What’s an F1 Savannah

Origins of the Savannah Cat.

The Savannah cat is a direct descendant of the African Serval. The F1 Savannah cat is a crossbreed between a Felis catus and a Leptailurus serval.

The breed was developed to achieve a wild-type appearance, with expressive eyes, tear stains, and vibrant colours with a solid contrast.

They have huge ears and very long legs.

F1 Savannah Cats and Serval

An F1 Savannah cat is the first generation offspring with a serval parent ( usually Dad) and a domestic mom.

An F2 is a second-generation offspring with serval grandparents.

An F3 is a third-generation offspring with a serval great-grandparent and so on.

This kitten is a Silver F1 kitten we proudly produced.

General Informations

The F1 Savannah cat has a unique look and stunning appearance, thanks to the cross-breeding carried out by its wildcat ancestors.

The unique personality traits of the F1 savannah cat include playing fetch, walking on a leash, giving headbutts, snakes hissing, chirping like a baby bird, having a very high jumping capability, and lots of energy and knowledge.

 

Their energy levels are high, and they require exercise. Exercise and socialization are crucial components of a kitten’s transition into adulthood.

Exposure to all kinds of atmospheres with positive reinforcement is the best.

Your expectations should align with the effort you put into this type of cat; lazy owners will get behaviours matching their lack of commitment.

F1 Savannah cats make excellent companions for dedicated owners.  F1 Savannah cats are loyal, intelligent, and eager to engage.

They can learn from simple to complex commands.

 

 

Health

No well-established health problems are known to exist within the breed. However, F1 Savannah Cats are susceptible to the same health issues as any other cat.

All breeds of cats can experience both congenital  and non-congenital issues.

Non-congenital issues are usually caused by non-genetic health problems such as fungal, bacterial and viral infections.

Most of them are treatable with proper antibiotic treatment after addressing the problem with a  veterinarian consultation.

Physical Caracteristics

Adult Size

We do know that first-generation hybrids (known as F1) are larger than their parents. The following generations, when paired with domestic cats, will produce gradually more regular-sized cats, getting closer to the size of a standard domestic cat.

F1 Savannah Female between 15 – 25 llbs
F1 Savannah Male between 20 – 35 llbs

Coat Color

Coat can be buttery gold , silver, cool brown, smoke  or black in F1 Savannah.

Coat Pattern

Solid dark spots not connected that can be round or oval flowing all across the body in parallel stripes.

Type of coat

Dense short hair that is both coarse and soft.

What's to know about them?

Affectionate

They usually have a very strong bond with their human and are quite affectionate with them.

Playful

These little wildcats usually enjoy dynamic play sessions that entertain and stimulate them. This means it’s essential to offer daily interactive play activities. Some are quite the little sportsmen and even enjoy swimming and climbing!

Calm

If their needs for physical activity are met, they relax with their humans when they want to.

Intelligent

F1 Savannahcats are lively, insightful and are great at learning. They are naturally curious, and sometimes, it gets them into mischief.

Fearful/wary of strangers

Although cats’ fears of strangers vary, F1 Savannah cats are typically energetic and curious, and they generally adapt well to novelty.

It’s always important to ensure that cats get enough physical activity and stimulation, regardless of their breed. So long as your F1 Savannah cat grows up in an enriching environment complete with high-up lookout points, games, and dietary stimulation, it will be able to cope with being alone.

Behaviors

Chatty

On the whole, with domestic cats, their tendency to vocalise for communicating with humans varies a lot between individuals and the environment they’re in. Certain hybrid breeds can be slightly more chatty than the average cat, meaning it’s possible that F1 Savannah cat will be too.

Tendency to run away

Being very adventurous and active, they enjoy exploring the outdoors. If you use a lead with a harness, you’ll find it easier to take them on excursions, knowing there is a lower risk of them escaping!  Catio is still the safest outdoor place for them.

Greedy/Gluttony

Given they have so much energy, F1 Savannah cat  usually have a pretty good appetite but can be finicky eaters.

Friendship with other Specie

Compatibility

This relationship will depend on several factors, including how they were socialized as kittens.

F1 Savannah Cats and Dogs

The compatibility of F1 Savannah cats with dogs can vary and depends on them being socialized together at a young age and in the right manner. That said, a dog and a Savannah cat can get along very well. It’s important to have lookout points and rest areas that are elevated so that the cat can avoid unwanted encounters with its canine companion.

F1 Savannah and Children

People are the real danger when it comes to animals. Any breed of act that is mistreated or not adequately raised ( socialized, training, mental stimulation, exercises, etc) can be dangerous……ANY BREED OF CATS OR DOGS….

Blaming the breed dismisses one’s own fault.

Many cat owners don’t understand how to handle a cat properly.

F1 Savannah cats are not dangerous to humans. Serval Cats are not inherently harmful to people; they will run away from strangers and almost always choose flight over fight.

All cats have hunting instincts, which means the individuals may pose a danger to smaller pets such as prey animals ( rodents, birds, and fish).

ANY ANIMAL (CATS, DOGS, BIRDS, HORSES, etc.) can be a nightmare if you intend to disrespect what each animal needs for a well-balanced life.

Please do your homework and be confident that you can properly provide the perfect home for these critters.

 

Pricing

The price is based on conformity to the breed standard, temperament, demand, and scarcity.

Females tend to have small litters, and unlike dogs , the Savannah’s heat cycle is completely unpredictable.

The Closer to the origin  ( Serval) results in a physically larger kitten but a smaller litter.

You should set aside a good monthly budget to meet all your kitten’s needs, including providing a high-quality diet and keeping them in good health. Be wary of fraudulent breeders who deceptively try to sell cats of other breeds as F1 Savannah cats.

Diet

Clearly, a high-quality diet is essential. Almost all cat foods available at grocery stores are not properly balanced for any type of cat. Feeding cheap, low-quality foods will lead to brittle bones that can break easily.

F1 Savannah cats grow faster than regular cats, so proper nutrition is vital.

Collaborate with your breeder and veterinarian to create a suitable diet plan tailored to each life stage.

Life expectancy

Their average life expectancy is between 12 to 20 years.

Good to know

There is a significant similarity between the genomes of several wild cat species, which facilitates hybridization between domestic cats and some of their wild relatives.

Several of them share the same number of chromosomes, often with identical structures. Nevertheless, the F1 Savannah cat results from a cross between the domestic cat and the Serval , Leptailurus serval.

These cousin species belong to the Felidae family and are genetically similar enough to produce viable hybrid offspring. However, the Serval’s Cat has a genome with 36 chromosomes, while the domestic cat has 38.

F1 Savannah cats, the descendants of these hybridisations, have 37 chromosomes. This genetic variability between the two species makes crossing them more difficult, and the process is laborious and complicated.

When choosing an F1 Savannah cat, it is important to be meticulous with documentation and contact trustworthy breeders.

F1 Savannah cat Ocelli markings.

All F1 Savannah cats have Ocelli Marking behing their ears which are high contrast  markings mimicking the eyes of the predators own ennemies.

The Ocellis on serval are  use to scare off predators and the marking has been passed down the line in our beautiful Savannah cat .

Thank you!

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