AlphaKatzz Savannahs
AlphaKatzz Savannahs Cattery
Incomparable savannah cats and kittens
The savannah cat
First, a bit of history...
The first known Savannah cat was born on April 7, 1986, from a cross between an African Serval male and a Siamese female. She was named Savannah and her name is the origin of the beautiful breed we know today. This breed was introduced to the public via a TICA competition for the first time in New York in 1997 and officially recognized and accepted as a breed by TICA in 2001.
The savannah cat therefore shares, depending on the generation, a greater or lesser part of its genetic heritage with the African serval, which is the second fastest feline in the world, just behind the cheetah. It goes without saying that it is therefore a cat that needs exercise. It is also a very intelligent cat, and it is not uncommon to hear that several individuals are able to open doors and cupboards. Caution is therefore required for owners, who must ensure the safety of their home.
The savannah is an affectionate cat, usually very attached to its owner. It's very curious and likes to follow him and observe the activities of daily life. It's easily able to share its surroundings with other cats and also with dogs of all sizes. The savannah is a cat who has a great passion for play, whether using feather dusters or interactive games such as a fishing rod. The game is an excellent way for it to spend its energy, for a minimum of 15-20 minutes, twice a day. An exercise wheel is also a very interesting and popular environmental enrichment.
Savannah cat generations
What is the principle of generation?
We call generations the different degrees of kinship that will separate Savannah cats from their serval ancestors.
F1: The first cross between a serval and a cat is called the F1 generation. The savannah F1 is a hybrid (and not a cat) that shares 50% of its genes with the serval. It is a cat that therefore has more pronounced "wild" traits, both physically and personality-wise. The F1 hybrid is very attached to its environment and often shares a powerful bond with its human and therefore is very difficult to relocate. Some individuals may exhibit undesirable behaviors that need to be quickly reoriented, such as chewing (at a destructive level for objects) or spraying (urinate outside the litterbox). The males are sterile.
F2: When you mate an F1 generation female with a low generation male (F5 or later), you get F2 generation hybrids. The F2s have a serval grandparent. The felines thus obtained have a lower percentage of genes from the serval and therefore have slightly more diluted characteristics. They are also less likely to develop unwanted behaviors.
F3: When you mate an F2 generation female with a low generation male, you always get F3 generation hybrids. F3s have a serval great-grandparent. The dilution of the contribution of the genes of the serval therefore continues, with a lower contribution than in the F2. The personality of the F3 is therefore generally a little less spicy than the previous generations.
Hybrids of the F1, F2 and F3 generations are said to be "high generation" and are not considered domestic cats. Importing felines of these generations requires special permits (CITES) and you should know that it is illegal to import these felines from countries other than the United States. F1, F2 and F3 males are sterile.
F4: When you mate an F3 generation female with a low generation male, you get F4 savannahs. F4s are no longer considered as hybrids, but as purebred cats (and therefore in the category of domestic cats). They have a more accommodating personality than hybrids and adapt better to change. They love to play and interact with their human or family.
F5 and later: The F5, F6, F7 and later generations all look the same. There really is no difference in personality and behavior, other than the usual individual differences. They are cats with a little cat-dog side, who love to play and climb and cling to their human to sleep.
The F4 generations and the following are no longer considered as hybrids, but as purebred cats (and therefore in the category of domestic cats). F4s are often considered mid-generation, and F5s and later as lower-generation. F4 males are always sterile, but F5 and later generations are fertile. It is therefore these so-called "low generation" males that are used as breeding males. The appellation SBT means stud book traditional, and assures you that the cat's lineage has been entirely composed by savannahs for 4 generations.
F6SBT
F3C
F1A
