When I first learned about Savannahs, I fell in love. I’m definitely a cat person. I was determined I was going to have one some day. But as I read more about it, I realized they might not be legal to own in all states!
What is a Savannah?
A Savannah is a cat breed recognized by the The International Cat Association or TICA for short. It was developed by breeding an African Serval with a domestic house cat. This creates the striking patterns, ear shape, and size of the Savannah. Savannahs are identified by generation to show just how close to their Serval lineage they are. An F1 Savannah would be a direct offspring from a Serval and house cat pairing. It goes on to F2, F3, F4, and so on. The further generation they are form the Serval the higher the number would be. F1 Savannahs typically have more of the size and closer resemble a Serval than other generations. This is generally speaking.
Because Savannahs are bred using a wild cat they are considered a “hybrid breed” This is important because this helps you to find out if owning a Savannah is legal in your state.
Savannahs can come in different colors from the yellowish coat with black spots, to gray with spots, to “melanistic” – all black. Savannahs are very smart and are said to have dog-like qualities. Savannahs can learn to walk on a leash, play fetch, and learn other tricks. They are known to be very loyal.
My F3 Savannah has learned to walk on a leash and play fetch so far. She follows me around the house and will sleep at the foot of my bed. Savannahs are good with families but are high energy so they need space to play and climb.
Are Savannahs Legal In Your State?
This question needs to be asked this way because every state is different. In fact, in some states, it can be different depending on your town or borough.
I live in Pennsylvania. Before I got my Savannah I did a lot of research. Savannahs can be expensive, and I wanted one for so long that I didn’t want to have my cat taken away because I failed to research for my area. As it turns out, Pennsylvania considers all generations of Savannahs a domestic cat so I could own any generation of Savannah I wanted.
Some states like Iowa only allow later generations as pets to include an F4 or further removed. While some states, like Rhode Island, do not allow Savannahs as pets at all unless you get a required permit.
The website, hybridlaw.com has a link to state information for owning hybrid cats. This would also include breeds like Chausies. Understand that these are general state laws but individual towns may have their own ordinances so it’s important to check both. For instance, New York allows later generations of Savannahs in some area but prohibit all Savannah generations in NYC.
What Happens If You Don’t Do Your Research?
Sadly, it happens. Or worse, people know but try to obtain a Savannah any way. Most reputable breeders will not knowingly sell a Savannah to someone who is in a state where it illegal to own them. People owning Savannahs can risk fines, confiscation of the animal, pets have been shot, or even jail time if they animal were to do harm. If you find yourself in this situation it’s best to consult a criminal defense attorney for advice as each state has their own laws and penalties.
Beware of Scam Breeders!
Because Savannahs are expensive pure bred cats there are plenty of scammers out there supposedly offering Savannahs (that don’t exist) for incredibly low prices. They often will steal pictures from websites or Savannah groups and create a website. You send the money and you get nothing in return! When looking for a Savannah breeder you can search sites like: the TICA website mentioned earlier and check Savannah owner facebook groups. Savannahs can run from $900 or more for a late generation (F7, F8, etc) to upwards of $16,000 for an F1. This is because often special enclosures or permits may be needed to own a Serval to breed F1s and Servals require raw meat diets. Also reputable breeders will breed ethically so there may only be one or two litters a year.
If you’re not sure if a breeder is legit, it’s best to just steer clear.
My Furry Bundle of Joy
I got my F3 Savannah from Cutting Edge Cats located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They only have a facebook page where Chris lists his Savannahs, Bengal cats, and Legend Leopards when available. I have personally met him when getting my Savannah and Cutting Edge Cats is well established as a cat breeder.
This is my F3 Savannah Malkia. A curious cat with high energy.
This post is sponsored. Any opinions expressed are my own.
