Savannah Cat (Serval x House cat) anyone w/experience?

[FrenchFrytheEqHorse]

[QUOTE=moonriverfarm;6110064]
No, i don’t know which generation my friend’s Savannah is. I’ve spent a lot of time around this cat though so I do speak from experience. I know the cat has Bengal in her lines. [/QUOTE]

Bengal cat: http://fureverexotics.com/images/shows/show1.jpg

Savannah Cat: http://www.a1savannahs.com/album-sav/Copy%20of%20P1000934.jpg

Savannah Cat: http://godammit.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/savannah-cat.jpg

Both lovely animals. One has the benefit of more than 100 years of domesticated breeding for beginner owners in pet homes.

[quicksilverponies]

My daughter has had 2 Bengals - both beautiful, both very playful and fun to have around. The first was an F1 and was a bit stand offish at first but not a problem at all. The second is an F3 and he is a love - and so gorgeous. My other daughter has a desert lynx - also beautiful, friendly and playful - but doesnt love a litter boy (not OK). But none of them have been dangerous or difficult or destructive. The breeder we bought them from also had Savannahs. I did not see or hear of any problems with them the various times we visited her home. She also had a male Cerval that was very friendly and social:)

[JackieBlue]

I’ll admit to not having read the entire thread. I DO have actual experience with many varieties of exotic cats, including Savannahs. First, OP, KNOW that this animal will spray. Period. You said your brother will be bringing the cat with him when he stays at your house? Your furniture, walls, what-have-you WILL be sprayed/urinated upon. Even if he neuters this cat, it will spray. It’s what they do. Especially when in unfamiliar territory - i.e. YOUR HOUSE. All Savannahs are capable of dangerous, extremely destructive behavior. Such behavior is more likely when they are stressed. Moving from house to house = stress.
Willy-nilly urination aside, keep in mind that a small DSH can inflict grievous bodily harm. I have decades of experience as a vet tech and in training problem dogs and cats. I would rather be faced with a rank PACK of Pitt-Rott-GSD crosses than one angry house cat any day. The typical Savannah is capable of much more damage than your average DSH.
You’re talking about a 6 month old cat and there seem to be a lot of variables. You don’t know if it’s been socialized with dogs, children, people at large…
Please don’t open your home to your brother’s hybrid. These animals are NOT for beginner pet owners and they are NOT happy to live the nomad’s life. They are notoriously destructive, they are almost guaranteed to territory mark and they tend to bond with 1 person, if that.
I know there are people thinking that they know or own a Savannah that is an absolute solid citizen and I’m not saying they don’t exist. I’m stating absolute fact when I say that the majority of Savannahs do not make ideal pets and the vast, vast majority would quickly make themselves unwelcome guests if they accompany their owner for a “sleep over”.
Your brother should also be aware, since it sounds like he likes to travel, that many places won’t board hybrid cats and while many pet sitters will refuse to care for them also, the ones who will charge a hefty premium.
There is SO much more responsibility and liability in owning one of these than in owning a “regular cat”. I just don’t understand what your brother thinks he will get out of it.

[JackieBlue]

@Alagirl;6102796

I don’t think your assessment is completely fair.
Yes, there are a lot of red flags, but really no more than if the OP had asked about her brother getting a high drive dog breed, like a BC.

Your point about hybrids is spot on. And I hope the cat is not close to the wild ancestor. But according to you, my own Bengal, by all definition not much different than a Savannah, ought to be a holy terror. She’s a bit quirky, but no more than my regular cats.

And by all means, the brother is an adult and probably making his own decisions.

While I respect you infitely, Alagirl, having trained both BC’s and worked with Savannah cats, the analogy doesn’t even begin to hold water. BC’s are, in general, easily trainable, easily motivated and eager to please. The Savannah cat is pretty much the complete opposite. It has not been bred to work with man. Not even close. It’s been bred because it looks cool. And it doesn’t give a damn if you liked the couch without the tufts of stuffing coming out or if you get slapped with a lawsuit when it gets out and rearranges the neighbor’s Yorkie. :no:
Having real life experience working with hybrids of the feline and canine species I have a pretty strong understanding and equally strong opinions about both. A very few people are capable of providing what they need and managing their “eccentricities”. Most are not.

[SquishTheBunny]

We saw a savannah cat at work last week, it was mental. Absolutley mental. Came in for glaucoma, how weired is that. Owners brought it back a few days ago for euthanasia because they couldnt treat him. He was under a year old.

Bengals are lovely, noisy and can be very sickly. I would never pay for one, but I do like them…especially if they were mute. However, I do find these cats to be a little more “grabby and bitey” than your typical housecat

Ocicats have that “wild look” but have no wild DNA in them.

Siamese are a very domestic purebred cat, as are burmese. Id take a burmese in a heartbeat.

I like my farm cats though, cuddly, sweet and hang out on the couch with me. I dont have fear that they are eyeing up my jugular either.

[jumper2003]

savannahs are more lke dogs than cats

Any first hand experience will be helpful.

Have owned one for two years. Gets along with children and our dogs and our domestic cat. She is the boss of the pets, she fetches and is by my side at very moment. Loyal like a dog, and also guards the house. Socializes well, loves car rides. Requires attention and play. Females are the hunters and most active - males are quieter and lazy, my brother and I have male and female from the same litter. They have domestic cat traits but are far more active and very deffinately have traits of there serval ancestry. they can open anything and are highly mischievevous and jump twice as high. My cat is just over 2 years and is about 16 lbs, same as my brothers. Most loyal and amazing animal I have ever had. I dearly love every trait and charactiristic about her, she is highly intelligent and even my vet who is NOT fond of the idea of hybreds or at least was not, thinks these to be beautiful and intelligent cats. Rehoming can be difficult as they become extremely attached to there family is my understanding from others and I am sure that is a correct statement. Personally, its the only cat I would ever own. Hope that gives you some insight.

[jumper2003]

As well both male and females are neutered and spayed and these cats are impeccably clean and visit each others households with other cats in each house - we both have a domestic and a Savannah and neither cat sprays and I’m a fanatic about cleanliness - including keeping my barn as clean as possible too. Now in saying that, my cats are house cats, I don’t believe in cats eating our songbirds, that’s a personal choice and we have too many coyotes to take a risk, but don’t be fooled, they maybe clean inside but they are truly hunters, and a bug services only seconds if it should find itself inside our home, but that is typical of any cat household. Neither cat tries to leave the house and comes outside with us or will sit by the door with it open as I carry things in and out. She has no desire to leave or leave my side. Its been the same with both my brothers male and my female in two different households. She sits and does every trick the dogs do and she sleeps with me, and waits by the door when I’m doing morning barn chores. When I’m home from work she usually beats the dogs to greet us at the door.
They really are exceptional, yes a relatively new breed, but I feel, a good one. There is so much more than just beauty behind those eyes.

[spurgirl]

Update, Please…?

So, OP, Did your brother end up getting the Savannah Cat? If so, how is it going? I’m curious!!

[Always_Tardy]

Yes, please update, if possible. Hope it works out well if he did get the Savannah! I adore my two Bengals and am so glad that I did.

[JackieBlue]

Bengal and Savannah do not equate.

[WarDance]

My sister and her husband have a Savannah. He has never sprayed but they have had him since he was a kitten and had to bottle feed him for a couple of weeks. They also live in a very small NY apartment so he has always been confined to a small 1 bedroom apartment and that is all he has ever known.

The cat can be destructive. He has destroyed multiple shower curtains. He loves to climb them and shred them. He has also destroyed a stuffed chair. He clawed it from the bottom up…it was quite the job. He also destroyed a scratching post in 3 days. If you do not lock him out of the bathroom while you are showering he will jump in. He also will put his head under the kitchen faucet when it is turned on.

What I am getting at is that these cats can be very destructive. Some of the stuff they do is cute and charming but in my opinion the shredding of furniture overrides the cuteness. They still have the cat because of the situation of how they got him. They love that cat no matter what he does.

[Alagirl]

@WarDance;6140937

My sister and her husband have a Savannah. He has never sprayed but they have had him since he was a kitten and had to bottle feed him for a couple of weeks. They also live in a very small NY apartment so he has always been confined to a small 1 bedroom apartment and that is all he has ever known.

The cat can be destructive. He has destroyed multiple shower curtains. He loves to climb them and shred them. He has also destroyed a stuffed chair. He clawed it from the bottom up…it was quite the job. He also destroyed a scratching post in 3 days. If you do not lock him out of the bathroom while you are showering he will jump in. He also will put his head under the kitchen faucet when it is turned on.

What I am getting at is that these cats can be very destructive. Some of the stuff they do is cute and charming but in my opinion the shredding of furniture overrides the cuteness. They still have the cat because of the situation of how they got him. They love that cat no matter what he does.

Eh…kids are distructive, too. At least the cat won’t need a driver’s license ad car…

[Effie1221]

The cat was neutered but since then the weather has been bad on the weekends (and a wedding in there) so the breeders haven’t delivered it yet. They are going to try again this weekend, weather permitting. I think it’s 5-6 hours away in another state.

My brother has the Savannah cat’s room all ready; it’s like our family is all on baby watch, waiting for the ‘special delivery’. He still hasn’t picked a name out, but he’s leaning toward ‘Charlie’.

Thank you again for all the comments. I’ll post about it when it’s finally delivered.

[Toadie_s_mom]

[QUOTE=Alagirl;6098261]
www.wildcathaven.org/residents/hybrids/boss/

That was the website I was talking about.

Interesting read.[/QUOTE]

I’m late to this party, but, mean mom that I am I couldn’t wait to get home and play “Boss” for my cat. I got a different reaction from most of the comments I read. She started rubbing the ipad, and then tried to “bring” it to her. Poor thing. Guess I need to get her a friend:yes:

[Effie1221]

Well, my brother received the Savannah cat today and loves him. He said the cat seems highly intelligent and as cautious but curious as one would expect after a change of home and long trip.

The cat was not playful but seemed to think about playing…mostly just exploring and sniffing his new home. He knows where his kitty litter box is and used it just fine so that’s a good start. The cat went on leash briefly in the backyard only but the breeders thought it best to keep him indoors for a day or two with brief excursions on leash in the backyard. Overall, the breeders were pleased with what they saw and think the cat will thrive with it’s new owner.

I’ll post more later in the week but my brother seems very happy so far.

[Effie1221]

Update on Savannah Cat…it’s been a few weeks…

The Savannah Cat, Charlie, is doing really well and is a very active kitten of 7 months. He only weighs about 8 pounds and the breeders think he will top out at 18-20 lbs. I did find out that this Savannah Cat is 20% Serval, & 80% Housecat so not as wild as maybe some that are more Serval - my brother says these breeders breed this ratio and think it is just the perfect balance of Serval wild v. domestic cat.

He also says Charlie acts like any kitten he has ever seen…loves to chase things with feathers, bells, balls, loves to stalk, jump, attack toys. Has bouts of rambunctiousness but seems to also be relaxed and enjoy being pet, brushed, and laying on the couch with my brother.

He sent me photos of him and he seems exotic looking, long legs (kind of ‘leggy’), and thinner than a typical housecat. He says he has no bad habits and enjoys his cat room and also enjoys seeing my brother come home for some playtime. Charlie usually stays in the same room as my brother and follows him around the house.

I’m happy to hear the excitement in my bother’s voice when he talks about the cat. They sure seem to be a happy pair and so far so good.

[Alagirl]

sounds fantastic!

[EquineLVR]

Glad to hear its working out… I think each cat is going to be an individual and have individual needs, issues etc…

I currently have a two year old Bengal… and yes I know its not the same as an F1/F2 as he is an F7… However I find it interesting how many folks have differing opinions on the Bengals…

We had issues with him spraying in the beginning (yes he is neutered) which took lots of patience and litter boxes to get sorted out but it is now sorted out…

He is NOT very vocal at all unless he wants to eat… he only wants attention when he wants it so he sounds more like a Savannah then some of the other descriptions of Bengals… He is NOT a cuddly cat…

He is wild - loves to climb and jump and ambush… He has is own (old) sofa that he can scratch until his heart is content and therefore does not bother anything else…

So far (fingers crossed) we have had no health issues but he is entirely an indoor cat.

I also have Malinois (dogs) which are simliar in terms of they are not for everyone…

Malinois/Bengals/Savannah’s etc… are not for the general populous and it takes a special home for them - but in the right hands the are lovely creatures each of them and mine have brought many riches to my life…

Here is a few pics of my boy:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd26b3127cceffdbf5c6cd3500000030O08EZsXLRwzag9vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd26b3127cceffda65e16c2600000030O08EZsXLRwzag9vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Also just for fun we also have an oriental shorthair - THIS IS THE BEST CAT EVER!!! His name is Sterling but we call him the Pink Panther…

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd26b3127cceffdb1c4e8d5100000030O08EZsXLRwzag9vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd26b3127cceffdbc2360c7600000030O08EZsXLRwzag9vPho/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

OP - nothing but great wishes for your brother and his new kitty!

[KateKat]

EquineLVR your bengal is gorgeous! I really want a brown marble with glitter but my pocket book and my husband prevent me from getting one Especially since we’ve already got the two silvers (one spotted, one marbled) and they are more than enough Bengal for one household!

[EquineLVR]

[QUOTE=KateKat;6182463]
EquineLVR your bengal is gorgeous! I really want a brown marble with glitter but my pocket book and my husband prevent me from getting one Especially since we’ve already got the two silvers (one spotted, one marbled) and they are more than enough Bengal for one household![/QUOTE]

WOW TWO?? You are brave.

Yeah Kory has the glitter coat… it is so amazingly beautiful in the sunlight -like its spun with gold…