Savannah cat

The Savannah is a breed of hybrid cat developed in the late 20th century from hybridisation of a serval (Leptailurus serval) with a domestic cat (Felis catus). This hybridisation typically produces large and lean offspring, with the serval's characteristic large ears and markedly black spotted coats. F1 and F2 male Savannahs can be very large, and in 2016 an F2 male attained a world record for tallest cat at 48.4 centimetres (19.1 in). However, show-eligible F4–F5 cats range from 5.0–8.2 kilograms (11.0–18.1 lb), and therefore comparable in size to other large domestic cat breeds such as the Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest cat.

History On 7 April 1986, Judee Frank hybridised a male serval, belonging to Suzi Wood, with a Siamese domestic cat to produce the first Savannah cat, a female named Savannah. That first Savannah was bred with a Turkish Angora male and gave birth to viable F2 kittens in April 1989. 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 (TICA). In 2001, the board accepted it as a new registered breed, and in May 2012, TICA granted the Savannah with championship status (for F4 and later generations).

Characteristics

Appearance

Size

The Savannah's tall and slim build give them the appearance of greater size than their actual weight. Size is very dependent on generation and sex. Early (F1–F2) generations are usually the largest due to the stronger genetic influence of the African serval ancestor, usually weighing 4.5–11 kg (9.9–24.3 lb), although there is considerable financial incentive for breeders to produce F1 cats as large as possible; some are the size of dogs and can weigh 18 kg (40 lb) or more, and in the US can fetch very high prices. Later-generation Savannahs are comparable in size to other large domestic cat breeds, weighing usually between 3.5–8.2 kg (7.7–18.1 lb). Like most cat breeds, males tend to be larger than females, and as with other hybrid cat breeds such as the Chausie and Bengal, most F1 Savannah cats will possess many of the exotic traits from the wild (serval) ancestor, which recede in later generations.

Distinctive features The Savannah cat's appearance is influenced by specific serval characteristics. These include the distinctive colour markings, the large and erect ears, long body and legs, wide noses and hooded eyes. When a Savannah is standing, its hind end is often higher than its prominent shoulders. The small head is taller than wide, and the cat has a long, slender neck. The back 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 in kittens (as in other cats), and may be green, brown, gold or of a blended shade in the 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.

Coat The coat of a Savannah should have a spotted pattern, the only pattern accepted by the TICA breed standard. The standard also allows four colours: black spotted tabby (cool to warm brown, tan or gold with black or dark brown spots), black silver spotted tabby (silver coat with black or dark grey spots), black (black with black spots), and black smoke (black-tipped silver with black spots). Other, non-standard patterns and colours can occur, including rosettes, marble, "snow" (point), blue, cinnamon, chocolate, lilac (lavender) and other diluted colours derived from domestic sources of cat coat genetics.

Behaviour Many Savannah cats do not fear water, and will play in or even immerse themselves in water. Savannahs, particularly the earlier generations, can sometimes exhibit undesirable wild or territorial behaviours, and in males, aggression and marking. Problems with litter box training are a common cause of owners abandoning or surrendering them to rescue centres.

Reproduction and genetics

Hybridisation

As Savannahs are produced by hybridisation of servals and domestic cats, each generation of Savannahs is marked with a filial number (F#). For example, the cats produced directly from a serval × domestic cat hybrid cross are termed F1 (50% serval), of which the males are sterile. F1 generation Savannahs are very difficult to produce, due to the significant difference in gestation periods between the serval and a domestic cat (75 days for a serval and 65 days for a domestic cat) and incompatibilities between the two species' sex chromosomes. Pregnancies are often resorbed or aborted, or kittens are born prematurely. Also, servals can be very picky in choosing mates, and often will not mate with, or will even attack, a domestic cat.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.