Savannah History and Basic Breed Information
written by Cynthia King
Savannah Breed History
Although Savannahs did not gain worldwide popularity and recognition until the late 1990s, the first known Savannah (pairing of an African Serval and a domestic cat) was achieved in the early 1980s by Breeder Judee Frank. The F1 female resulting from this unplanned breeding was named, "Savannah," and most appropriately, is the official name of this fascinating breed today, nearly 20 years later.
The efforts of many dedicated breeders helped to establish the Savannah Cat in its elevated position as one of the rarest and most sought after domestic companion pets in the world today, however, very special recognition should be accredited to the following individuals:
Joyce Sroufe (pictured at right with her F1 silver savannah), considered the Founder of the Savannah Breed, who armed with little more than a vision, risked this experimental breeding and produced her very first litter of kittens in 1994 and officially introduced the "Savannah Cat" to the public.
Patrick Kelly, who presented the first Savannah Breed Standard to the TICA Board of Directors in February 1996, and continued to work diligently until 2001 when TICA lifted their moratorium on new breeds and accepted Savannahs for domestic registration and granted them Experimental New Breed Status.
Lorre Smith, the TICA Savannah Breed Chairman, whose tireless efforts continue to propel Savannahs forward within the ranks of TICA at a rate more rapid than any other breed in TICA history.
Spanky (at left), an F2 savannah bred by Joyce Stroufe. Spanky and his owner, Sue Bowden, have done much to promote the breed by appearing in interviews and at the annual Westchester cat shows. Spanky is much beloved and admired by Westchester Feline Club members, and all who meet him.
In the three years since TICA first accepted Savannahs for registration as domestic cats, Savannahs have advanced from "Experimental New Breed Status" to "New Breed Status" and finally in May 2004, to "Advanced New Breed Status." Savannah Breed Section Members are currently working on advancing to the final level of "Championship Status" within TICA and expect to achieve this major milestone in the very near future.
The response of TICA Judges and the general public has been overwhelmingly favorable over the past few years, establishing Savannah Cats, with their elegant, exotic looks and interactive personalities as perhaps the most sought after companion animal in the world today.
Serval Cats
The African Serval (Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized wild spotted cat found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inhabiting wetlands and grassy savannahs, they prey mainly on rodents, frogs, birds and other small animals. Servals are lithe, tall cats with tawny background coats and large black spots; very tall ears set close together on top of the head, long legs, and a moderately short "ringed" tail. They weigh between 25 and 50 pounds at maturity and average 20" at the shoulder.
African serval, 'Kobbi' of Premiercats
At this time servals in the wild are not an endangered species. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) lists the serval in Appendix II as “a species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but one in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival”. While many African countries have regulated or prohibited hunting of servals for meat or skins, several countries have no such restrictions.
Servals are extremely active and agile, (can easily leap 10 feet from a sitting position), and consequently, they require plenty of room to run and play, typically a specially constructed, fenced outdoor security enclosure. They are reputed to have a more outgoing personality than many wild cats, and bond strongly to their owners. They have been privately owned in the U.S. for years, and kept as pets in Africa for much longer than that.
African serval, 'Kobbi' of Premiercats
Savannah Cats
There are less than a thousand registered Savannahs in the world at this time, making them very special and highly sought after companion pets. Their exotic looks, larger size and domestic temperament make them a suitable alternative to exotic ownership. On average, Savannahs weigh between 15-20 lbs at maturity. They are lithe, tall, spotted cats with large "ocelli marked" ears and boomerang shaped eyes. Acceptable base coat colors include Brown Spotted Tabbies, "warm colored" (honey/golden) or "cool colored" (grayish), Silver, or Melanistic (black).
Savannahs are very active, outgoing and intelligent cats with a keenly developed inquisitive nature. Somewhat "dog-like" in their behavior and devotion to their owners, they typically want to be the center of attention, are easily leash-trained using a "walking jacket" or harness, can be trained to play "fetch," adore heights, and may even enjoy bathing and swimming. At a young age, they can be easily socialized with other household pets, dogs included, and can be trusted with well-behaved children.
Some special terminology is used when referring to Savannahs, as a measure of how many generations they are removed from their Serval ancestors:
