About The Savannah Breed
Vibrant Coloring
Savannahs come in many different colors. The African Serval is widely known for its vibrant golden coat with dark spots. You will also find smoke, snow, black and silver savannah cats.
Highly Intelligent
These exotic felines are incredibly smart animals. They are much more in tune with their surroundings than standard domestic kitties. Owners need to beware of this when changing the cat’s living space!
Large in Size
These cats look about 10 pounds larger than they actually are. Their long legs, huge paws and athletic builds give off this feel when you look at them. Nonetheless, they are much larger than normal domestic breeds that people are used to.
High Energy
This breed has a high energy level which means they will quickly tire out your other pets! They will search for new forms of entertainment or new playmates once they tucker out their initial playmates. Presenting a water bowl to a Savannah may also prove a challenge, as some will promptly begin to "bat" all the water out of the bowl until it is empty, using their front paws.
F1, F2, F3, F4 & F5
There are several classifications for these kittens. They are based upon how much wild serval is bred into the savannah cat. These descendants of the serval will range from 5% to 65% wild serval.
Yes, They Love Dogs
We get the question often of whether or not savannah kittens get along with dogs. The answer is definitely YES! They tend to gravitate toward dogs as a natural playmate!
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is a Savannah Cat?
A Savannah cat is a hybrid of an African Serval and a domesticated house cat. Savannahs are famous for their tall and sleek bodies, their large ears, long legs and large paws. Savannahs are a newer breed and only a few breeders across the world have successfully mastered the process of breeding Savannah Cats.
In order to breed a standard household cat with a exotic animal such as the African Serval, caution needs to be exercised. Savannah kittens that are produced are loving bundles of joy that would be a great addition to any family.
Savannahs are well known for having a perfect mix of traits from more traditional house pets. They have the loyalty and energy of new puppies, as well as the independence of domestic house cats.
What is an SBT Savannah?
SBT stands for Stud Book Traditional. An SBT Savannah is bred down from the Serval just like an F3 Savannah, but it must be more than 4 generations removed from the serval and only bred with other Savannahs (no other domestic cats). The SBT Savannah is a “pure” Savannah that only has Savannah parents (more than 3 generations).
When it comes to size and appearance, they are comparable to F4 or F5 Savannahs. The advantage of SBT Savannahs is in the fact that they are more predictable in how they will turn out. You will have a better idea of how their size and personality will end up. They are preferred for families with traditional pets or small children.
Why is the pricing so high for Savannah Cats?
What makes a Savannah is the wild Serval that is bred with domesticated cats. Servals are wild cats that need to be cared for in very specific ways — this costs money and is very labor intensive.
Savannahs with higher percentages of wild Serval are incredibly difficult to breed. Years of time accompanied with some good luck go into breeding these fine animals. There are only a couple success stories where breeders were actually able to accomplish this on a regular basis. Check out our Savannah Cat Price section for more info on this!
Some History About the Savannah Cat and the Serval
The Serval is the base of the entire Savannah breed so we feel it is necessary to give some insight into its history! Read on to find out more about these amazing animals.
About the Serval
Height: Approx. 20 – 26 inches to the shoulder
Weight: Anywhere from 20 to 40 lbs
Jumping Ability: Usually up to 11 feet in the air
Servals are found in the African savannah, grassy areas, wooded areas, as well as in wetlands. They have extraordinarily long legs and ears which help them survive in their typical surroundings. The African Serval is one of the largest cats in Africa and preys upon smaller rodents among many other types of animals — it usually hunts during the night in order to stay away from other larger predators. They are notorious for being fantastic at running, climbing trees and swimming (this always surprises people). They tend to stay to themselves in the wild and will claim their own territory. The overall look of the Serval is so vivid and wild looking, that once you set your eyes on one, you will totally understand why people had the desire to create the Savannah Cat breed.
History of the Savannah: A Relatively New Breed of Cat
A Savannah kitten is a hybrid of a domestic cat and the serval. This new breed grew in popularity among breeders in the later 1990s, and in 2001 it was accepted as a new registered breed by the International Cat Association. It wasn’t until May of 2012, that TICA made it a championship breed.
The first successful breeding of a Savannah Cat was accomplished by Judee Frank with a male Serval and a domestic Siamese cat in April of 1986…
Majestic Appearance
When people look at a Savannah Cat, they typically think it is a much larger cat than it actually is due to the length and height of the cat. Size depends heavily on the generation and sex of the cat, with the F1 males just about always being the biggest. The closer the generation is the Serval ancestor, the larger the cat tends to be. Males tend to be significantly larger than females. In general these pets will range from about 8 to 30 pounds in weight.
Due to the randomness in Savannah hybrid genetics, size will vary greatly. This is why we always emphasize that you get your kitten from a trusted, respected and well-educated breeder.
The coat/pattern of the Savannah is often decided by the domestic cat that is used in the breeding process. F1s and F2s will have the most vivid coloring and spotted coats.
The Serval is the base of the entire Savannah breed so we feel it is necessary to give some insight into its history! Read on to find out more about these amazing animals.
F1 Savannah Kittens are adorable and make great pets!
Savannah Cat Price Comparison Table
| Generation | Male Price | Female Price | Serval Percentage |
| F1 Savannah | $12,000 - $16,000 | $15,000 - $20,000 | ~ 50% |
| F2 Savannah | $4,000 - $8,000 | $4,000 - $9,000 | ~ 30% |
| F3 Savannah | $1,500 - $4,000 | $1,000 - $4,000 | ~ 19% |
| F4 Savannah | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 | ~ 15% |
| F5 Savannah | $1,000 - $2,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 | ~ 11% |
How Much Does a Savannah Cat Cost?
Savannah Cats vary wildly in terms of their price. We break it all down for you on this page! Already got pricing figured out? Find out Which Savannah Is Right for You.
F1 Savannah Cat Pricing Information
F1 savannah cats have the largest percentage of wild African Serval in them, and are usually the most expensive type of savannah cat.
Male F1 kittens generally range from about $12,000 all the way up to around $20,000.
Female F1 kittens typically range from about $15,000 to $20,000.
An F1 Savannah Cat
How much is an F2?
F2 savannah cats have a large percentage of wild African Serval in them, but more domestic than the F1.
Male F2 kittens generally range from about $4,000 all the way up to around $8,000.
Female F2 kittens typically range from about $4,000 to $9,000.
An F2 Savannah Cat
What Do F3 Savannah Cats Cost?
F3 savannah cats still have a good amount of Serval in their genes, but are much more well-rounded than F1 and F2 Savannahs. For someone who values personality and has small children, an F3 is the perfect choice.
Male F3 kittens generally range from about $1,500 all the way up to around $4,000.
Female F3 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $4,000.
An F3 Savannah Cat
How Much Are Savannah Kittens of the F4 Variety?
F4 savannah cats typically have around 15% Serval in them. Their aesthetic features look much closer to domestic cats and their behavior is also more similar to domestic cats.
Male F4 kittens generally range from about $1,000 all the way up to around $2,500.
Female F4 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $2,500.
An F4 Savannah Cat
How Much is an F5 Savannah Cat?
F5 Cats are the closest to domestic cats and usually are about 11-12% Serval. They still have the look of Savannahs, but their body shape looks much more like a domestic cat. They are shorter and stockier.
Male F5 kittens generally range from about $1,000 all the way up to around $5,000 (for breeders).
Female F5 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $2,500.
An F5 Savannah Cat
Which Savannah is right
for you?
There are so many varieties and levels of Savannah Cats, much less exotic cats in general, it can be very fun and exciting deciding which Savannah is right for you and your family. That being said, it can also be very overwhelming. Which do you choose? Where do you buy?
That’s why we’ve created this section. Read on to find out the differences between F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 Savannahs and why one of them may be a better fit for your situation.
The Savannah – General
What is a Savannah Cat? It is a hybrid cat that is bred from an African Serval and a domestic cat. They are tall and lanky with spots covering their main coat (gold all the way to silver). The long legs and large paws seem to make them look much heavier than they really are. We find that people think these cats weigh about 40% more than they actually do!
Savannahs were introduced in the mid 1990s. More and more people are attempting to breed them (sometimes without the proper training or resources to do it well), so you need to be mindful of the breeder and their history!
Pricing varies wildly from about $1,000 to $20,000. For more information on pricing, head over to our Savannah Cat Pricing Information page.
F1 Savannah Cats
F1 males tend to be about 17 – 25 lbs and about 15 to 19 inches tall (to the shoulder). Lengthwise, F1 Savannahs are usually in the range of 20-25 inches. F1 Savannahs are definitely the most extreme of any of the levels due to the amount of wild Serval bred into them. That being said, they are really manageable compared to wild cats or other types of hybrids.
Personality of an F1 Savannah
These cats only form a connection with 1-2 people in most cases. They are not aggressive with others, but they will avoid interactions with them! If you have strangers in your house, you probably will not even know that the cat exists — and if they are out of hiding, they will most likely be perched up high, away from the action. This goes for children too — F1 Savannahs tend to avoid the kids. They are not much of a lap cat, as they would rather be playing around due to their high energy level. The only time that you may have trouble with them not using their litter box is if they are unhappy or trying to tell you something!
F2 Savannah Cats
F2 males tend to be approximately 15 to 24 lbs, though some can climb over the 30 pound mark. When it comes to height they are just about the same as an F1 — maybe an inch or so shorter. Female F2 Savannah Cats are usually in the 12 to 16 pound range.
Personality of an F2
F2 Savannah Cats are a much safer bet to be more of the social type than an F1. Still, about 1 out of 5 F2 kittens will act like an F1 and avoid socializing with anyone other than their main companion. Like F1 cats, they are not meant to be lap cats. However, this variety will play with children and enjoys being petted. No consistent issues with using the litter box!
F3 Savannahs
F3 males weigh in around 13-19 lbs and can be up to 17 inches in height. They usually about 17 to 20 inches in length. F3 Savannahs of the other gender tend to be significantly lighter in weight, coming in around 10 to 13 lbs.
What is an F3 Savannah Cat’s Personality Like?
This is the first generation of Savannah Cat that you can expect to enjoy being a bit of a lap cat. We highly recommend the F3 variation of the Savannah because if you choose wisely, you can find one that has the look of F1s or F2s, but with a more family-friendly, loving personality. These cats are ideal if you have smaller children.
F4 and F5s
In terms of weight, they are identical to F3 Savannahs at around 13-19 pounds. The most noticeable differences in these variations are in height, shape and length. These cats still get the spots or patterns of the Serval, but they are shaped much more like traditional domestic cats. Speaking on their personality, they are even more outgoing than the F3 and will enjoy playing with and being petted by just about anyone!
Have more questions about which type of Savannah would be best suited for your situation? We will be breaking down the different types in depth over the next couple weeks so we will have more info for you soon! In the meantime, be sure to get subscribed for our email updates so you know when we post all the latest information!