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Savannah Cats
There are different kinds of hybrid domestic breeds of cats, and Savannah is one among them. It is a hybrid and a domestic breed of cat. Actually, it is a cross between a wild cat of Africa, which is called Serval, and a domestic breed of cat. There was a Bengal breeder called Judee Frank who first managed to crossbreed a domestic cat with a Serval, and as a result, produced Savannah on 7th April 1986. In 2007, an estimate was made regarding the population of the Savannah cats, and it was estimated to be over 200.
Among all the domestic breeds of cats, Savannah is a larger breed. Their physique is so slim and tall, that it gives them an appearance of greater size than their actual weight. The largest of them are F1 and F2 hybrids. It is due to the stronger influence of the genes of their ancestors, the African Serval who is really big. The male Savannahs are usually bigger than their female counterparts. The Savannahs of the early generations weigh 10 to 25 lbs. The size of the Savannah also depends on the sex. The Savannahs of the later generation weigh 8-7 lbs. There is one breed of Savannahs, which weigh over 40 pound.
The coat of this breed of cat depends entirely on the type of cat that is used for crossbreeding. The cats of the early generation, usually, have dark spots on the light-coated hair. The breeders, in order to give a wild look to the breed, employ wild breeds like Bengal and Egyptian Mau for crossing. According to the International Cat Association, the Savannah cats are usually, brown spotted, silver spotted, black or black smoke. They have a marble pattern or snow coloration, or blue and other diluted colors.
The Savannah cats have a wild look, which is primarily due to the presence of various characteristics of the Serval. The most prominent characteristics among them are the color markings, and erect and tall ears. The Savannahs have a long and leggy body which makes them look much bigger when they stand. The hind legs of this breed are often higher than its shoulder. Their heads are long and their necks are slender. They have short tails with black rings, and solid tips of black color. Like kittens, their eyes are blue, but may even be gold, brown, green, or any other blended shades. They have hooded brows to protect them from the sunlight. Like cheetah, they have streak marking, which runs from the corner of the eyes to the nose. These marks of tear help to reduce the reflection of sunlight. It also helps them during hunting.
The Savannah cats are very active, assertive, friendly, and playful. They are also very interested in children and dogs. They appear more or less like dogs. If they are trained properly, they can walk on leash, and even fetch things like the dogs. They always roam around their masters in the house. They greet people with their head-butts.
Thus, it is seen that Savannahs are just like faithful dogs, and they are safe to be kept in the domestic environment.
Tags: Cat Breed Directory Savannah Savannah Cats cats cat kitten feline |
