. If left alone for long periods though, a Savannah might find things to amuse itself that may not be what you would choose for them. It is important to make sure that they are well-occupied, possibly with another companion pet, or that your house is well Savannah-proofed.

It is also important to train your pet in the way you would like it to behave. Dissuade and distract from inappropriate behavior and give them suitable toys to expend their energy on.

A SV is not simply a gorgeous animal, it is highly interactive and needs time from you. If you do not have much spare time between your job and activities, then maybe a SV is not for you. (top of page)

Do Savannahs need special toys?

The rambunctious energy of a SV can mean that it is “hard” on toys. Many cat toys that are available are just not suitable for a SV…not only will they not last long, but some are too tempting to be ingested and can cause harm to your cat.

I like to recommend the toys made by Metpet as I have found them extremely sturdy and my SVs love them. www.metpet.com

Additionally, my cats love the “mice” made from real sheepskin, they do not appreciate faux lambswool! Petsmart do stock the real sheepskin mice, they are larger than the normal toy mice sold, and are sewn not glued together.

Nylabone dog chew toys are often good choices for a young SV kitten that is teething. With all toys keep a careful eye out, especially while your SV is young. Any signs of destruction then confiscate that toy. It is just not worth the risk. (top of page)

What is “Savannah-proofing”?

I liken preparations to introduce a SV into your home to toddler-proofing your house from floor to ceiling.

Any breakable objects should either be put away for a year or two, or safely shut into a glass-fronted cabinet. Savannahs are energetic and definitely can be clumsy when racing about the house in a fit of gleeful play.

Secure objects that might be knocked over before bringing your SV kitten home. Museum wax/gel is reported to work well for some households.

Remove poisonous plants definitely. Here is the link to the ASPCA webpage listing plants that have been reported as having serious deleterious effects on animals.

Be aware that a potted plant looks like a lot of digging fun to a SV kitten, and the plant itself is “asking” to be dragged all over the house. So, even if the plant is not toxic to your cat you may not successfully keep house plants after introducing a SV to your household.

While teething, many SV kittens will chew on inappropriate things, including electrical cords. Bitter sprays can be perfect for this, also consider removing and storing any cords that are not necessary at that time. There are also home products available, that can encase many cords within the one larger tube. This is a really good idea, especially while your SV is young.

Toilet lids should be placed down, as a SV kitten will see an open toilet bowl as a “wading pool” and splash around in there. Additionally, at least one of the kittens I have sent out worked out for himself what wonderful entertainment the water swirling down the bowl could be, and how to push the lever to make it do that again and again (quite an expensive water bill for his owner!). Some SVs will work out how to turn taps on, which will either require changing the taps (to a round shape that is more difficult for them) or learning to keep bathroom doors shut.

SVs will often learn to open doors and drawers. So childproof latches on cupboards containing toxic substances (such as cleaning supplies) is a good idea.

There are many things I haven't listed here that may happen. Not ALL Savannahs will be so troublesome, it depends on the individual personality and the time they have to themselves. It is best to be aware of the number of things such an intelligent and energetic cat can get up to... forewarned is fore-armed!

If the kitten is to be left alone for many hours a day, it may be advisable to make a “Savannah-Safe” room to shut the kitten in while you are away. Design it with cat trees and safe toys and comfy beds (maybe even leave the radio or TV on) so that it is a pleasant place for your cat to be until you return home. (top of page)

Will my Savannah play in water and jump into the bath with me?

Servals hunt in water for frogs and small fish, so we often find that a SV will tolerate water more than the average domestic cat. Some Savannahs LOVE water and will turn on taps and jump into baths and showers whenever possible. However not all SVs share this trait, so please do not expect them to love the bath. No cat likes to have to do anything. And like all cats, Savannahs do not wish to be dumped into the water, if they enjoy water they will come to play all by themselves.

All my SVs enjoy going outside into their enclosure when it rains and come in dripping wet, but not all want to jump in the bath like my Katie does! (top of page)

Can you walk a Savannah on a leash like a dog?

Savannahs are curious, outgoing cats that often enjoy going for walks. They usually adapt well to a harness or walking jacket ( www.joykatz.net/walkingjackets.htm ). With careful training you can often have them walking on a leash like a dog, except maybe not quite as obedient. They love to explore so will want to wander around…mine are better though than my beagle! (top of page)

Can a Savannah be an indoor/outdoor cat or will they stay inside my yard fence?

NO, and NO!

Savannahs have amazing energy combined with high intelligence and combined with a strong "prey drive", they just LOVE to chase things. These cats just do not make good outside cats. They will be fascinated by a bird and go stalk it, see a butterfly and follow that, then see another bird and chase that one...within hours they will be miles from your home with no idea how they got there! One of my kittens got out of his new home and was found two weeks later five miles from his home. His owners feel very lucky to have found him, as when a cat wanders that far they are rarely located and returned to their homes. Savannahs are not recommended as anything but indoor-only pets.

Savannahs jump higher and further than most domestic cats…those long legs are very functional! Even with the highest fence, most likely a SV would find a way up and over it. (top of page)

Do they spray? Do they use a litterbox faithfully?

Intact breeding cats often spray. When neutered/spayed at an appropriate age (5 months is recommended) Savannahs are not known to spray. My neutered F2 male and spayed F3 females do not spray.

All my SVs use their litterboxes religiously! Like most cats, some Savannahs can absolutely require their boxes be extremely clean, and you must make sure there are plenty of litterboxes for the number of cats in your house. The general rule is one litterbox per cat and one extra. Additionally, Savannahs can grow to larger-than-normal sizes so you will need the jumbo-sized litter pans. Some people find that plastic tote boxes make excellent litter boxes, especially with those cats that like to dig and fling litter about.

I use Feline Pine litter, but any cat litter is acceptable. (top of page)

What food do they eat? Will they eat “normal” cat food?

Savannahs eat commercial cat food like any other domestic cat would, but are usually also very receptive to a raw diet. We recommend a high quality cat food brand is used, especially as SVs grow fast in the first years of their life so will need good nutrition.

Pet owners will argue about processed vs raw food diets and I am not going to get into that. My cats eat Innova Evo dry food, Nutro Complete Care pouches and raw meat. Some prefer one food type to another. It is not at all related to amount of wild blood in the cat. My 46% girl is not nearly so interested in raw meat as my 4% male SV is. (top of page)

What health problems are common in Savannahs?

Savannahs are a new breed and as yet do not have any health issues associated with them. Of course different breeds have been used in SV breeding programs and those breeds may bring genetic susceptibilities with them. As a breeder I have attempted to ensure that my cats are as healthy as they possibly can be. They of course are vaccinated and given regular health checks. They additionally have cardiac ultrasounds before they are used in my breeding program to ensure that their hearts are healthy and show no signs of a heart defect or development of HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, currently one of the top causes of feline death). The ultrasounds will be repeated regularly during my cats' lives to make sure their hearts remain healthy. I also monitor the Coronavirus titers of my cats. Coronavirus is the cause of FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), although it requires a mutation of the virus to develop this deadly disease. (top of page)

Lastly, due to the overwhelming popularity of this breed and the limited number of kittens produced annually, it is very important to note that, in general, Savannah Breeders consider their kittens very precious, and many have adopted a screening process to qualify prospective buyers.  As it is part of the Breeders responsibility to assure that the kitten you select is well matched to you and your living situation, please do not feel offended if at some part in your search, one or more breeders request a wealth of personal information from you. 

 While not all breeders will require this, you should be prepared to submit a written description to your breeder detailing your lifestyle and type of home you can provide, including information regarding your family, age of children, age and type of existing pets, space available for play, time spent away from the home working, etc.   You should also provide your veterinarian's credentials and include a telephone number where he or she can be reached for additional comment and a personal reference.

For further information, please visit www.savannahbreedsection.org

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