It has been awhile since there has been a kitten in our house. I had forgotten what nonstop fun and laughter a wild little cat can bring into your home. I hadn’t been looking for another cat, but my husband bumped into an old high school friend of his and he has two Savannah cats. Intrigued, I began to do some research on the breed and got hooked. I am drawn to the more exotic breeds anyway, having an Egyptian Mau of my own for almost five years now.
While the Mau breed is a true domestic cat, the Savannah is a hybrid. They are a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat. They come in F1 to F6’s and that can get complicated as to the whole genetic thing. For example, an F1 has an African Serval as a parent while my little F6 has African Servals as great, great, great, grand papas on both sides. Most people want them because of their beautiful spotted coats and their intelligence. A lot of myths have grown up around the Savannahs, too, but as with most myths, much of it is not true.
For example, most people think my little kitten will grow up to be a 30 pound behemoth. No. She will be, perhaps, a little bit bigger than an ordinary domestic cat, but that is about it. If she were a higher generation SV, then she might be a little bit larger, but it would take an F1 to be anywhere close to a 30# cat and then they would need to be cross bred with a Maine coon cat or something of equal size.
One of the reasons I wanted a SV was because of the way owners describe their personalities. They are smart cats, often coming when they are called. Even as young as Makena is, I see her beginning to respond to her name at times. She certainly responds to my voice. She is not going to be a lap cat by any means, but she does love to be in the same room with us, but most often it is while she is busily tearing up the toilet paper, or ripping across the bed to pounce on my husband’s feet. She also waits in hiding for my Yorkie to go by and attacks her. She shows very little fear, but has learned some respect for my German shepherd. Missy doesn’t tolerate much from the smaller animals and when she has had enough, she simply puts her foot down, literally, on the animal who is messing with her. I think Makena has been “stepped” on and has learned she must not mess with the big dog.
I am enjoying her growing and learning new things and she is so funny to watch as she runs around the house. I can’t wait to see what she will get into next, but I am also quickly learning what I need to keep closed. I warned my husband just yesterday that we cannot leave the toilet paper on the roll thing anymore in “her” bathroom because it will just all be unrolled and sitting in a pile on the floor. I have also warned him to check very carefully in the refrigerator before he shuts it. She is so fast I have almost shut her in there a few times myself.
If you are looking for a kitten, give the Savannah a look. Do a lot of research first and know what you are getting into. But once you decide on one, I don’t think you will be disappointed and be sure to buy from a reliable breeder.