Whether you're in the market for a Savannah or already have one or ten, there are a few things to keep in mind when taking your Savannah outside. The outdoors can be an incredible experience for them, but your Savannah's safety--and your own are the number one priority. I've made a short article on some things to remember while getting ready to take your furry friend on a great outdoor adventure.

An in-depth interview with Savannah Cat foundation breeder Doreen Boileau of Drinkwater Cats

Savannahs come in several different colors and variations of these colors. Per the Savannah breed standard, permissible colors can be golden/brown, silver, black, and smoke, and patterns that include solid and spotted tabby. There are, however, many other color variations. While not acceptable in a cat show ring, cats of different colors and patterns can still be registered with TICA and are highly desirable by many Savannah owners. How colors and markings are passed along from studs and queens to their kittens isn't easy to understand and difficult to predict, even for experienced breeders. In this article, we'll touch on Savannah colors and patterns, genetics, and the abbreviations you'll often see in posts, photos, and articles about Savannah cats.

Servals have become an increasingly popular exotic pet based on their nature, size, and majestic looks. However, many fail to fully comprehend or consider that Servals are wild animals, even when bred and raised in captivity. They require a particular environment, diet, vitamins, enrichment, and enclosures. Many states, counties, and cities require special ownership permits and legal documentation of import and export history.

I've always been a bit of a "Cat Lady" and become familiar with Savannah's in the early years of the breed, finding them intriguing. I'd brought two domestic cats into my relationship when I married, but my husband, Matt, wasn't a cat lover. However, he understood us to be a package deal and came to like the cats more than he'd care to admit, even today. My domestic cats lived to the ripe old ages of 16 and 20, and we had a wonderful life with them. Matt never failed to remind me he didn't want more cats once they passed on, but I couldn't fathom my life without cats. So when they both passed, there was about one year without cats—and it was probably the longest year of my life.

I realized a number of months ago that our senior kitty, Yedeed (a Red Abyssinian) was beginning to have difficulty getting up on our bed by himself.  I began searching for pet stairways, and while some were very inexpensive, they were also fairly unattractive.  So, to the drawing board, I went!  I searched in Chewy, Etsy, Amazon, Woodworkers Journal, and virtually anything else to get ideas about what the size should be and the methods of construction.  I ended up building something so very complicated, there was NO WAY I would be able to break it down as a DIY for Savannaghans!  (Photo included of the Beast Stairs).  The good thing about my first staircase is that they are big enough that Ascher (F2, 30#) uses them daily.

The Savannah cat breed's miraculous story starts with the surprise birth of a single Serval-domestic hybrid kitten. From there, it evolves with several breeders responsible and recognized for the founding and progression of the Savannah breed, gaining The International Cat Association (TICA) Breed Recognition. Without TICA's recognition, the Savannah cat was nothing more than a hybrid cat, not an actual breed. Continue reading about the challenges and the visionaries who meticulously and carefully bred for a specific set of characteristics, shaping the Savannah breed to what it is today. The history is, however, not without discrepancies in some of the earlier details. I’ve shared the information obtained in the most neutral way possible, with respect for the accuracy and details as they were presented.

I feel it’s important for Savannah owners and enthusiasts to know the backstory of the breed’s creation and what it took to be where it is today. Special thanks to Patrick Kelley and Joyce Sroufe for the many enlightening discussions for this deep dive into early breed history and Brigitte Cowell Moyne for the endless amount of resources for achieving breed recognition and more.

Beautiful, wonderful Servals. Servals can be an incredible pet. The bond created between you, and your serval is the strongest bond you’ll ever have with an animal…for the RIGHT person. Unfortunately, most people are NOT the right person to own a Serval for various reasons.

Often, we as breeders must remind ourselves of the responsibilities and pledges we take when we become a breeder—an ethical breeder at that. Some subjects regarding those responsibilities need attention and to be addressed.

This diagram depicts the facial progression of the African Serval kitten through the first year of life

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I want to explain the raw truth to those who think that a breeder who posts an “available cat” is a sad or even objectionable situation. It’s important to know that a breeder can only improve their breeding program by either introducing new breeding cats or keeping a kitten from a litter they’ve produced. If a breeder were to keep every retired breeding cat, they’d end up a cat hoarder; NOT a breeder.

Luna: My Dad took this photo with my mom the weekend the specialists at MedVet told them to take me home to die—that nothing could be done besides palliative care medications to ease my suffering. Dad set up the studio lights and took our final photos together--I’m only 14 weeks old. Look how sick and depressed I am. But my mom didn't give up on me. She worked around the clock contacting every veterinary college she could find. One of those colleges 3000 miles away responded. They told her to get me on a plan as soon as possible, and they would try to save me. They did. Today, I’m a thriving four-year-old who is free from the scourge called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

If your cat is ever diagnosed with this horror, please contact my mom (savannahgans@gmail.com). She can tell your parents how to save you, just like I was saved!

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Feline Behavior Basics: Resources

Before Leaving Home

—Create a “home away from home.” Choose a comfy carrier weeks before your trip. Leave it out in your home so the kitty can investigate. Start offering super high-value toys and treats inside the carrier, as well as a soft, inviting blanket to ensure a carrier is a happy place that smells and feels like home, providing a haven on your trip.

For cats under 15 pounds, I love the Sleepy Pod. The top can be unzipped and removed, creating a kitty bed that cats love to nap in at home. When you’re ready to travel, zip the top on, and the kitty has a safe travel bed that belts into your car seat. https://sleepypod.com/

I started with Savannahs in the early 1990s after visiting a lady in Tarzana, CA, Jan Giacinto, a breeder of Bengal cats. While at her home, I caught a glimpse of her Serval cat. I'd never before seen a cat like this. It was huge in comparison to Bengal cats. I asked Jan if anyone had ever created a hybrid of a cat-like the Serval, and she said she'd heard of someone--but they weren't worth anything--and brought my attention back to her Bengals. But...it was too late. I'd already begun to figure out how a Serval/domestic cross would become the next breed of cats.

What does SBT Mean? Once a cat's parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents are ALL Savannahs, the result of those kittens is what's called "Stud Book Traditional" or SBT. This is the first generation considered a purebred Savannah and is the only classification for the Championship Competition with TICA. The earliest generation SBT's are achieved is F4 (but of course, that doesn't mean ALL F4's are SBT).