About The Breed

History

A hybrid of servals (wild African cats) and various domestic house cat breeds such as Bengals, Egyptian Maus, and Oriental Shorthairs, modern-day Savannahs still maintain the characteristics and appearances of their exotic ancestors.

Among the wide world of cats, Savannahs are one of the newest, or youngest, breeds around, the first one being born in 1986. This female was named Savannah, after the habitat of her serval parent. In just a few decades, the popularity and demand for these cats have grown significantly, and they can now be found all over the world.

Attributes

Inherited from their serval ancestors, Savannah cats have a tall, lean appearance, a long neck, and big ears. Their coat also resembles that of a wild cat that you would see on an African savanna. Sporting a darker-colored, spotted coat, people unfamiliar with this breed have mistaken them for small cheetahs, or another type of wild cat.

Coat colors and patterns for this cat breed can include black, brown, or black-spotted tabby, although the most common appearance is a lighter cream or sandy coat with solid black or brown spots. Even the spots on Savannahs can vary, some being round and others taking an oval shape.

These cats usually adore getting attention and being around people, so it is often not in their best interest to be left alone for long hours, multiple days a week. Being such sociable creatures, Savannahs typically do well with families of all sizes and ages, and they also generally get along well with children. Remember, it's important to teach kids how to interact safely with animals. As a good rule of thumb, all interactions between a child and a pet should be supervised until the child is older.

Although they are undeniably adorable, it is important to seriously consider if a Savannah is the right choice for you. Some common questions people have before adopting these cats include:

How Long Do Savannah Cats Live?

On average, these cats will live anywhere between 12–15 years, but there have been many accounts of them living all the way to 20 years old. The lifespan of your cat can be determined by many factors, including their diet, exercise, living environment, and existing health conditions.

Are Savannah Cats Hypoallergenic?

Savannah cats are usually not hypoallergenic. While some cat parents report less shedding from these cats than other types of cats, unfortunately, if you are allergic to cats, Savannahs are probably not the right choice for you.

How Big Do Savannah Cats Get?

Savannahs can vary greatly in size, and this is mainly because they are a hybrid breed. However, when looking at averages, these cats will teeter around 10-20 pounds, but don't be completely surprised if yours tips the scales up to 30 pounds.

These medium to large cats are also quite tall, typically measuring around 16 inches in height. Although there is a variance in their size, it is a given that male Savannah cats will almost always be larger than females.

Savannah Cats vs Bengal Cats

Often mistaken for one another, chances are that if you are doing research for and looking into adopting a Savannah cat, the name Bengal is going to make an appearance as well. Although both Bengals and Savannahs are a hybrid of domestic and wild cats, these cats are quite different.

One of the easiest and most obvious ways to tell these two apart is to look at their coat—Savannahs appear to be more spotted, while Bengals have a rosette-marked coat. Also, Savannahs are much larger than Bengals, and, in some instances, they are even twice a Bengal's size.

Grooming and Care

When it comes to grooming, Savannahs usually don't have a long list of needs. Their short, coarse coat will need brushed about once a week, but multiple brushings a week will never hurt. Even just a couple brushings a week will help remove dead hairs, keep the coat healthy, and reduce the amount of hair in your home—not to mention frequent brushings will give your vacuum cleaner and lint roller a much-needed break.

Other items that should be a part of your cat's grooming routine involve weekly teeth brushing and nail trimming when necessary. It's helpful to establish these grooming habits as early as possible so that your cat is acclimated and unstressed with these activities.

A big part of providing proper care for your cat is to give them with a well-balanced and healthy diet alk to your veterinarian about which types of food will best suit your cat and their needs—a cat's diet will change as they age, so you may need to consult your veterinarian multiple times. Besides diet, perhaps the most important element at keeping a Savannah cat happy and healthy is to provide them with an ample amount of exercise and playtime.

Temperment & Personality

Not known for being a lap cat, Savannahs would typically much rather spend their time exploring and playing, but most importantly, they just want to spend time around their family—these cats do not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time. In order to keep them physically active and to provide some mental stimulation, many cat parents have taught their Savannahs tricks or have even leash-trained them.

These high-energy cats are smart and ornery, so it is best to provide multiple toys throughout the house (or even a climbing tower) and to switch out the toys for different ones every few weeks. Curiosity is already a strong characteristic of these cats, but this trait is only doubled when your cat becomes bored. Don't be surprised if you find your cat atop your refrigerator, inside a cabinet, or scooping his/her toys out of the toilet. Many Savannah parents recommend having a sense of humor if you get this breed and being patient with their silly antics, it's just part of what makes these cats so unique and lovable.

It's almost a sure-fire statement that life with a Savannah is never dull—it's almost like having your very own live-in, live entertainment.