Savannah Cat Facts you Didn’t Know
Savannah cats are the results of the domestic cats breeding with an African wild cat. This is a slim, large, and tall looking cat with a dog-like loyalty and a playful nature. Savannah cats are one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. The spotting of their coats tends to resemble that of an exotic looking tabby. They are cute and closely look like their relatives( the African serval cat) with their long legs and muscled body. Genetically they don’t suffer from genetic issues other domestic cat breeds suffer from. Thus this species of cat breeds have excellent health and longevity.
Characteristics
The Savannah cats have a unique tear-stain mark from the inner part of the eye downward. They have tall, erect ears with ocelli, a central light band separated by black, dark, grey, or a black tip.
Sometimes the eyes may be green, brown, or gold and are hooded. Savannah cats in the first generation were identified for their light coat and dark spots. Today this wonderful breed is known for its four-color difference.
- Black, black with black spots.
- Silver-spotted tabby, silver coat with black or dark gray spots.
- Black-tipped silver with black spots.
- Brown spotted tabby, shades of a brown coat with dark spots.
Temperament
Savannah cats are very playful and social animals, interested in dogs and children. They have a dog-like loyalty and will accompany their owners everywhere in the house and can also be trained to walk with a leash.
They regularly greet people with their head-butts or an unexpected pounce. Savannah cats can jump from very high positions from ten feet high to the cabinets and refrigerators’ tops. They don’t fear water; in fact, they play in it.
How to Care for a Savannah Cat
Savannah cats require a fully balanced diet, grooming at all times, attention, and lots of exercises. Since this is a new and uncommon breed, one can get help from finding out enough information as possible before deciding if this is the right breed for them.
Feeding and Nutrition
The savannah cats mostly prefer a high content of protein and a meat-based diet. Mostly, they are not able to digest cat foods that contain grains and corn. Your breeder must be able to give details of your cat’s diet when often they must be fed.
Savannahs are very allergic to changes in their diets. Therefore, any slight changes should be gentle to avoid stomach problems.
Common Health Problems
The savannah is a very healthy cat, and no health problem has been detected yet. Although, they can still be susceptible to the same health problems that can trouble other species of cats.
It is essential to protect your savannah with cat insurance to help them and enable you to get the peace of mind knowing that you can acquire financial help with vet bills and treatment costs.
Fun Fact
Savannah cats have a vast range of exciting vocalizations. From their domestic relatives, you can hear their close meowing and soft purring from savannahs. But there are some more surprises from your furry friend.
Most savannah owners have reported hearing distinctive chirping, yowling, and yelping. They have also noticed some characteristics of barking and chattering.
When savannahs are not in a good mood, they always rely on sighing, growling, and hissing to get attention. Though that may seem frightening, there is no need to fear.
The majority of savannah owners will explain to you that a savannah cat will break out of savannah Hiss or Serval Hiss when they are angry or frustrated, but not when they are ready to attack. It’s important to warn your visitors and pet sitters about this exciting feature.
Savannah Cat Health
Experts believe that the savannah cat is one of the healthiest domestic breeds there is. At the same time, there are some details to keep in mind.
Not to forget, savannahs come from responsible breeders. Because this breed is costly and very hard to get, some breeders will provide lower-cost savannahs to please the client and attract more customers.
This is a terrible thing; most low-cost cats don’t get adequate screening for various genetic problems.
Nutrition is another health worry for the savannah cat. Over the years, domestic cats have adjusted to foods bought from stores. However, this may not be sufficient for a cat that relies on fresh protein.
Various sources believe that savannahs are at a higher risk for the taurine shortage, a vitamin found in meat. They can benefit from a high protein intake and low carb diet, as they would find in the wild.
An additional challenge with the savannah cats is maintaining their weight. This breed of cats needs a lot of feeding than the ordinary average domestic cat. This means that they have a high appetite; thus, obesity is a risk factor. More time and effort is needed to find the right diet and exercise balance for the savannahs.
Coat and Grooming
The Savannah cats need thorough grooming. Brushing them weekly is a good idea, and you don’t have to bother about bathing, but if your savannah loves water, you can bathe them; that sounds interesting, right?
One extra thing you can add to your grooming schedule is nail clipping. And don’t forget the closer a savannah is to their relatives ( The African Serval cat), the more climbing, hunting, and scratching your compound will be.
The best thing is that the earlier you start with the nail clipping, the better because you will minimize your home damage.
Living Conditions
Constructing perfect living conditions can be very tiring and demanding. Savannahs are giant cats with many strengths and wild instincts. Therefore, they can end up shredding up your curtains, knocking up your wall frames, and causing severe destruction to your home.
To be on the safe side with these cats, one should build a structured kind of house. Provide space for them where they can stay and spend their time.
Decorated shelves, big cat trees, and many other friendly cat environments will help attract their attention, keeping them from ruining your valuables.
Another thing to consider is that a savannah must stay indoors at all times. This is very crucial because of their extreme hunting zeal and superb hunting skills. Savannahs can be a significant risk to natural ecosystems.
Many savannah owners realize that they have to secure their homes to prevent escape. You can achieve this by installing doorknobs and strong window screens.
Savannah Cat Training and Exercise
When we talk about walking, savannahs are the best breed to extend the limits of feline coaching. Although sometimes they can turn out to be stubborn, they love attention and are food motivated.
These qualities are the best for a cat to enable it to learn much more than ordinary commands. Savannahs learn the best with the shortest time, with regular training periods and a lot of sound reinforcement verbal treats. Being consistent with the training is the key to training a savannah cat.
It would be best if you started with the main commands that will teach your savannah cat how to observe boundaries and have household manners. Because they are confident animals, this part of training should train them on how to stay away from dangerous situations.
For instance, they might climb on the kitchen counter and expense themselves to sharp objects or open flames. Another vital training tip is to keep savannah cats from attempting to rush out of the swinging door.
Showing a savannah cat a specific place to stay when they hear a door opening and then offering them their favorite meal is another great way to minimize their risk of escaping.
The wild serval’s territory ranges anywhere from 6 to 22 square kilometers. This means that they are used to walking long distances searching for food and water.
A domestic savannah can not dare claim 25 square kilometers as their territory, but they still require space to roam around. Savannahs cherish to be taken for a walk, and they love splashing water in an outdoor pool.
Like many other dog breeds, savannah cat owners will likely arrange a dog walker to take their felines out for some fresh air and daily exercise.
Conclusion
We urge you to speak to savannah cat owners or pet attendants to know much about these breeds and be able to meet some few grown savannah cats. You must have enough knowledge before you decide to own a Savannah cat. If you are planning or are serious about adopting a savannah cat, then you are on the right path. Savannah cats are beautiful pets to stay with; they usually learn tricks quickly. They also teach your other pets nasty tricks; they love to play all day long and will always roam everywhere in your compound; the cats don’t have boundaries, so anywhere the cats feel like going, they will get there.