F3 Savannah Cat is the home for those who own or are looking to own savannah cats! We provide all kinds of resources from what types of food you should be feeding your savannah to best practices for introducing changes to your household (or should we say their household) to general care tips for your adorable, new pet.
About The Savannah Breed
Vibrant Coloring
Savannahs come in many different colors. The African Serval is widely known for its vibrant golden coat with dark spots. You will also find smoke, snow, black and silver savannah cats.
Highly Intelligent
These exotic felines are incredibly smart animals. They are much more in tune with their surroundings than standard domestic kitties. Owners need to beware of this when changing the cat’s living space!
Large in Size
These cats look about 10 pounds larger than they actually are. Their long legs, huge paws and athletic builds give off this feel when you look at them. Nonetheless, they are much larger than normal domestic breeds that people are used to.
High Energy
This breed has a high energy level which means they will quickly tire out your other pets! They will search for new forms of entertainment or new playmates once they tucker out their initial playmates.
F1, F2, F3, F4 & F5
There are several classifications for these kittens. They are based upon how much wild serval is bred into the savannah cat. These descendants of the serval will range from 5% to 65% wild serval.
Yes, They Love Dogs
We get the question often of whether or not savannah kittens get along with dogs. The answer is definitely YES! They tend to gravitate toward dogs as a natural playmate!
Are you ready to add a Savannah to your family?
Learn more about availability and pricing!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Savannah Cat?
A Savannah cat is a hybrid of an African Serval and a domesticated house cat. Savannahs are famous for their tall and sleek bodies, their large ears, long legs and large paws. Savannahs are a newer breed and only a few breeders across the world have successfully mastered the process of breeding Savannah Cats.
In order to breed a standard household cat with a exotic animal such as the African Serval, caution needs to be exercised. Savannah kittens that are produced are loving bundles of joy that would be a great addition to any family.
Savannahs are well known for having a perfect mix of traits from more traditional house pets. They have the loyalty and energy of new puppies, as well as the independence of domestic house cats.
What is an SBT Savannah?
SBT stands for Stud Book Traditional. An SBT Savannah is bred down from the Serval just like an F3 Savannah, but it must be more than 4 generations removed from the serval and only bred with other Savannahs (no other domestic cats). The SBT Savannah is a “pure” Savannah that only has Savannah parents (more than 3 generations).
When it comes to size and appearance, they are comparable to F4 or F5 Savannahs. The advantage of SBT Savannahs is in the fact that they are more predictable in how they will turn out. You will have a better idea of how their size and personality will end up. They are preferred for families with traditional pets or small children.
Why is pricing so high for Savannah Cats?
What makes a Savannah is the wild Serval that is bred with domesticated cats. Servals are wild cats that need to be cared for in very specific ways — this costs money and is very labor intensive.
Savannahs with higher percentages of wild Serval are incredibly difficult to breed. Years of time accompanied with some good luck go into breeding these fine animals. There are only a couple success stories where breeders were actually able to accomplish this on a regular basis. Check out our Savannah Cat Price section for more info on this!
Some History About the Savannah Cat and the Serval
The Serval is the base of the entire Savannah breed so we feel it is necessary to give some insight into its history! Read on to find out more about these amazing animals.
About the Serval
Details:
- Height: Approx. 20 – 26 inches to the shoulder
- Weight: Anywhere from 20 to 40 lbs
- Jumping Ability: Usually up to 11 feet in the air
Servals are found in the African savannah, grassy areas, wooded areas, as well as in wetlands. They have extraordinarily long legs and ears which help them survive in their typical surroundings. The African Serval is one of the largest cats in Africa and preys upon smaller rodents among many other types of animals — it usually hunts during the night in order to stay away from other larger predators. They are notorious for being fantastic at running, climbing trees and swimming (this always surprises people). They tend to stay to themselves in the wild and will claim their own territory. The overall look of the Serval is so vivid and wild looking, that once you set your eyes on one, you will totally understand why people had the desire to create the Savannah Cat breed.
Savannah Kittens are adorable and make great pets!
History of the Savannah: A Relatively New Breed of Cat
A Savannah kitten is a hybrid of a domestic cat and the serval. This new breed grew in popularity among breeders in the later 1990s, and in 2001 it was accepted as a new registered breed by the International Cat Association. It wasn’t until May of 2012, that TICA made it a championship breed.
The first successful breeding of a Savannah Cat was accomplished by Judee Frank with a male Serval and a domestic Siamese cat in April of 1986..
Majestic Appearance
When people look at a Savannah Cat, they typically think it is a much larger cat than it actually is due to the length and height of the cat. Size depends heavily on the generation and sex of the cat, with the F1 males just about always being the biggest. The closer the generation is the Serval ancestor, the larger the cat tends to be. Males tend to be significantly larger than females. In general these pets will range from about 8 to 30 pounds in weight.
Due to the randomness in Savannah hybrid genetics, size will vary greatly. This is why we always emphasize that you get your kitten from a trusted, respected and well-educated breeder.
The coat/pattern of the Savannah is often decided by the domestic cat that is used in the breeding process. F1s and F2s will have the most vivid coloring and spotted coats.
Savannah Cat Price Comparison Table
| Generation | Male Price | Female Price | Serval Percentage |
| F1 Savannah | $12,000 - $16,000 | $15,000 - $20,000 | ~ 50% |
| F2 Savannah | $4,000 - $8,000 | $4,000 - $9,000 | ~ 30% |
| F3 Savannah | $1,500 - $4,000 | $1,000 - $4,000 | ~ 19% |
| F4 Savannah | $1,000 to $2,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 | ~ 15% |
| F5 Savannah | $1,000 - $2,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 | ~ 11% |
How Much Does a Savannah Cat Cost?
Savannah Cats vary wildly in terms of their price. We break it all down for you on this page! Already got pricing figured out? Find out Which Savannah Is Right for You.
An F1 Savannah Cat
F1 Savannah Cat Pricing Information
F1 savannah cats have the largest percentage of wild African Serval in them, and are usually the most expensive type of savannah cat.
- Male F1 kittens generally range from about $12,000 all the way up to around $16,000.
- Female F1 kittens typically range from about $15,000 to $20,000.
An f2 savannah cat
How much is an F2?
F2 savannah cats have a large percentage of wild African Serval in them, but more domestic than the F1.
- Male F2 kittens generally range from about $4,000 all the way up to around $8,000.
- Female F2 kittens typically range from about $4,000 to $9,000.
An F3 Savannah cat
What Do F3 Savannah Cats Cost?
F3 savannah cats still have a good amount of Serval in their genes, but are much more well-rounded than F1 and F2 Savannahs. For someone who values personality and has small children, an F3 is the perfect choice.
- Male F3 kittens generally range from about $1,500 all the way up to around $4,000.
- Female F3 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $4,000.
An F4 Savannah resting
How Much Are Savannah Kittens of the F4 Variety?
F4 savannah cats typically have around 15% Serval in them. Their aesthetic features look much closer to domestic cats and their behavior is also more similar to domestic cats.
- Male F4 kittens generally range from about $1,000 all the way up to around $2,500.
- Female F4 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $2,500.
A cute F5 Savannah Kitten
How Much is an F5 Savannah Cat?
F5 Cats are the closest to domestic cats and usually are about 11-12% Serval. They still have the look of Savannahs, but their body shape looks much more like a domestic cat. They are shorter and stockier.
- Male F5 kittens generally range from about $1,000 all the way up to around $5,000 (for breeders).
- Female F5 kittens typically range from about $1,000 to $2,500.
Which Savannah is Right for You?
There are so many varieties and levels of Savannah Cats, much less exotic cats in general, it can be very fun and exciting deciding which Savannah is right for you and your family. That being said, it can also be very overwhelming. Which do you choose? Where do you buy?
That’s why we’ve created this section. Read on to find out the differences between F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 Savannahs and why one of them may be a better fit for your situation.
The Savannah – General
What is a Savannah Cat? It is a hybrid cat that is bred from an African Serval and a domestic cat. They are tall and lanky with spots covering their main coat (gold all the way to silver). The long legs and large paws seem to make them look much heavier than they really are. We find that people think these cats weigh about 40% more than they actually do!
Savannahs were introduced in the mid 1990s. More and more people are attempting to breed them (sometimes without the proper training or resources to do it well), so you need to be mindful of the breeder and their history!
Pricing varies wildly from about $1,000 to $20,000. For more information on pricing, head over to our Savannah Cat Pricing Information page.
F1 Savannah Cats
F1 males tend to be about 17 – 25 lbs and about 15 to 19 inches tall (to the shoulder). Lengthwise, F1 Savannahs are usually in the range of 20-25 inches. F1 Savannahs are definitely the most extreme of any of the levels due to the amount of wild Serval bred into them. That being said, they are really manageable compared to wild cats or other types of hybrids.
Personality of an F1 Savannah
These cats only form a strong connection with their immediate family in most cases. They are not aggressive with others, but they will avoid interactions with them if not socialized from a young age! An F1 savannah that is unsocialized will avoid strangers in your house, you probably will not even know that the cat exists — and if they are out of hiding, they will most likely be perched up high, away from the action. While a very well-socialized F1 will be loving to others. Typically they are not much of a lap cat, however, our kittens are! They are often playing around due to their high energy level. The only time that you may have trouble with them not using their litter box is if they are unhappy or trying to tell you something!
F2 Savannah Cats
photo by will wade
F2 males tend to be approximately 15 to 24 lbs, though some can climb over the 30 pound mark. When it comes to height they are just about the same as an F1 — maybe an inch or so shorter. Female F2 Savannah Cats are usually in the 12 to 16 pound range.
Personality of an F2
F2 Savannah Cats are a much safer bet to be more of the social type than an F1. Still, from the wrong breeder, F2 Savannah kittens will avoid socializing with anyone other than their main companion. They will play with children and enjoys being petted. No consistent issues with using the litter box. F2 Savannahs require socializing from a young age as do F1 savannah kittens and should be put through a training and exposure process before leaving the cattery. Watch our documentary below to learn about our process and more about F2 Savannah cats!
F3 Savannahs
F3 males weigh in around 13-19 lbs and can be up to 17 inches in height. They usually about 17 to 20 inches in length. F3 Savannahs of the other gender tend to be significantly lighter in weight, coming in around 10 to 13 lbs.
What is an F3 Savannah Cat’s Personality Like?
This is the first generation of Savannah Cat that you can expect to enjoy being a bit of a lap cat. We highly recommend the F3 variation of the Savannah because if you choose wisely, you can find one that has the look of F1s or F2s, but with a more family-friendly, loving personality. These cats are ideal if you have smaller children.
F4 and F5s
In terms of weight, they are identical to F3 Savannahs at around 13-19 pounds. The most noticeable differences in these variations are in height, shape and length. These cats still get the spots or patterns of the Serval, but they are shaped much more like traditional domestic cats. Speaking on their personality, they are even more outgoing than the F3 and will enjoy playing with and being petted by just about anyone!
Have more questions about which type of Savannah would be best suited for your situation? We will be breaking down the different types in depth over the next couple weeks so we will have more info for you soon! In the meantime, be sure to get subscribed for our email updates so you know when we post all the latest information!
What Colors and Patterns are Available?
Savannah Cats are available in many different colors and patterns. These varieties come from the Serval, as well as the domestic cats that are bred with the Serval. The most common and widely coveted color and pattern is the traditional gold coat with the brown spots as it looks the most “wild.” That being said, there are several other TICA approved colors such as the silver, smoke and black varieties. There are other colors available, as well, but they are not able to be shown in competitions. As with any rare variety of any kind, there is always someone who wants it — this is even true with the rare colored kitties.
In this article, we will go through the 4 main colors and then provide a brief overview of the different patterns that you may see. The 4 main colors, as mentioned above, are the Brown Spotted Tabby, black, Silver, and Smoke. Please keep in mind that they are all the same breed, these are just different color variations that can be produced through the breeding process. The color of these cats is not always something that can be controlled, no matter how knowledgeable and talented the breeder is — there is always a bit of randomness when talking about the genetic makeup of these cats! Another perk of the different colors is that in some cases, the pricing will be lower because the cat doesn’t look like the “prototypical Savannah.” To learn about the different generations, check out our Which Savannah is Right for You section.
Brown Spotted Tabby – Savannah
Brown Spotted Tabby color variation
This is certainly the most popular of all the colors available, which is not surprising given their very “wild” appearance that is as close to the look of a Serval as possible. These Savannahs range in coat color from a cooler beige color all the way to a bright gold with an orange tint. Typically, the brighter the basecoat is, the more variation you will see in the color of the spots. Whereas if the basecoat is the cool beige color, the spots are usually a very dark brown or black. It is widely believed that as these Brown Spotted Tabby Savannahs get older, they all trend towards the more subtle beige-brown color and move away from the ultra vibrant orange-gold color.
Silver Spotted Tabby color variation – Photo courtesy of Lequoia Savannahs
Silver Spotted Tabby – Savannah Color
The silver variation of Savannah Cats seem to be the next most common color. On the Silver Savannahs, as you would expect, they have a silver coat with dark grey or black spots. These cats are very majestic and exotic looking, but look less like the standard African Serval (there are Servals in this color, but it is not the color people associate with them in general).
Black and Smoke Colored Savannahs
Smoke color variation
The final 2 variations of Savannah Cats are black and smoke. Both are very dark in color, but the smoke Savannahs show their spots a bit more than the black Savannahs. Both are acceptable colors according to The International Cat Association, even though there are no smoke colored Servals (we do see black Servals).
Pattern Overview
Spotted
A large majority of all Savannahs are spotted, just like their wild ancestor. The spots will vary quite a bit from cat to cat, but most people do not even notice the differences in the spots. This also happens to be the only pattern that is acceptable when it comes to showing a Savannah Cat at competitions.
Marbled
Instead of spots, the marbled Savannah Cat has what look more like random striping. These stripes often take a circular pattern, but can vary greatly. This pattern is not shown in competition, but look more exotic than the spotted cats according to many.