What is a Savannah Cat?
A Savannah Cat is a cross between an African serval and a domestic cat. Savannah's are noted for their tall and slender body and their big ears.
All Foundation Savannah's have an F and a number associated with it to indicate how many generations it is removed from its serval ancestor.
* F1 (~53% serval)
* F2 (~29% serval)
* F3 (~16% serval) ...
What is a SBT Savannah Cat?
An SBT is also bred down from the serval but it is at least 4 generations removed. While many Savannah's F1-F5 are diluted with blood of regular house cats, the SBT Savannah is a "pure" Savannah that has guaranteed only Savannah's as parents for at least 3 generations.
Why is the Savannah Cat the most desired feline?
Servals are admired for the beautiful golden coat, clear black spots, and wonderful personality. Many states do not allow private ownership of exotic cats (Servals), but do allow hybrids (Savannahs). Savannahs are somewhat smaller in size and are more manageable then a Serval. Savannahs are the largest hybrid feline available. They are quit intelligent and are excellent with other pets and children.
When can my new kitten come home?
A kitten should have at least one vaccination before travelling. This will give minimal protection for the kitten when it undergoes the stress of moving to its new home. We will give the first vaccine around 8-9 weeks, wait 2 weeks to ensure the kitten has built up the antibodies from the vaccine. This puts the kitten between 10-12 weeks before he/she is ready.
What type of litter box habits should I expect?
Savannahs, just has any other domestic cat, are usually trained by the time they leave for their new home. Male kittens do need to be neutered to prevent spraying.
Are Savannahs recognized by any cat breed registries?
Currently, the only international cat registry that accepts the Savannah for show and registration is TICA (The International Cat Association). SIMBA is working on their acceptance in two other international registries.
Are there waiting lists and what is a common waiting period?
It depends on what generation kitten you are interested in. F1 generations usually have a longer wait, while an F2 or F3 might be available or a litter on the way. Deposits are usually required to get on a waiting list.
What do these letters stand for A,B,C SBT??
The letters are part of The International Cat Association registration (TICA) code, the organization in which Savannahs are registered. They explain how many generations of Savannah matings are in the background of the particular kitten or cat.
TICA has three Registries, each of which reflects a different stage in the development of a breed. The Experimental Registry is for unaccepted breeds or for those with unknown background. The Foundation Registry is where most Savannahs are registered at this time. And the Stud Book Registry, where some Savannahs are registered, designates a pure bred cat. Cats in this registry carry the letters "SBT," the "T" meaning stud book traditional. In the case of a Savannah, it indicates studs and queens for the last three generations have been Savannahs in an SBT Savannah's pedigree.
The “A” designation simply means one parent is not a Savannah.
The Savannah breed was created by breeding the Serval to a domestic cat. The kittens from this mating carry an "A" designation, which means they are the progeny of two cats of different breeds. So all F1 (first generation) Savannahs are registered “A." And since Savannah males are not fertile until the fourth (F4) and fifth (F5) generations, all males bred to Savannah females must be “outcrosses” or non-Savannahs until a fertile male Savannah is born. While the males may be purebred from other breeds, a combination of breeds or a “domestic shorthair,” the kittens resulting from an outcross is an "A." This means you can also have an F2 A, F3 A, etc. Any mating in which one of the parents is not a Savannah results in an "A" designation.
If two "A" registered Savannahs are crossed, "B" registered kittens result. “B” means both parents are Savannahs, but the cat has at least one grandparent of a different breed.
Cross two "B" registered Savannahs and you have a “C” registered kitten. "C" tells both parents and grandparents are Savannahs, but at least one great grandparent is of a different breed.
When you cross two "C" registered Savannahs, an "SBT" results. A kitten with “SBT” in it’s registration number has three generations of Savannah to Savannah matings in it’s pedigree – parents, grandparents, great grandparents. It is impossible to have SBT kittens before the fourth generation. The SBT designation is what is needed to show in Championship Class.
The system can be a bit more complicated, however since the filial (F) generation i.e., the generation removed from the serval, works independently from the A, B, C, and SBT designations. For example, if you breed an F3 A to an F5 C, you will get a F4 B. And if an outcross was used to breed to any generation, those kittens would be "A.” That is, if an F3 C were bred to an outcross, kittens would be F4 A kittens.
Letters progress forward from the “lowest” parent’s letter. Numbers do also. Following are some basic examples of what matings will produce:
| F1 A x F5 A = F2 B Kittens |
F1 A x Outcross Male = F2 A Kittens |
| F2 B x F5 B = F3 C Kittens |
F2 B x F5 A = F3 B Kittens |
| F2 A x F5 C = F3 B Kittens |
F3 B x F5 SBT = F4 C Kittens |
| F2 B x F5 SBT = F3 C Kittens |
F4 B x F5 C = F5 C Kittens |
| F3 C x F5 C = F4 SBT Kittens |
F5 C x F5 SBT = F6 SBT Kittens |
| F4 SBT x F5 SBT = F5 SBT Kittens |
F5 B x F5 C = F6 C Kittens |
So, what does all of this mean when you are looking to purchase a kitten? That depends on why you are purchasing a kitten. It means little if you are looking for a pet. Our recommendation is to find the kitten that has the look you are seeking. If you want to show your cat, at this time it must be an F3 or further removed generation, i.e., F4, F5, etc., and it must be a "C" or “SBT.” It is the goal of most breeders to get to the SBT level in the F4 and F5 kittens so that the breed can become eligible for Championship status. As of now the breed is at Advanced New Breed status. Once enough SBT kittens are born and registered the breed will move to Championship status. Once that happens “C” kittens will no longer be allowed to be shown. So if purchasing a kitten for a breeding program keep this in mind.
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