Cat Breeds 101: Savannah – Image To Repin / Share
Photo: Wikipedia – lic. under PD
The Savannah is a medium-sized breed of domestic cat that was initially produced by crossing a serval and a domestic cat. The first Savannah breed was developed by Judee Frank, who crossbred a Siamese domestic cat with a male serval. On April 7, 1986, the union of the two breeds resulted to the birth of the first breed of Savannah cat, which was also named Savannah.
The breed became popular in the late 1990’s but it was only in 2001 when the Savannah was registered as a new breed by the International Cat Association. The following year, the Savannah was registered as a championship breed.
The Savannah is well noted for its bold marking and dark spots. They have tall, lean and slim build, which makes them appear larger and heavier than their actual weight. As kittens, the eyes of the breed are usually blue in color, but as they grow older, the color may change to gold, brown, green or dark gray. In addition to their boomerang-shaped eyes, the breed has hooded brows which give them protection against harsh sunlight. The Savannah also possesses erect ears and striking wild look. [1]
In terms of loyalty, Savannahs are often compared to canines. Like other feline breeds, a Savannah tends to follow its masters all around the house. Some fanciers reported that the breed can be very friendly towards children and other pets at home, even dogs, but can be unwelcoming towards strangers. In fact, they may hiss or growl whenever they encounter strangers.
The breed is known to be highly active, curious and inquisitive, which makes them very prone to all sorts of trouble. Also, they are happy and confident cats which love to interact with humans. [2] The breed also fancies playing in water.
Though most of the breed are known to be friendly, there are others which remain shy until the rest of their lives. This behavior is strongly affected by their early socialization. Savannahs which were trained to socialize at an early age, through the help of positive reinforcements, are very likely to develop strong bonds with humans.
Kittens which only interact with their mother and sibling for a long period of time are likely to develop undesirable behaviors such as becoming frightened when introduced to new environments. They can also be very shy, and less trusting towards humans. Some only get out of their hiding places when the party is over.
References:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah_(cat)
[2] https://www.vetstreet.com/cats/savannah