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Savannah Cats are beautiful, impressive cats. These exotic cats are becoming more popular with pet parents all around the US!
Have you thought about adopting a Savannah Cat? If so, then it’s important to consider all the costs that go with this cat breed. We’ve put together some information about these cats, how much they cost, and more!
What is a Savannah Cat?
The Savannah Cat is an exotic hybrid cat that is domesticated; however, these cats are a cross between a domestic cat and an African Serval. The Serval parent creates the Savannah Cat’s distinctive markings that resemble wild cats.
Savannah Cats usually weigh between 14 to 17 inches tall and weigh between 12-25 lbs. These are large kitties! And they have a life expectancy between 12 to 20 years.
These fur babies are extremely playful, loyal, and have a love of adventure. They make wonderful companions for families with kids and other pets. However, the cats do have a strong prey drive, so they don’t do well in homes with small critters such as birds, fish, rabbits, etc.
And it’s said Savannah Cats could also be a bit mischievous. They sometimes like to hide from you and then bop you when you’re not looking! They also like to climb and knock things down. But we think this sounds pretty much like a regular cat. These kitties are just larger!
Another thing to know about these cats is that they love water! They play it whenever possible. The cats are also highly intelligent and active. They require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
Savannah Cat Adoption Costs: Filial Number
The first thing to understand about the cost of a Savannah Cat is a cat’s filial number. You’ll see numbers such as “F1, F2, F3,” and so on. The filial number indicates how far the cat is removed from its closest serval ancestor.
For example, an F1 Savannah Cat is the first generation of the cross (between the domesticated cat and the African Serval). These cats can have up to 50% Serval DNA. Each generation after the F1 is bred with domestic and Savannah Cats. That means in each generation; the Serval DNA becomes more diluted. An F3 Savannah Cat is two generations from the F1 Savannah Cat. The F3 cats have a Serval great-grandparent and, thus, have a lower amount of serval DNA.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSavanah Cat Adoption Costs: Gender
Next up in consideration of how much a Savannah Cat costs is the cat’s gender. Male Savannah cats in the early generations after the cross may suffer from hybrid infertility. Males that are F4 or F5 are usually not fertile.
That means that F1-F3 generation females are more expensive (if they have breeding value) than males.
Savannah Cat Adoption Costs: Show Cat vs. Pet
With that baseline understanding of costs, we now have to consider the show quality cat vs. the pet quality Savannah Cat. Like other show animals, a Savannah Cat for show must meet certain breed characteristics. Why is this important? Because show cats cost more than pet cats. Regardless, these prices are consistent with adopting a cat from a reputable breeder.
For instance, F1 Savannah Cats are very expensive. The male can cost between $12,000 to $16,000. On the other hand, a female can cost between $15,000 to $20,000. The prices are very high because breeding F1 cats is very challenging.
It may take several attempts to breed a domestic cat and a Serval. Some of these pregnancies may end in the death of stillbirths, too. So, it’s very difficult to even find an F1 Savannah Cat to adopt. While this is true for males, it’s even more challenging to adopt a female F1. Breeders tend to hang on to these cats to use for breeding. So, F1 females are rarely sold.
The F2 Savannah Cat still has a good amount of Serval DNA. These cats are usually more domestic and social than the F1s. They also tend to be a little bit smaller. The price for an F2 Savannah Cat may vary between $4,000 to $8,000, with females being more expensive. They can go up to $9,000 and more.
F3 Savannah Cats are thought to be the best generation when it comes to these cats. They have the look of a wild cat but are usually more friendly and domesticated. From this generation on, you can have them with kids. An F3 usually costs between $1,000 to $4,000. It’s possible the males of the generation will be fertile, though not always. A fertile male will cost more than an F3 female because they have greater value for breeding.
F4 and Later Savannah Cat Adoption Prices
By the time the cats are F4, Savannah Cats may cost between $1,000 to $2,500. They still look like Servals, but they are smaller and stockier. They look more like a domesticated cats. Their temperament and personality are also more like a domestic cat’s.
From F5 on, the adoption costs of the Savannah Cat continue to drop, becoming more affordable. You may find these cats for under $1,000.
Other Costs with a Savannah Cat
Before you adopt your Savannah Cat, it’s important to have everything ready when your cat comes home. That means buying what you need in advance.
Savannah Cats thrive on commercial cat food that’s mostly made of chicken when it comes to food. This can cost a lot if the cat is large, especially because a wet diet is usually best for these kitties.
The cats also need toys and other accouterments, such as scratching posts, cat trees, and more. For larger F1 & F2 cats, it may even be necessary to build an outdoor pen. The cats need plenty of exercise and a place where they can play safely. An enclosure of this type can cost quite a bit.
Summing It Up
So, there you have it! Savannah Cats can be quite expensive to buy unless you choose an F5 or lower. In addition, they require plenty of toys and space to exercise. And they need a specialized diet. All of these things add up to the cost of having one of these beautiful Savannah Cats.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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