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The Savannah Cat
The Savannah Cat is a cross between an African Serval and a
normal house cat. They weigh 15 to 30 lbs. and are considerably
larger, up to two and half times the size of an average domestic
feline, depending on a number of breeding factors: the genetic
influence of the African Serval in the breeding, the gender, and the
generation.
African Serval:
The name is derived from the location of the African Serval cat's
origin, it being the Savannahs (grasslands) of Africa. This beautiful
hybrid has a sleek physique with long legs, slender body, large
pointed ears and an exotic coat varying from tan with black spots to
a silver coat with brown/black spots.
The Savannah cat is often compared to dogs in their disposition,
displaying more outgoing, friendly, affectionate behavior. The
Savannah cat exhibits more obvious signs of loyalty to their owners
like following them around the house, playing fetch and other
characteristics associated more with a dog. Unlike your average
domestic cat, their love of water is noteworthy, always enjoying the
chance to play, frolic and immerse themselves in it.
Although Savannahs did not gain worldwide popularity and
recognition until the late 1990s, the first known Savannah (pairing of
an African Serval and a domestic cat) was achieved in the Mid-1980s
by breeder Judee Frank. Judee Frank's Savannah attracted the
interest of Patrick Kelly, who purchased one of Savannah's kittens.
Patrick Kelly's enthusiasm and vision for establishing a new domestic
breed based on the Serval / domestic cat cross prompted him to
research what steps would be needed to be recognized and accepted
by an official feline registry. Armed with that information, obtained
from Leslie Bowers at TICA, Patrick approached several breeders
who owned Servals and encouraged them to attempt the
development of this breed. Initially, very few breeders were
interested. But Patrick persisted and finally convinced one breeder,
Joyce Sroufe, to join him in his efforts. Patrick and Joyce wrote
the original breed standard and presented it to the TICA Board of
Directors in February 1996. Today, Patrick's well-known
SavannahCat.com is the foremost promoter of our breed on the
internet and he has also had much success promoting Savannahs in
"Cat Fancy" magazine.
Joyce Sroufe went on to become
a very successful Savannah breeder
and is often credited with being the
founder of this breed. Due to Joyce's
diligence, perseverance, and faith in
this breed, along with her extensive
knowledge and skills in cat breeding, she produced more Savannahs
than any other breeder at the time and was the first to breed down
to the later generations and produce fertile males. Joyce was also
the one who first introduced the breed to the public via exhibition
at a major cat show in Westchester, New York in 1997. Her breeding
program provided kittens to the pet world that resulted in an
explosion of demand for these cats. It also provided breeding
females and fertile males that became the basis for many other
Savannah breeding programs. Joyce's experience and belief in and
commitment to the breed enabled her to mentor new breeders
interested in becoming involved with the development of this breed.
Another person who deserves much
recognition as being instrumental in
the development of Savannahs as a
very successful and popular breed is
Lorre Smith, the first TICA
Savannah Breed Chairman, whose
dedicated efforts helped launch
Savannahs forward within the ranks
of TICA at a rate more rapid than
any other breed in TICA history. It
was through Lorre's efforts during the
moratorium on hybrid breeds within TICA, that this breed was
eventually accepted by TICA into its New Breed program. Lorre
worked diligently with other breeders to refine the breed standard
and thereby ensure the success of the Savannah breed in its
advancement through the steps required within TICA in its march
towards championship status. Savannah Breed Section Members are
currently working on advancing to championship status within TICA
and expect to achieve this major milestone within the next five
years. It is largely through Lorre's efforts that the breed has
advanced so rapidly through TICA and has been so well accepted by
TICA officials.
The response of TICA Judges and the general public has been
overwhelmingly favorable over the past few years, establishing
Savannah Cats, with their elegant, exotic looks and interactive
personalities, as perhaps the most sought after companion animal in
the world today.
(The information above is from the website of Cranberry Coast
Cattery)
The Savannah Cat is a cross between an African Serval and a
normal house cat. They weigh 15 to 30 lbs. and are considerably
larger, up to two and half times the size of an average domestic
feline, depending on a number of breeding factors: the genetic
influence of the African Serval in the breeding, the gender, and the
generation.
African Serval:
The name is derived from the location of the African Serval cat's
origin, it being the Savannahs (grasslands) of Africa. This beautiful
hybrid has a sleek physique with long legs, slender body, large
pointed ears and an exotic coat varying from tan with black spots to
a silver coat with brown/black spots.
The Savannah cat is often compared to dogs in their disposition,
displaying more outgoing, friendly, affectionate behavior. The
Savannah cat exhibits more obvious signs of loyalty to their owners
like following them around the house, playing fetch and other
characteristics associated more with a dog. Unlike your average
domestic cat, their love of water is noteworthy, always enjoying the
chance to play, frolic and immerse themselves in it.
Although Savannahs did not gain worldwide popularity and
recognition until the late 1990s, the first known Savannah (pairing of
an African Serval and a domestic cat) was achieved in the Mid-1980s
by breeder Judee Frank. Judee Frank's Savannah attracted the
interest of Patrick Kelly, who purchased one of Savannah's kittens.
Patrick Kelly's enthusiasm and vision for establishing a new domestic
breed based on the Serval / domestic cat cross prompted him to
research what steps would be needed to be recognized and accepted
by an official feline registry. Armed with that information, obtained
from Leslie Bowers at TICA, Patrick approached several breeders
who owned Servals and encouraged them to attempt the
development of this breed. Initially, very few breeders were
interested. But Patrick persisted and finally convinced one breeder,
Joyce Sroufe, to join him in his efforts. Patrick and Joyce wrote
the original breed standard and presented it to the TICA Board of
Directors in February 1996. Today, Patrick's well-known
SavannahCat.com is the foremost promoter of our breed on the
internet and he has also had much success promoting Savannahs in
"Cat Fancy" magazine.
Joyce Sroufe went on to become
a very successful Savannah breeder
and is often credited with being the
founder of this breed. Due to Joyce's
diligence, perseverance, and faith in
this breed, along with her extensive
knowledge and skills in cat breeding, she produced more Savannahs
than any other breeder at the time and was the first to breed down
to the later generations and produce fertile males. Joyce was also
the one who first introduced the breed to the public via exhibition
at a major cat show in Westchester, New York in 1997. Her breeding
program provided kittens to the pet world that resulted in an
explosion of demand for these cats. It also provided breeding
females and fertile males that became the basis for many other
Savannah breeding programs. Joyce's experience and belief in and
commitment to the breed enabled her to mentor new breeders
interested in becoming involved with the development of this breed.
Another person who deserves much
recognition as being instrumental in
the development of Savannahs as a
very successful and popular breed is
Lorre Smith, the first TICA
Savannah Breed Chairman, whose
dedicated efforts helped launch
Savannahs forward within the ranks
of TICA at a rate more rapid than
any other breed in TICA history. It
was through Lorre's efforts during the
moratorium on hybrid breeds within TICA, that this breed was
eventually accepted by TICA into its New Breed program. Lorre
worked diligently with other breeders to refine the breed standard
and thereby ensure the success of the Savannah breed in its
advancement through the steps required within TICA in its march
towards championship status. Savannah Breed Section Members are
currently working on advancing to championship status within TICA
and expect to achieve this major milestone within the next five
years. It is largely through Lorre's efforts that the breed has
advanced so rapidly through TICA and has been so well accepted by
TICA officials.
The response of TICA Judges and the general public has been
overwhelmingly favorable over the past few years, establishing
Savannah Cats, with their elegant, exotic looks and interactive
personalities, as perhaps the most sought after companion animal in
the world today.
(The information above is from the website of Cranberry Coast
Cattery)
