Savannah cat (comprehensive article)

Price/Breeding

Brigitte Cowell of Kirembo Savannahs says that up to and including F3 level, males are sterile. These cats are sold as pets. At F4 level some males have been found to be fertile. At the F5 level about 90% of males are found to be fertile, Brigitte says. The females are sold to other breeders and are on that basis more valuable. At Oct 2007 an F3 (12.5% Serval) is priced at $1,500 – $3,000 and an F3, F4 & F5 breeder at $3,000 – $5,000. As at Aug. 2008 A1 Savannahs sell F1 Savannah males at between $7,500 – $22,000 and SBT (see below) males at $950 – $6,000. SBT Females are priced at from $950 – $3,000. The relatively high cost of the Savannah cat is due to the difficulties and higher than average cost in breeding the cat and the cats rarity.

Martin and Kathrin Stucki at A1 Savannahs have created a new company, A1 Supremes (see link below). These are the most exotic domestic cats available, the exceptional Savannah cats from the A1 Savannahs cattery. They are very intelligent and athetic with the best temperaments.

Now that there are more lower generation Savannahs, many have been bred back to the Serval and so the Serval percentage of an F1 can range from 50% up to over 75% in some rare cases As the Savannah is a relatively new breed it is easy to research a particular cat’s pedigree. Most cats are only 4-5 generations from the first Serval/domestic hybrid. As a result the breeder will know what outcrosses have been used at each generation. As the males are sterile outcrosses had to take place. As there are more fertile F4-5 males around, it is now possible to breed without outcrossing.The allowable outcrosses under TICA breed standard are: Serval, Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Oriental Shorthair and the domestic shorthair (not a member of a recognized breed). Sometimes breeders go outside these guidelines. I have heard the Norwegian Forest Cat being used and even a Pixie bob. It is important, Martin Stucki says to strive for the true Serval type coat, which is not a golden coat. There is possibly a tendency to breed for golden color as they are more popular but not true to the objective or the breed.How much Serval is there is in the various generations from the wild cat?

Male Savannah cats are sterile until the 5th generation (F5).