Savannah FAQ
While there are many great websites explaining the technical aspects of the Savannah breed (what F1 means, what B means, etc)- there are very few that gives potential owners a true idea as to what life is like living with a Savannah cat in the household...
We shall cover the basic facts on this page, but hope to give you a general feel of life with a Savannah as well.
1. What does F1, F2, F... mean?
Typically, Savannahs are discussed by their 'F' generation.
The 'F' stands for filial and it is in regard to the Serval(s) in the background of the Savannah cat.
In general...
F1 Savannah......... 50% African Serval/50% Domestic
F2 Savannah......... 25% African Serval/75% Domestic
F3 Savannah.........12.5 % African Serval
Now these numbers are not set in stone... If one were to breed an F1 Savannah female back to an African Serval, while the offspring would be called F1s (because the Serval is now a parent to the new kittens)- obviously, these kittens would not be 50% African Serval. In this case most Savannah breeders would refer to these babies as 'high percentage F1s'.
Don't get caught up in HP labels- however- because some breeders will consider ANY kitten over the averages on the above chart as high percentage and realistically, a minimal increase in hypothetical percentages (past the F1 generation- we cannot guarantee how much of the Serval DNA is passed down from the parents) is not worth a significant INCREASE in price.
2. What does A, B, and C mean? And SBT?
Now that you've mastered the filial generations, next you need to learn about the ABCs of Savannahs! What does it mean when you hear of an F5C or an F2B or a F3A Savannah?
The ABCs of Savannahs are...
A... One parent is a registered Savannah and one parent is an outcross
B... Both parents are registered Savannahs, but one or more grandparent is an outcross
C... Both parents are registered Savannahs and grandparents are registered Savannahs
SBT... Once we get past the ABCs, we then finally reach 'Stud book traditional', which is what we are striving for in the TICA cat show rings... Stud book traditional (or SBT) have three generations of Savannah x Savannah breeding.
3. Why are Savannahs so expensive?
Perhaps you have been perusing Savannah sites and noticing the high prices even for pets- or perhaps you have seen 'Cats 101' on Animal Planet and were shocked at the quoted $20,000 for an F1 Savannah.
First Savannahs are an expensive cat for breeders and pet owners alike. The F1 generation is extremely difficult and costly to produce due to a disparity in gestation between domestic cats and African Servals, let alone the cost of owning an African Serval and caring for it properly. More than one F1 breeder has had an African Serval never produce kittens with its domestic mates.
Secondly the prices of Savannahs vary widely in the Savannah community. Research is recommended before putting a deposit on a kitten- if the price seems extremely high, ask why! Just like you should ask if the price seems suspiciously low! We hope to price our kittens to be affordable for most families.
While F1 kittens may be expensive, you will find a $20,000 kitten is a true oddity. F1 prices tend to range from $10,000 to $12,000 (as pets) and then you will find a decrease in price with each lower generation.
4. Why shouldn't I just go buy an African Serval?
It's easy to think, 'Why pay X amount for a Savannah, when I can pay LESS for an African Serval?'
An African Serval is a true exotic cat. In order to own one legally, one typically needs a permit. Also owning an African Serval is not an easy task for most families.
Why?
The foremost reason why Servals are not easy 'keepers' is the fact that both the male and the female African Serval, even when fixed, tend to spray. And when we say 'spray', we really mean 'hose down the area with a pressure hose' type spray! When they are young, you may not have to deal with this issue, but as they mature it is always recommended that you have an outdoor enclosure for your Serval to spend most of its time in.
Savannahs are like other domestic cats and as long as they are spayed/neutered do not tend to spray.
African Servals require a balanced diet that typically consists of raw meats and vitamins.
Savannahs can easily thrive on a high quality cat food- although they wouldn't mind a raw snack now and then!
African Servals are not easily litter-boxed trained and I would go as far as to say that most people who say their Serval is litter boxed trained have it wrong. The owners are trained- NOT the Serval. They will go through litter after litter trying to find something that works for their exotic cat and they will move the litter boxes all over the house in an attempt to appease their Serval. Sometimes, this works- often, it does not.
Savannahs are easily litter boxed trained like any other domestic cat.
5. Are Savannahs safe with children?
Our first Savannah we brought home was an F1 male kitten, Simon. At the time of his homecoming, we had a 3 month old baby boy and I was a bit worried that perhaps we had bitten off more than we could chew. Various websites stated that children and Savannahs are a perfect match- while other websites (back then) stated that higher generation Savannahs were NOT safe with children. Well, which was it?
I'm happy to say that all of the F1s I have had in my home have been completely kid-safe. While Simon enjoyed interacting with the youngest family members, my female F1s tend to gravitate more towards the older children/adults in the household.
This being said, I do believe common sense should be exercised when one owns higher generation Savannahs and very small children. While Simon would not go out of his way to hurt a small child, if that child was hurting him and he was protecting himself, his claws and teeth could definitely hurt! Also, Simon had a grooming fetish where he liked to sit and lick the baby's head over and over and over- and with that spiky tongue, the baby did not enjoy it.
Common sense and animal ownership should go hand in hand. Do not leave small children alone with your Savannahs until they are both old enough to mutually respect one another.
6. Are there any breed specific health problems in the Savannah breed?
Currently, there are no major issues inherent in the Savannah breed.
There is a minor occurrence of PK Deficiency and you should ask your breeder if their cats have been tested.
Please note- PK Deficiency is an issue that will not affect your kitten as long as they are not positive for the disease.
Also, HCM is another issue that is occurring occasionally in the Savannah breed, however this is a heart condition that is considered the number on cardiac killer of ALL cats- purebred or not. At this point in time, HCM is not a major issue within the breed, but it is still a health condition to be aware of. If your cat ever develops a sudden heart murmur that did not exist previously or becomes sluggish and lethargic, it is worth a trip to your veterinarian!
7. What is the general temperament of Savannahs?
Savannahs are, generally speaking, not lap cats. Instead, they are curious, inquisitive, funny, intelligent, and a little bit crazy- all rolled into one. They are very smart and many owners find themselves childproofing their homes to keep their Savannahs (and belongings) safe.
8. Are Savannahs good with small animals?
Once again, I recommend using common sense in regard to your Savannahs and small animals. Any animal that would be classified as 'prey' outside of your home, I would consider prey inside your home as well.
Remember even a domestic shorthair can be predatory- Savannahs are no different!
Now that being said, smaller kittens/cats and puppies/dogs, I recommend you use (once again) your common sense in determining whether or not to introduce your Savannah to them. Adult dogs/cats are perfectly fine interacting with your Savannah. Tiny kittens/tiny puppies- I recommend waiting until the babies are able to handle the rough house play of an older Savannah before introducing them! While your Savannah may not intentionally hurt them, you wouldn't put an 8 week old Chihuahua puppy outside to play with your 2 year old Great Dane, right?
In CONCLUSION
In summary, the Savannah breed is an intense breed of cat- everything they do- from loving you as their owner to play to getting into trouble- they put all of their efforts behind it. You will find yourself learning to laugh at the little things (like the toilet paper shredded on the floor) and they bring a lot of joy into the household. If you are looking for a calm, sedate cat to lie on your lap each afternoon- look elsewhere. If you are looking for an intelligent, playful, loving breed of cat- you may have found your match in the Savannah!
While there are many great websites explaining the technical aspects of the Savannah breed (what F1 means, what B means, etc)- there are very few that gives potential owners a true idea as to what life is like living with a Savannah cat in the household...
We shall cover the basic facts on this page, but hope to give you a general feel of life with a Savannah as well.
1. What does F1, F2, F... mean?
Typically, Savannahs are discussed by their 'F' generation.
The 'F' stands for filial and it is in regard to the Serval(s) in the background of the Savannah cat.
In general...
F1 Savannah......... 50% African Serval/50% Domestic
F2 Savannah......... 25% African Serval/75% Domestic
F3 Savannah.........12.5 % African Serval
Now these numbers are not set in stone... If one were to breed an F1 Savannah female back to an African Serval, while the offspring would be called F1s (because the Serval is now a parent to the new kittens)- obviously, these kittens would not be 50% African Serval. In this case most Savannah breeders would refer to these babies as 'high percentage F1s'.
Don't get caught up in HP labels- however- because some breeders will consider ANY kitten over the averages on the above chart as high percentage and realistically, a minimal increase in hypothetical percentages (past the F1 generation- we cannot guarantee how much of the Serval DNA is passed down from the parents) is not worth a significant INCREASE in price.
2. What does A, B, and C mean? And SBT?
Now that you've mastered the filial generations, next you need to learn about the ABCs of Savannahs! What does it mean when you hear of an F5C or an F2B or a F3A Savannah?
The ABCs of Savannahs are...
A... One parent is a registered Savannah and one parent is an outcross
B... Both parents are registered Savannahs, but one or more grandparent is an outcross
C... Both parents are registered Savannahs and grandparents are registered Savannahs
SBT... Once we get past the ABCs, we then finally reach 'Stud book traditional', which is what we are striving for in the TICA cat show rings... Stud book traditional (or SBT) have three generations of Savannah x Savannah breeding.
3. Why are Savannahs so expensive?
Perhaps you have been perusing Savannah sites and noticing the high prices even for pets- or perhaps you have seen 'Cats 101' on Animal Planet and were shocked at the quoted $20,000 for an F1 Savannah.
First Savannahs are an expensive cat for breeders and pet owners alike. The F1 generation is extremely difficult and costly to produce due to a disparity in gestation between domestic cats and African Servals, let alone the cost of owning an African Serval and caring for it properly. More than one F1 breeder has had an African Serval never produce kittens with its domestic mates.
Secondly the prices of Savannahs vary widely in the Savannah community. Research is recommended before putting a deposit on a kitten- if the price seems extremely high, ask why! Just like you should ask if the price seems suspiciously low! We hope to price our kittens to be affordable for most families.
While F1 kittens may be expensive, you will find a $20,000 kitten is a true oddity. F1 prices tend to range from $10,000 to $12,000 (as pets) and then you will find a decrease in price with each lower generation.
4. Why shouldn't I just go buy an African Serval?
It's easy to think, 'Why pay X amount for a Savannah, when I can pay LESS for an African Serval?'
An African Serval is a true exotic cat. In order to own one legally, one typically needs a permit. Also owning an African Serval is not an easy task for most families.
Why?
The foremost reason why Servals are not easy 'keepers' is the fact that both the male and the female African Serval, even when fixed, tend to spray. And when we say 'spray', we really mean 'hose down the area with a pressure hose' type spray! When they are young, you may not have to deal with this issue, but as they mature it is always recommended that you have an outdoor enclosure for your Serval to spend most of its time in.
Savannahs are like other domestic cats and as long as they are spayed/neutered do not tend to spray.
African Servals require a balanced diet that typically consists of raw meats and vitamins.
Savannahs can easily thrive on a high quality cat food- although they wouldn't mind a raw snack now and then!
African Servals are not easily litter-boxed trained and I would go as far as to say that most people who say their Serval is litter boxed trained have it wrong. The owners are trained- NOT the Serval. They will go through litter after litter trying to find something that works for their exotic cat and they will move the litter boxes all over the house in an attempt to appease their Serval. Sometimes, this works- often, it does not.
Savannahs are easily litter boxed trained like any other domestic cat.
5. Are Savannahs safe with children?
Our first Savannah we brought home was an F1 male kitten, Simon. At the time of his homecoming, we had a 3 month old baby boy and I was a bit worried that perhaps we had bitten off more than we could chew. Various websites stated that children and Savannahs are a perfect match- while other websites (back then) stated that higher generation Savannahs were NOT safe with children. Well, which was it?
I'm happy to say that all of the F1s I have had in my home have been completely kid-safe. While Simon enjoyed interacting with the youngest family members, my female F1s tend to gravitate more towards the older children/adults in the household.
This being said, I do believe common sense should be exercised when one owns higher generation Savannahs and very small children. While Simon would not go out of his way to hurt a small child, if that child was hurting him and he was protecting himself, his claws and teeth could definitely hurt! Also, Simon had a grooming fetish where he liked to sit and lick the baby's head over and over and over- and with that spiky tongue, the baby did not enjoy it.
Common sense and animal ownership should go hand in hand. Do not leave small children alone with your Savannahs until they are both old enough to mutually respect one another.
6. Are there any breed specific health problems in the Savannah breed?
Currently, there are no major issues inherent in the Savannah breed.
There is a minor occurrence of PK Deficiency and you should ask your breeder if their cats have been tested.
Please note- PK Deficiency is an issue that will not affect your kitten as long as they are not positive for the disease.
Also, HCM is another issue that is occurring occasionally in the Savannah breed, however this is a heart condition that is considered the number on cardiac killer of ALL cats- purebred or not. At this point in time, HCM is not a major issue within the breed, but it is still a health condition to be aware of. If your cat ever develops a sudden heart murmur that did not exist previously or becomes sluggish and lethargic, it is worth a trip to your veterinarian!
7. What is the general temperament of Savannahs?
Savannahs are, generally speaking, not lap cats. Instead, they are curious, inquisitive, funny, intelligent, and a little bit crazy- all rolled into one. They are very smart and many owners find themselves childproofing their homes to keep their Savannahs (and belongings) safe.
8. Are Savannahs good with small animals?
Once again, I recommend using common sense in regard to your Savannahs and small animals. Any animal that would be classified as 'prey' outside of your home, I would consider prey inside your home as well.
Remember even a domestic shorthair can be predatory- Savannahs are no different!
Now that being said, smaller kittens/cats and puppies/dogs, I recommend you use (once again) your common sense in determining whether or not to introduce your Savannah to them. Adult dogs/cats are perfectly fine interacting with your Savannah. Tiny kittens/tiny puppies- I recommend waiting until the babies are able to handle the rough house play of an older Savannah before introducing them! While your Savannah may not intentionally hurt them, you wouldn't put an 8 week old Chihuahua puppy outside to play with your 2 year old Great Dane, right?
In CONCLUSION
In summary, the Savannah breed is an intense breed of cat- everything they do- from loving you as their owner to play to getting into trouble- they put all of their efforts behind it. You will find yourself learning to laugh at the little things (like the toilet paper shredded on the floor) and they bring a lot of joy into the household. If you are looking for a calm, sedate cat to lie on your lap each afternoon- look elsewhere. If you are looking for an intelligent, playful, loving breed of cat- you may have found your match in the Savannah!
