Savannah Cat Breed History

1. Savannah Cat Breed History Given the Savannah cat's wild appearance and personality, you might assume that breeders simply bred a kitten from the plains of Africa. And frankly, the history of this breed is not very far away. In the mid-1980s, a cat breeder in the United States, Judy Frank, took a serval cat named Ernie into her care. To Judy's surprise, one of her other cats, a Siamese, was a kitten by Ernie. This first known F1 kitten took the name "Miracle". Miracle's owners changed his name to Savannah (probably to reflect African Savannah heritage) and so started a new cat breed. The early breeding of the Savannah is attributed to Joyce Stuff and Patrick Kelly, who established the breed by 1996. Soon after, he submitted the breed standard to the International Cat Association (TICA). TICA then formally recognized the cat breed in 2012. However, apart from the specific breeding lines, much more can be said about the history of the Savannah cat. With that in mind, let's go back to where it all began, a few thousand years ago in Africa. As early as 1300 BC, humans traded serval cats with other exotic animals in ancient Egypt. They appear in Egyptian art depicting mythology and legends, which suggest that they held a special place in the hearts and minds of the ancient Egyptians

2. Despite their place in Egyptology, serval cats were never domesticated. In general, you'll find them in sub-Saharan Africa, where they thrive as predators in savannas and plains. It was not until the last century or so reached other continents exclusively for breeding programs. Today, they are not on the endangered species list, but there is some controversy about their use for savanna farming. Savannah cats themselves are not available everywhere. Some countries have strict guidelines on owning a Savannah due to their close association with feral cats. In fact, they are so skilled hunters that many countries are concerned about the survival of the savanna and wreaking havoc on local wildlife. Since 2008, Australia has joined the list of countries with a complete savanna cat ban. Savannah Cat Personality Traits It is no surprise that the Savannah cat does not display pet cat personality traits. You probably won't find them smothering in their master's lap or waiting patiently for a meal or treat. Instead, it is a cat with a personality that allowed them to thrive in the African plains for thousands of years. The most obvious example of this is the hunting expedition of the savannah. And to understand this, let's go back to the serval. Several adaptations make the serval an excellent hunter. This wild cat has bigger ears than other cats for better hearing. They are sometimes called "giraffe cats" because, of all cats, they have the longest legs in proportion to their bodies – walking through tall grass, jumping to catch birds, and digging for ground prey. better to do. They have perfect camouflage as well as special eye markings that reflect light for better vision. These advantages allow the serval to successfully capture 10 to 20 meals per day. Unlike other feline species with a success rate of 1 in every 5 attempts, serval hunts are successful about half the time. So, you can probably guess what happens when you cross one of the world's best feline hunters with a domestic domestic cat. You get a hybrid that is energetic, driven, playful, stubborn, focused, courageous and persistent. It's a mix of traits that will save anyone for the most experienced pet owners. Of course, a Savannah cat's personality cannot be boiled down to a serval alone. Early Savannah breeding programs relied on Turkish Angoras, Siamese, Ocicats, Oriental Shorthairs, Egyptian Maus and Domestic Shorthairs to provide these hybrid cats with some toned-down qualities. As a result, we can enjoy a Savannah that is more sociable, friendly to strangers, playful, curious and affectionate. The Savannah cat is often said to be the perfect breed for "dog people". We couldn't agree more. This cat wants to be with their loving owners, and they will follow their two-legged family members from room to room. Although they won't sit on your lap, they will never be out of reach. They will do anything to get your attention, no matter if it's jumping from one side to the other to show off their speed or knocking things off shelves. Savannah cats can be curious about strangers, which can sometimes make them offensive. It's best to let anyone who isn't familiar

3. with Savannah cats, know that they will approach and possibly even play with them if you are expecting company. For more information visit our website Creature Companion