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Savannah

Savannah

At a Glance

With its bold and striking spotted coat, the Savannah cat is a unique domestic breed that looks much like its ancestor, the African Serval. Active and adventurous, this beautiful breed is considered high-energy. Find out if the Savannah breed is right for you and your family.

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All About Cats

Printable Breed Introduction
Breed Standard
Pet Buyer’s Guide
Savannah-Full-Body
Temperament

Playful

Breed Seminar
Height/Weight Range

Medium-to-large sized Savannahs are tall and lanky, making them appear heavier than actual size. Females are generally smaller than males and can be quite petite.

Adult females
Adult males
Life Expectancy

12-15+ years

Colors

Standard Savannah colors include brown (black) spotted tabby, silver spotted tabby, black and black smoke. Nonstandard colors include seal, seal lynx, cinnamon, chocolate, blue and the nonstandard pattern marble.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

Savannahs are intelligent, persistent cats that can sometimes get into mischief whenever their curiosity gets the best of them. Don’t be surprised if your Savannah teaches himself to open doors, turn on faucets, flush toilets or knock trinkets off a shelf just to see what happens.

Friendly and loyal, they bond tightly with their families and have been known to greet them at the door and follow them around the house. However, they are not to be mistaken as a lap cat. They prefer to be near their families, but enjoy their personal space.

The overall impression of the Savannah is a tall lean graceful cat with striking dark spots and other bold markings, on a background color of any shade of brown, silver, black or black smoke. The Savannah cat is a domestic breed which closely resembles its ancestral source the African Serval, but is smaller in stature. Affectionate and outgoing, with an exceptionally long neck, legs, and tall ears, as well as a medium length tail, the Savannah is both unusual and beautiful. The Savannah is also an exceptionally graceful, well-balanced cat with striking color and pattern.

View Full Breed Standard

Savannahs are high-energy, active, curious, and playful cats. They tend to get bored easily, therefore routine entertainment in the form of play periods, walks on a leash, or other forms of enrichment are recommended. They are stellar jumpers and enjoy being taught tricks and playing with interactive toys or puzzle toys that reward them with treats.

They like to spend time on top of doors, refrigerators and high cabinets, therefore cat trees and window perches are recommended. They are very inquisitive and have been known to get into all sorts of things.

They are a good choice for families with older children. For families that tend to be away most of the day, a companion pet such as a cat-friendly dog or another cat, provide good playmates.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Find Savannah

Many Savannahs have dog-like qualities, including playing in water and a game of
fetch.

According to Guinness Book of World Records, the Savannah named Arcturus Aldebaran Powers is the tallest cat in the world, measuring just over 19 inches.

Although considered a domestic cat breed by TICA, the Savannah is still illegal in some states and countries because of its serval ancestry. It is important that anyone interested in owning a Savannah check their local and state laws for any restrictions in ownership

Breed Information & Characteristics

The Savannah is a tall lean graceful cat with striking dark spots and other bold markings. It is a domestic breed which closely resembles its ancestral source, the African Serval, but is smaller in stature. It is affectionate and outgoing, with exceptionally long neck, legs, and tall ears, as well as a medium length tail, the Savannah is both unusual and beautiful. The Savannah is also an exceptionally graceful and well balanced cat.

The first known Savannah was born April 7, 1986, when a female domestic cat gave birth to a kitten sired by an African Serval. This F1 (first generation hybrid cross) was the first on record. This unusual female kitten had both domestic and Serval like traits. Both the kitten and breed were named “Savannah”. Patrick Kelly heard about Savannah and decided he wanted to try to develop a new breed. He persuaded a breeder, Joyce Sroufe, to join him in his efforts. Together they wrote the original TICA Breed Standard. TICA accepted the Savannah for registration in 2001. The Savannah was accepted for Championship status by TICA in 2012.

One of the most amazing traits of the Savannah is its remarkable personality. It is a very curious, assertive cat that seeks out adventure at every opportunity. It is a very active cat, that needs a great deal of interaction on a daily basis, either with its human family or with a companion cat. It is also a very loyal cat who will bond strongly with its human family. It is not a lap cat, but will show affection on its own terms, often by greeting family members at the door, following them around the house and giving frequent headbutts. Many Savannahs love to play in water. They can easily be trained to walk on a leash with a harness, and most love to play games such as fetch.The Savannah cat is a unique and amazing feline. Most people who own or have met Savannahs will say that they have never met a cat like them and become avid fans. The Savannah is not for everyone, but for those who seek a unique pet and lifelong companion, the Savannah fits the bill.

The Savannah has many traits that make it stand out. Perhaps the most obvious are the large, tall ears that are set right on top of its head. Another unique trait of the Savannah is its hooded eyes that are flat across the top. This gives it an exotic look unlike any other breed. The body on the Savannah is very long and the legs are quite long as well, creating a false image of a very large or heavy cat, but in reality, most Savannahs are just the size of a large domestic cat, and weigh less than another cat of similar size. It also has a very long neck and a short, thick tail, adding to its distinctiveness.

Recommended health screening for Savannahs include Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for common infectious agents may also be considered. There has been some history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Savannahs but unfortunately there is no specific test to screen for this at this time.

Savannahs have a short coat without a heavy undercoat, requiring very little grooming. Brush them occasionally with a stainless steel brush or comb, and more frequently during shedding season.

As with all cats, keep their nails trimmed, ears cleaned and teeth brushed regularly with a vet-approved pet toothpaste and provide a nice tall scratching pole to help their natural scratching instinct.

Savannahs are an active breed that should be fed a high quality food to keep up with it’s nutritional needs. If you happen to have one of those unusual couch potato Savannahs you may need to monitor their intake and cut back on their calories. Spayed females sometimes tend to gain weight after surgery so should also be monitored for a change in their nutritional needs.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from Jackson Galaxy and other cat behaviorists – Place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.

Savannah Breed Committee (7)

Name Email
Chair: Paige Danapaige511@gmail.com
Brigitte Moynebrigitte@kirembosavannahs.com
Pamela Flachspamclos17@gmail.com
Heather JacksonNitroKatzSavannahs@gmail.com
Kelly Sheppardwyldthingz@hotmail.com
Ashley Perenichashley@sunshinesavannahs.com
Katrin Albertsmeyer katrin.albertsmeyer1@tankstelle.de

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