A serval cat is a member of the feline family that is found in the south of the Sahara desert and is a native of the African grasslands. It is found in a variety of habitats that include in the bush, savannah, moors, and thickets. Want a Serval cat as pet? Read this:

Savannah cat or Serval Cat is a nocturnal animal that is not social and can never be completely tame even if it is hand reared from infancy. It has deeply ingrained wild instincts which can be triggered without any warning, and this portends a dangerous situation.

The Serval Cat as Pets:

The serval has a lean body with long legs and ears. Its coat has shades of orange or tan including brown or black markings. Its coat acts as camouflage when it is hunting in the tall grasses of the savannah. It is a solitary animal that can live up to 20 years. There are a subspecies of the serval which is considered as an endangered species.

Servals are kept as exotic pets although on a limited scale. Most of them can be found in zoos or large cat rescue centers. This is because they are never treated as domestic cats but as wild animals with instincts and specific needs that require a special environment.

However, a serval can learn to trust and bond with you, but it solely depends on with the individual cat. Many vets fear to have servals as their patients due to their wild nature. Just like the domesticated cat, the serval can be litter trained. When it comes to food, the serval needs more than just canned cat food; it needs raw meat, raw bones and nutritional supplements for healthy development.

Legality issues:

Before one decides to keep a serval as a pet, it is important for him to familiarize himself with the laws in his county or local area regarding the keeping of exotic pets. Since the serval are treated as wild animals, their ownership is prohibited in many places, and special licenses are required to contain one.

Given the fact that one requires a special license to have ownership of the wild cat, it is most appropriate to make a solid decision because the process of relinquishing ownership is very tough. The reason is that not so many people qualify to have such licenses.

Also See: Exotic Pets

These animals need zoo like environments and creating these conditions for them is very expensive. They require large areas to enable them to swim, hunt and run. In addition to that, they also need special diets and no cat diets will do for these cats.

Risks of Having a Serval Cat as Pet:

Servals are very affectionate cats and are especially not aggressive to humans. However, there are many risks to be considered before bringing a serval cat to your home as a domesticated pet because of their wild nature. Care should, therefore, be taken when dealing with them because of their unpredictability. Like any wild animals, they do mark their territories, and this behavior will be extended in your home, and that includes peeing on you.

Also Read: Why Exotic Pets Can Be Dangerous!
They do not usually take a new owner well and usually require a lot of domestication to get used to humans. They are also not recommended for households with children because they usually play using their claws and teeth and may deal with children like prey or toys. Due to their aggressive nature, they can turn your house into a mess by knocking things down, tearing furniture and such like behavior.

Declawing servals are, however, not recommended because they become helpless in the company of others especially when it comes to competition over food. Declawing also has the chance of causing infections to the serval, and this may lead to amputation. Their scratches are much worse than those of domesticated cats since they play and hit hard.

Given the risks involved, it is important for one to reconsider buying a serval cat as pet. In the final analysis, a serval remains a wild animal. Although some of them are affectionate, they are not so fond of changing owners and do require a lot of space to satisfy their natural instincts. One should, therefore, not be fooled that having lots of space can enable him/her to own a serval. It requires a complete understanding of the animal and a commitment to take care of the animal in its long lifespan.

Serval Cat Price:

So how much does a serval cost?

Serval Male can vary from $5,000–$9,000! Whereas Females would cost around $5,000–$9,000!

F1 Savannahs Cost:

Males Starting from $12,000
Females Starting from $12,000

F2 Savannahs Cost:

Male: $5,000–$12,000
Female: $5,000–$16,000

F3 Savannahs Cost:

Male: $2,500–$6,000
Female: $2,500–$8,000

F4 Savannahs Price:

Male: $1,500–$4,000
Female: $1,500–$5,000

F5 Savannahs Price:

Male: $1,200–$8,000
Female: $1,200–$3,500

SBT Savannahs Cost:

Male: $1,200–$8,000
Female: $1,200–$3,000

Also don’t forgot the maintenance cost which can be 500+ a month which includes diet, cage, etc!

So these were the things to consider while having serval cat as pet! Hope your doubts are cleared!

Image Source: Wikipedia
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