Savannah

Temperament

The Savannah is very intelligent, active and curious, and its personality depends heavily on the generation. F4–F5 cats are often described as “dog-like”: they follow their owner from room to room, learn to fetch and walk on a harness, and many like water. Early generations keep more serval traits: they are territorial and have a very strong prey drive, and males may spray urine and can be aggressive. Litter box problems are one of the most common reasons Savannahs end up in shelters. Purina rates the breed low for compatibility with families and other pets, and PetMD advises families with young children to choose the F3 generation or later. A Savannah demands attention loudly and insistently. Small pets such as rodents and birds are prey to it.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Savannah for?

A late-generation Savannah (F4–F5) can suit experienced cat owners who have a house with a large outdoor enclosure and plenty of time for play and training, and who don’t keep rodents or birds. It is not suited to a small apartment, first-time cat owners or families with young children. Early generations, F1–F2, are not worth considering as house cats: in practice they are semi-wild animals subject to extra regulations.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The short coat only needs combing once a week. The real challenge is exercise and space. A Savannah needs tall cat trees, shelves, long daily hunting-style play sessions, puzzle toys and ideally a large, secure outdoor enclosure. It can be trained to walk on a harness, but it should not roam free, as it is a threat to wildlife and other people’s cats. PetMD recommends splitting food into at least two smaller meals and using lick mats or treat balls. International Cat Care warns that meeting a Savannah’s needs in a purely indoor setting is very difficult. Before buying an F1–F4 cat, check its papers (CITES or an EU certificate of captive birth), and register the animal with the county office (starostwo) within 14 days.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Savannah is described as a basically healthy breed, but it has a few known problems. It is thought to be more prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than other breeds, so regular heart ultrasounds are recommended. Pyruvate kinase deficiency, which causes anemia, and progressive retinal atrophy have been described in Savannahs. There are DNA tests for both. Males of the first generations are sterile. There are additional risks in creating the hybrids themselves: the large difference in gestation length between servals and domestic cats leads to premature births and health problems in kittens, and females bred to much larger male servals are at risk of injury. Breed profiles give a lifespan of 12–20 years, but there are no reliable population studies on this.

• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)The Savannah is thought to be more prone to HCM than other breeds; regular heart ultrasound is recommended.
• pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-def)An inherited anemia described in the breed (Grahn et al., 2012); a DNA test is available.
• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)The early form shows up in kittens at 2–3 months, the late form at 2–5 years.
• male infertilityF1 males are sterile, and low fertility usually persists until the F5 generation.
• pregnancy complications in domestic queensThe difference in gestation length between servals and cats leads to premature births and health problems in kittens.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The first Savannah was born on April 7, 1986, in the United States, at Judee Frank’s cattery, from a male serval and a domestic female. Over the following years, American breeders began developing the breed deliberately, mating hybrids with domestic cats generation after generation. TICA accepted the Savannah for registration in 2001 and granted championship status in May 2012; cats from the F4 generation onward can be shown. The breed is not recognized by FIFe or the CFA. Its popularity is controversial: International Cat Care opposes creating hybrid breeds, citing the welfare of male servals kept for breeding and the difficulty of meeting such cats’ needs in a home.

Fun facts

• An F1 cat carries about 50% serval genes, and each later generation carries less.
• An F2 Savannah male entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest cat, at 48.4 cm.
• Australia and New Zealand ban the import of Savannahs.
• The Netherlands, Flanders and Brussels have banned keeping and breeding F1–F4 generations.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Largest cat breeds

Sources

1. 1International Cat Care – Savannahicatcare.org
2. 2Purina UK – Savannahpurina.co.uk
3. 3PetMD – Savannah catpetmd.com
4. 4Wikipedia – Savannah caten.wikipedia.org
5. 5Rozporządzenie (UE) 2023/966 zmieniające załączniki do rozp. 338/97 – nota o hybrydachlawplayer.com
6. 6Warszawa 19115 – Rejestracja zwierząt z gatunków objętych ograniczeniami prawa UEwarszawa19115.pl
7. 7Rozporządzenie MŚ z 3 sierpnia 2011 r. w sprawie gatunków zwierząt niebezpiecznych (Dz.U. 2011 nr 173 poz. 1037)eli.gov.pl
8. 8WCF – Breed standards shorthairwcf.de
9. 9FIFe – Recognised breeds (brak Savannah)fifeweb.org

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.