Issuu

Owner, Editor, Writer, Designer, Marketing, and Social Media:

Illustrator, Graphic Designer and Art Director:

Featured Writers:

Debra Roberts, Savannah owner, R N , and blogger

Jacqueline Luttrelle, Savannah owner and artist

Melissa Rodriguez of African Image Savannahs

Makala Johanson of Savannah Heightz Savannahs

Cindy Lowther, Savannah owner

Brenda Sato, Serval owner

Media Contributors:

Sonu Bastet of Bastet Exotics

Makala Johanson of Savannah Heightz Savannahs

Kelly Ann Bennett, Savannah owner

Cassie Carden, Serval owner

Laura Dodge Root, Savannah owner

Featured DIY: On the Cover:

Serval "Zayn" owned by Brenda Sato of Canada

FROM THE OWNER/EDITOR'S DESK

by: Debra Roberts

The first year ar as the magazine and ore breeders and experienc d our Savannah Cat obsession om Dr. Elsey's! Be sure to clic u purchase Dr. Elsey's produc you enjoy our special Serval nahs! Be sure to ead the Breed ure you'll recognize man

My husband J ding a breeder scam, a fatal d P Survivor), whom many h Luna," and love to all the FIP k of Dr Niels Pedersen of U

My goal is to write and publish informative and entertaining content from Savannah enthusiasts and experts in a whimsical, electronic, FREE publication. I combine factual, heart-warming stories melded with health and safety education The list of knowledgeable contributors sharing stories and experiences with our readers is steadily growing, so there's no lack of fabulous content to publish! Current and future owners can easily search our website to find tons of information and facts about our wonderful breed.

Savannahgans® welcomes ALL cat lovers to enjoy our content. Whether you're searching for safety, health, food, or a DIY, you'll find it in each quarterly issue and at www savannahgans com It's all FREE Your support by donations, ads, and shopping through our affiliate links not only helps with operating expenses but is also shared with the Savannah Care and Rescue Funds.

Facts About Servals As Pets by a Serval Owner

by: Brenda Sato

I’ve been a domesticated Serval owner for almost eight years With three Servals in my home fulltime, I’ve grown to love and respect these magnificent animals Servals are now my passion I’ve written a few words about what to expect when you have a Serval as a pet in your home You may contact me if you want more information at servals@hotmail com

Beautiful, wonderful Servals Servals can be an incredible pet The bond created between you, and your serval is the strongest bond you’ll ever have with an animal, FOR THE RIGHT PERSON! But, unfortunately, most people are NOT the right person

Before you get carried away researching and contacting breeders across the planet, please consider the following:

Are Servals legal in my country, state, province, and city as pets?

I own my house. (it can be complicated to rent a house with an exotic cat).

I live in a house with a yard. (Servals can’t live in a townhouse or condominium. All Strata’s have pet restrictions )

My children are old enough.

I’m financially stable and can afford all the extra costs associated with an exotic pet Food is specialized Vet bills are substantially higher, as the Serval must be sedated for most appointments

I have all the time I need to spend with my Serval to make sure they are happy.

My other pets will be fine adding a new kitten to the house Pet rodents and birds don’t do well with Servals.

If you can answer “yes” to all of the above, then you’re ready to start looking for a Serval breeder

The qualities a Serval breeder should have when looking for one are:

The breeder should have a social media presence Look for pictures and videos of the kitten being raised in the house, not in a crate, cage, or other such enclosure.

The breeder should have a clear and informative website, including testimonials from past customers

You should have free access to contact these customers easily without the breeder setting up the call. They should ask you all the questions you asked yourself. (from the list above) Most breeders will ask for proof of your address, such as a driver’s license and proof that you actually own the property

Ask the breeder where they purchased their breeding Servals from and also research that breeder. Ensure you’re not being scammed Ask on social media in the Serval groups if anyone knows this breeder If you see a Serval for sale at a meager price, it’s most likely a scam

Most breeders won’t allow home visits, so asking for a ZOOM video meeting should be totally acceptable. Confirm with the breeder that they’ll support you with advice and help with your Serval for the long run

Some breeders will ghost you the moment you pick up your kitten

Your pet Serval should be spayed and neutered before you pick up your kitten. All pet Servals must be spayed and neutered, or you don’t have a chance of having any lasting relationship with your cat A good breeder will only sell you one kitten at a time. It’s imperative that your kitten bonds with you and your family. Bonding will be impossible if they go to a new home with a sibling. If you’re planning to import a Serval from another country, the breeder should be confirming all import requirements with the appropriate authorities. (Health requirements, quarantine, age). The travel options must be reviewed and offer the least amount of stress to the kitten Make sure the breeder knows all of these details before you make any payments You’d hate to pay for the kitten in full and then find out it’s impossible to import a Serval to your country. They should have a contract you can read and sign before any funds are sent Usually, you’ll need to pay a deposit to confirm a place on the waitlist. Under no circumstances should you send any funds until you’ve signed a contract. Be wary of the breeder that’s only interested in the deposit.

In a very dedicated home, Servals can be the wonderful pet I described in the first sentence They must be spayed and neutered to avoid extreme urinating problems I have three pet Servals; two females and one male. My oldest female has perfect litter box habits (litter box with a pee pad in it ) My second female is very social and loves new people. She’ll come and get pets, a head-butt, and somehow convince them to sit on the floor with her. She’ll then lick their ears and purr, then quickly turn her butt, flip up her tail, and squirt urine onto their heads! Most people feel privileged that she likes them so much My male Serval will squirt on the fridge, and when I’m cleaning up the pee, will snatch the cloth from my hand and run away This is a game When he feels slighted, he’ll open the cupboard under the sink and squirt in all the stuff. Outside in his enclosure, he does full-on fire hose sprays I was able to train him to only spray like this outside My older female is an exception to the rule There will always be a pee issue owning a Serval. If they’re spayed and neutered, it’s very manageable Your kitten should be fully litter-box-trained before you pick him up. Again, this goes back to selecting a good breeder

I can’t stress enough that Serval kittens must h complete nutritional diets. Raw meat from the is the very worst Kittens can’t survive on prot Metabolic bone disease and intestinal issues quickly, and kittens will suffer from broken bo horrific constipation and will usually die The w diet is the best. Day-old chicks, mice, rats, qu rabbits are the most common whole prey food your breeder should be able to help you sourc

Your home must be baby-proofed when you b kitten home. Kittens must never be left alone the house. You must supply his own room or to keep him safe Like many domestic cats, S can destroy your furniture if given a chance. Y provide adequate scratch posts for this large long nails Servals of any age may eat rubber blankets, etc. that can cause an intestinal blo number one killer of Servals is intestinal block rubber. They love to chew rubber and the sur procedure to remove the rubber is costly.

Please be aware that these are just a few poi deciding to add an African Serval to your fam Servals and Savannahs are my pride and joy imagine life without them. I’m one of the few p the RIGHT PERSON to own a Pet Serval

By all means, this article is not 100% complet detail about Serval kitten ownership, so you m me if you want more information at servals@h

We held our first contest to celebrate one year in publication. The prizes were fantastic, and there were a total of seven prize winners. We'll do this again, so keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for future contest announcements!

A Timeline of the Savannah Cat Breed’s Development from 1986 to Present Day

by: Debra Roberts

The Savann n From there, it evo nah breed, gaining The International Cat Association (TICA) Breed Recognition. Without TICA s recognition, the Savannah cat was nothing more than a hybrid cat, not an actual breed Continue reading about the challenges and the visionaries who meticulously and carefully bred for a specific set of characteristics, shaping the Savannah breed to what it is today. The history is, however, not without discrepancies in some of the earlier details I’ve shared the information obtained in the most neutral way possible, with respect for the accuracy and details as they were presented

I feel it’s important for Savannah owners and enthusiasts to know the backstory of the breed’s creation and what it took to be where it is today. Special thanks to Patrick Kelley and Joyce Sroufe for the many enlightening discussions for this deep dive into early breed history and Brigitte Cowell Moyne for the endless amount of resources for achieving breed recognition and more If anyone has anything to add to the history, please contact me as this timeline is ongoing

**If referencing this article or any of its contents on another website or publication, please attribute as follows: “Source: https://www savannahgans com/blog-1/savannah-cats-breed-timeline” and email savannahgans@gmail with the website or publication where referenced

A “savanna” is the name of the habitat of the Serval in the golden plains of Eastern Africa A plain characterized by coarse grasses and scattered tree growth. (the “h” in Savannah was added later).

1986 The first Savannah Cat came when a domestic Seal Point Siamese cat and a 35lb African Serval named "Ernie" crossbred The eight-ounce kitten, originally called" Miracle," was born while under the temporary care of Judee Frank in Philipsburg, PA (a Bengal breeder). The Serval and Siamese belonged to Suzi Wood Mustacio (from Alabama), and Judee was housing the pair for Suzi during a divorce. Some sources say there was a plan to breed Ernie to Judee's female Serval, and Suzi would retain one of the offspring

Eight-ounce "Miracle" was born on April 7, 1986 This first-generation hybrid cross possessed the traits of both a domestic cat and an African Serval, having black Serval-like spots, long legs, tall ears with ocelli (silver spots on the back of the ears), and a short-medium tail length. Miracle's weight at birth and as she grew was comparable to an average serval cub of the same timespan Her rapid growth and weight gain tapered off, but she remained consistently larger than a domestic kitten of the same age and was ten pounds at six months of age. When Judee turned Miracle over to Suzi, she renamed the kitten "Savannah," and Judee never saw them again Sources say Judee didn't intentionally breed the pair and was surprised to find the new kitten and mother in a box Suzi eventually returned to pick up her cats, which included "Savannah "

Judee Frank unintentionally produced the first Savannah, an F1 (Serval "Ernie" + Seal Point Siamese = F1 Hybrid "Miracle," later renamed to "Savannah")

Suzi Wood wrote in the "Long Island Ocelot Club's Newsletter" in 1986 (LIOC): "While rumors say this type of hybrid was bred some years ago, to date, research efforts in Europe as well as here in the US have not been able to document the case For practical purposes, this kitten is considered a first of its kind as there was no comparison model or standard. They tested the new infant's hearing, sight, reflexes, and coordination at eight weeks of age All functions were excellent, as compared to general feline skills " Suzi also noted no adverse reactions to the cat flu vaccination She finished the report by stating, "This hybrid combination will be known as the Savannah." Suzi wrote two articles about "Savannah." (links in the reference section)

Suzi was interested in breeding F1 "Savannah" back to a domestic cat to produce F2's However, nothing was known about the fertility between a Savannah cat and a domestic to create such a hybrid The Bengal cat had been around for over 15 years when the Savannah Cat was firstborn. Difficulties producing the Bengal cat and the temperament inherited by the Asian Leopard cat into the first generations of Bengals likely put breeders off from wanting to try other hybrid crosses, such as the Savannah.

1989 Surprisingly, F1 "Savannah" was indeed fertile, and at 15 pounds, Suzi successfully bred her to a 13-pound male "Turkish Angora" Champion cat, Albert II. Lori Buchko of Hightstown, New Jersey, owned Albert II. The pair produced several litters of F2's (called "second-generation hybrid crosses"), but all died except one F2 female, named "Kitty " This successful breeding showed hope that the Savannah Cat could prevail as a new breed, but there was the issue of survival (The Serval's gestation period is one week longer, therefore the risk of premature kittens).

The first litter of "Savannah's" F2 kittens was born on April 5, 1989. Of the two F2 kittens, one was a male (name unknown and later died), and the other a female, named "Kitty " Lori Buchko gave (or sold) the sole surviving F2 "Kitty" to Patrick K ll

Lori Buckho and “Albert II”. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Kelley)

F1 "Savannah" aka "Miracle" "Albert II" Turkish Angora Stud Savannah and Albert's F2 kittens - one male and one female

(The above photos are from "The Feline Conservation Federation," Volume 41, Issue 5 September/October 2007, and initially published in the LIOC-ESCF July/August 1989 Newsletter, written by Suzi Wood Mustacio)

Suzi Wood Mustacio produced the first F2 Savannah kittens from her FI" Savannah," aka "Miracle."

During my interview with Patrick, he told me he first became intrigued about this possible new breed when he came across one of Suzi's articles above about F1 "Savannah " Patrick's fascination with a Serval/domestic cross started in the early 1990s after visiting a Bengal and exotic cat breeder in Tarzana, CA, Jan Giacinto While visiting Jan's home, he caught a glimpse of her Serval cat, having never before seen this type of cat. The Serval was huge in comparison to her Bengal cats. Patrick asked Jan if anyone had ever created a hybrid from a cat such as the Serval, and she said she'd "heard of someone, but they weren't worth anything " She brought Patrick's attention back to the Bengals, but it was too late He'd already begun to think about how a Serval/domestic cross could become the next breed of cats.

Because Patrick had high hopes of starting a new breed of domestic cats with a wild spotted look, he tracked down Judee and Suzi, the two women responsible for this rare Serval/domestic cross Both women thought the cross was interesting but were unsure of the worthiness of becoming a new breed Patrick's background wasn't with cats--other than reading about domestic, wild, and hybrid cats at the library. But regardless, he was obsessed and read everything he could get his hands on but was still far from being an expert Nevertheless, he felt with absolute certainty that this breed (which Suzi had already coined as the "Savannah") would be a big hit. As mentioned above, Suzi had come to forever own "Savannah" and kept her for future breeding, but Patrick did acquire from Suzi the only female kitten "Savannah" ever produced, F2 "Kitty." One female Savannah cat wasn't much to start a whole new breed with, so from there, Patrick began looking for other cat breeders to join him in pursuing the Savannah Breed. His search included breeders of Serval and Bengal cats.

"Jeanette "Jan" was a longtime breeder of exotic cats from the 1950s-1990s. She passed away in 2008 following a traffic collision in 2007 at 83. Jan is known for her expertise in all exotic cats such as lions, tigers, and jaguars. Her cats appeared in commercials, and TV shows, including Howdy Doody, the Rockford Files, and Animal Planet. She sold cats to many celebrities, and her smaller exotics were taken to schools for show and tell presentations as Jan enjoyed teaching children about exotic felines.

Patrick later ran into Bill Sroufe at an auction in Missouri where he was selling Serval kittens for his wife, Joyce Sroufe, a breeder of Bengal Cats, Servals, and Caracals Patrick stated in our interview that he had also read about Joyce through magazines called" Animal Finder Guide" and "Cat Fancy Magazine" for Bengals and began communicating with her about this new breed This trio of events brought Joyce and Patrick together to talk about the breed, and Patrick stated they talked a lot over a few years There are discrepancies during those first years of the breed development, but what is certain is the work the two did together to write the original version of the "Savannah Breed Standard" to present to the TICA Board of Directors. Both went on to become very successful and longtime Savannah breeders

1993-1995 Patrick Kelley of Figtree Felines, Philippines, went on to successfully breed "F3" Savannahs (From his F2 "Kitty") and register them with TICA He continues to breed many generations of Savannahs today

Patrick Kelley loved to draw and kept thorough journals of his breeding experiences. There are just a few pages he shared from the early 1990s

F2 "Kitty" and her granddaughter

During my interview with Joyce Sroufe, she shared her background with various wild cats and as a breeder of Bengal cats (New Horizon Bengals). She’d learned about the Serval/domestic breeding from an article in the Animal Finder Guide as well. Joyce started saving baby Servals in 1989, raising them with domestics (later generation Bengals) It took two years before any successful breeding took place in creating F1 Savannahs, and some of those early births were preemies. A few F1 females made it, but as anyone who’s ever bred F1’s know, it’s a hit and lots of misses The older the male Serval gets, the higher the chances he will kill the female he mates I‘ve shed a good many tears over the losses of domestic females and premature kittens

Joyce said no one had the facilities to properly house many exotic and domestic cats for breeding or her knowledge of the cats. She said people loved beautiful wild animals and wanted to own one, but their care often diminished into neglect. Therefore, the demand for a larger hybrid cat better suited for family living existed. That’s when Joyce’s Savannah breeding program was born

Joyce was already breeding F1 and F2 Bengals (one of the first hybrid breeds), and people loved their looks and personality. She also had several pairs of breeding Servals, making it easy to start her Savannah program, "A1 Savannahs," from the ground up with Servals, Bengals, Egyptian Maus, and Oriental Shorthairs, which is how the foundation started

Joyce added that because she lived rurally with poor internet connections, she wasn’t able to connect or keep up with much of the new breed information, often resulting in miscommunication of the facts Breeding took immense trial and error, and there was no DNA testing back in the day just good old-fashioned breeding and “see what happens ”

racehorse barns became her state-of-theart breeding facilities

Joyce’s

Bill and Joyce Sroufe

Joyce had seven sets of breeding Servals (all from different bloodlines), and no one else in the private sector was breeding them. All of the male Servals used in those early days were her Servals. They were sold as babies and raised with domestics (of the Serval’s choosing) to breed for Savannahs Today, you can see the influence of street cats (the multitudes of colors), Maine Coons (longer hair and pointed ruffed ears), Oriental Short Hairs (rat tails, cleft palates, lazy ears set too far on the side of the head), and the list goes on as to what every breed used did either for or against the breed. Not to mention the genetic weaknesses domestic cats used brought into the Savannah breed, including some bad temperaments.

In the beginning, people had no idea how quickly the Serval genetics can dilute. Joyce explained there were no fertile Savannah males in the early years, so all F1, F2, F3, and F4 females had to be bred to domestic males Breeders would then take that fertile male and start breeding back to those females hoping to get a male to breed back over your typeset 1-2-3-4-5 females. She added that you tend to lose size and type by the time you breed away from the Serval By the time you get to the F4 and F5 generations, the domestic influence can predominate

Joyce acknowledged two women who picked up in places where she had limited time: Carol Streit of C and C Savannahs and Janet Spain Rohrbaugh of A-list Savannahs Carol put together the first Savannah Rama in 2004 and was Working Group Chair appointed by TICA while in the New Breed Program.

Due to Joyce’s perseverance, faith in this breed, and extensive knowledge and skills in cat breeding, she produced more Savannahs, including many F1’s, than any breeder at the time. She was also one of the first to breed down to the later generations and produce fertile males

Joyce sold her cattery to Martin and Kathryn Stucki, who operated A1 Savannahs for about ten years in 2003. She said they’d spend a week at a time with her (roughly three months total) learning about the cats to gain an excellent working knowledge and foundation. She was still nearby to help them as questions arose. It’s unclear what exactly happened, but within a few years, they sold everything and moved The next owners were Martin and Amanda Engster, who purchased A1 in 2013 and closed in 2020.

Joyce has been retired from breeding for many years, resides in Oklahoma, and currently owns one Savannah age13, a Sphinx,14, and a Yorkshire Terrier,14.

1995 Sue Armstrong, a Bengal breeder in the San Fernando Valley California area, was contacted by Patrick (also from this area) when he was trying to find breeders to help develop the Savannah breed. Sue had been breeding early generation Bengals since 1990 and showed her cats all over the California area That’s when she learned about the Savannah and that Joyce was on board.

1995 Lorre Smith Lemire of Afrikan Savannah Cats in Tennessee was a Bengal breeder who began breeding Savannahs. Lorre met her first Serval while on a trip with a friend who was going to pick one up and purchased one herself Lorre became one of the first to breed the F1 Savannah Cat

1995 Doreen Boileau of Drinkwatercats is also an original breeder of the F1 Savannah and a pioneer in breeding Savannahs since the 1990’s when the Savannah was still experimental Doreen is a long-time holder of the Class II Florida Fish and Wildlife License and was one of the early breeders mentored by Joyce. Doreen shared the extent to which the original breeders would count on one other and share their experiences the trials, errors, tears, and the many losses that came during those first years. Doreen owns a Serval sire who produced the most F1 Savannahs in the history of the breed. He was amazing and loved all girls, breeding them all! His name is Timbuck Two of Drinkwater and has since retired This was a big deal because many Servals turned mean or only bred with one female.

1995 Gary Fulgham of Jungle Touch Savannahs started breeding Savannahs, specializing in F2’s and an occasional F7 litter.

1996 Patrick Kelley, Joyce Sroufe, and a Bengal breeder, Karen Sausman, wrote the original version of the “Savannah Breed Standard” and presented it to the TICA Board of Directors in February.

1997 Joyce Sroufe introduced the breed to the public via an exhibition at a major cat show in Westchester, New York She gave the judges their first look at a Savannah Cat. The second year, Joyce and her Savannahs were featured headliners of the show and also made television appearances and interviews by 20/20, CNN, People Magazine, and others

1998 Patrick Kelley’s website Savannahcat.com is born and still active today!

1998 Another TICA moratorium was set to halt any new cat breeds, making the Savannah breed’s future, still again, is uncertain The breeders involved started to lose hope that this beautiful new breed of cat may never become officially accepted as a legitimate breed

1999 Gary Fulgham of Jungle Touch Savannahs formed an email group on Yahoo to network with other Savannah breeders and developed a “community” of Savannah breeders to exchange information and share experiences concerning Savannah cats in particular, “F1” Savannahs This group turned out to be an excellent resource for these early breeders and became the foundation of the Savannah Cat Breed Section The group was in existence for about 15 years

2000 With the help of Leslie Bowers, executive secretary of TICA, Patrick Kelley completed the first application to get the Savannah breed accepted by TICA into the New Breed program. Patrick was, and continues to this day, instrumental in developing and promoting the Savannah Cat Breed.

2000 In September, at the annual TICA board meeting, the second moratorium ended, and the New Breed Program began. This original handful of breeders started to meet to revise and clarify the Savannah Breed Standard By October of 2000, Lorre Smith submitted the New Breed Standard to TICA, requesting the Savannah Breed advance to “Registration Only” status Through Lorre’s efforts when she was a TICA judge, the moratorium lifted, and the Savannah began its progression. It took four years before TICA was finished with their internal reorganization before the Savannah Cat Breed was finally issued formal breed recognition status this year.

2000 Margitta Graeves of Kiwanga Savannahs in Germany was one of the only breeders in Europe and a Savannah Cat pioneer, mentor, and advocate. She carefully selected her outcrosses and weeded out cats to keep those who exhibited the traits wanted in Savannahs For the next two decades, many breeders in the United States imported cats from Kiwanga Savannahs simply because her cats were so impressive in type It was worth the added bother and expense to add a cat from Kiwanga to a breeding program. Look at the pedigrees of Savannahs with superior physical type, and you’re bound to find Kiwanga mentioned Sadly, Margitta passed away suddenly in 2019 Her tribute article is here

2000-2005 Savannah International Member and Breeder Association (SIMBA). Simba was a membership dues club created by Lorre Smith Lemire. After electing their first Board of Directors, things started looking up for the breed. Once accepted for "Registration Only" status, SIMBA board members helped many breeders become TICA members and provided forms to register existing Savannahs and Servals during their first year. SIMBA grew from the original 18 breeders to 30, and Savannah breeders registered over 100 Savannahs Next, they showed their Savannahs to judges, other exhibitors, the general public, and the world Cynthia King of Kasbah Cattery was the only other SIMBA President and also ran an "introduction service" for kittens and buyers, allowing breeders who weren’t online in the early 2000s to connect with buyers more easily. SIMBA disbanded in 2005. Doreen Boileau of Drinkwater cats drew the cat in the middle of the logo

2001 TICA assigned the Savannah cat to "Registration Only" status that February, a big step for the Savannah breed The original eighteen Savannah breeders began to register their Savannahs and help other new breeders become TICA members. In October, the Savannah breed unanimously became accepted for exhibition, meaning any Savannah cat of the F3 generation or later could be exhibited in the show halls

The TICA board accepted the Savannah Breed for “Registration”. The Savannah comes in many different colors and patterns; however, TICA Breed Standards accept only spotted patterns with specific colors and color combinations. The Savannah's coat must have a spotted pattern to be accepted by the TICA breed standard. Non-standard patterns and colors include rosettes, marble, snow (point), blue, cinnamon, chocolate, lilac (lavender), and other diluted colors derived from domestic sources of cat coat genetics.

2001 Brigitte Cowell Moyne of Kirembo Savannahs and Kristine Alessio of Gattobello Savannahs and both from California have a unique partnership in their breeding efforts Brigitte purchased her first Savannah in 2001 In 2003, after much education and research, she bought her first breeding Savannah. To make her small program viable since her queens live as house pets, Brigitte partnered with Kristine to co-own and share studs Brigitte started showing Savannahs in 2003 and served as a mentor to new breeders and those preparing for their first cat shows Brigitte moderates many Savannah groups, and she and Kristine are involved with Savannah rescue efforts since 2003. Brigitte's Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in the human field has helped her research feline health issues and speak in detail with veterinary professionals and feline geneticists when needed

2001 Janet Spain Rohrbaugh heard about the Savannah cat in 1999 and became intrigued to own one In 2001, she got her first F1 Savannah and started to exhibit outside of show halls, discussing and answering questions about the Savannah Cat. Janet later bought a lowergeneration Savannah to take to shows After showing in the U S and abroad, she started her breeding program and began to educate the public and work to protect our breed, especially to change the laws that ban Savannahs.

2002 Sue Armstrong of Amara Savannah Cats (a former Bengal breeder Patrick approached in 1995) bought her first two "F1" girls and an "F2" girl from Joyce She purchased her first Serval male and produced F1 kittens She said: "This wasn't an easy thing to do, but she had great help from Joyce and another breeder, Grace Lush, in Canada " Sue saved the many writings received from Grace with details such as the incubator temperature, the correct humidity, and a ton of other breeding information

2002 The first show to include the Savannah Breed was held in Oklahoma City that May.

2003 Savannah Cat Rescue (SVR) was founded as a volunteer service (not a brick and mortar) by Savannah breeders: Kristine Alessio and Brigitte Cowell Moyne with a core group of volunteers across the United States and Canada The mission of SVR is to rescue, find fosters, and rehome surrendered Savannah cats and provide education to the public about the Savannah Cat breed

2004 Kelly Sheppard of Wyldthingz in California started with one F4 female Savannah. Very few people knew what a Savannah was, and she thought showing cats was a "silly cat lady thing" until she discovered the fun! Clad in various patterns of cheetah prints and big dreams, Kelly started to show her Savannah in the "New Breed." As a new breed, it was essential to support one another, and everyone knew each other Savannahs had a high bar, and there was a hybrid prejudice in the cat world Kelly's F6 "Bezus" was the first Savannah to get a "final" at a TICA Annual, the biggest show of the year with the largest competitive classes It wasn't long before Bezus earned the "Supreme" title, the first female Savannah to do so. (second photo attribution: Diana Starr of Starlight Photography)

“Cat shows were very important because that’s how people could learn about breeds. The organizations that hold shows are the arbiters of what is a breed and what is a designer mutt. Shows educate the public, and they also aid in breed development. Comparing your Savannah to the best Bengals, Ocicats, and Maus show they have a distinct look. Showing cats is really important if you breed later generations”.—Brigitte Cowell Moyne.

2004 Savannah-Rama is an event held at select TICA cat shows, with the first being in Kalamazoo, MI. With the show management's permission, the purpose was to showcase and promote the Savannah Breed. As a new breed still in development, only F3 and later generation Savannahs were eligible for show in a judging ring However, a Savannah-Rama allowed Savannahs of ALL generations to exhibit the Savannah-Rama fun ring/show hall. It was important as a new breed to demonstrate how the Savannah was progressing toward "Championship" status, educate breeders, judges, and other interested individuals, and illustrate the breed standards Brigitte Moyne of Kirembo Savannahs stated, "they'd have 15-20 Savannahs from F1-F5 and SBT and all standard and non-standard colors. The judges would handle the cats for the spectators and these drew a large crowd and award a range of things such as best ears, best tail, best of generation, and Savannah King and Queen The awards were fancy rosettes or trophies. Carol Streit (pictured below) came up with the first Savannah-Rama idea and contributed the first set of trophies "

2005 Hybrid Pride became an entity with Patti Struck, Tressa Green, and Linda Swartwout being the key people and still a great resource today! (Hybrid Law has since replaced hybrid Pride) In Texas, Kate Davis of Bespotted Cattery collated every state’s laws on hybrid ownership, and Patti Struck managed it. It became imperative to rescue Savannahs and look out for legislative issues affecting the breed

2005 The Savannah Breed Section welcomed a new Working Group Chair, Carol Streit of C&C Savannahs, appointed by TICA Carol undertook this task to represent the will of the entire Breed Section and ensure that breeders and pet owners worked cohesively. With Carol, The Breed Section earned a leader who guided decisions to continue developing the Savannah breed.

As of August 21, 2005, there were 1,165 Savannahs registered with TICA.

2006 The Canadian Cat Association issued the Savannah cat formal Registration AND Exhibition status

Brigitte Cowell

Alessio.

2006 Sue Armstrong of Amara Savannah Cats in Kentucky, breeds beautiful F1’s and has been involved with Savannahs and Bengals for over 25 years Her efforts produced cats that have helped shaped the breed into what it is today Sue’s two male Servals both reached the age of 15. “Falkor,” the father of all her F1 girls, recently passed (2021). Her other Serval “Beamer” is still with her, but he only ever loved one girl and produced just one kitten Sue states, “the elusive F1 can be incredibly hard to produce”.

Back row: Ruth Hahne, Kate Davis, Nancee Jonker, Sandy Hale, Cynthia King, Kim Hoffman, Carol Streit, Donna Lawver, unknown. Front row:

Moyne, Kristine

2007 The trend of Savannah to Savannah breeding showed that 70% of new registrations registered were Savannah to Savannah pairings

2009 Paige Dana of Agato Savannahs in Connecticut became involved in the Savannah community She bought her first breeding cat in 2010 to start her home-based cattery and had her first litter in 2012. Paige showed her first Savannah, a now 8year old Servaline (ticked coat pattern), in the Household Pet (HHP) category and started showing her Savannahs in 2012 Paige operated booths at "Meet the Breeds" in NYC and designed posters, brochures, and leaflets for TICA and the Savannah breed Paige is a huge advocate who fights the anti-breeder legislation that continues to threaten the Savannah existence both domestically and internationally for the right to own and to legalize Savannah cats in states where they're restricted and to show the extremists that they are not wild cats. Paige owns several Savannah Facebook groups, designed the Hybrid Law and Savannah Breed Section websites, and is a long-time Savannah Rescue member and our current Breed Chair.

2010 Savannah-Rama Santa Clara CA

Judge Emeritus Kay DeVilbiss and red tabby/white F1 of Trish Savannahs "Wilson"

Walking jacket for tallest domestic cat, F2 Savannah Island's "Trouble", owned by Debbie Sue Cary

Nicole Kocon with F5 SBT Kiwanga "Einstein"

Kay DeVilbiss looks at "Trouble"

2011 The TICA Savannah Breed Section voted to advance the Savannah Breed from “Advanced New Breed” to “Championship Status” to be effective May of 2012 and join the 55 other breeds TICA judges were both supportive and cautious about this new breed, with concerns of sound health, traits, defects, and intent for the new breed.

2011 Savannah-Rama TICA Annual, Philadelphia, PA

Joyce Pierce (Fazio cat jewelry), Kelly Sheppard (Wyldthingz), Dawn Beitzel (Hits the Spot), Brigitte Cowell Moyne (Kirembo), Kristine Alessio (Gattobello).

2012 TICA accepted the Savannah Cat as an official “Championship Breed,” its highest level of breed recognition.

Pam Flachs (Clos du Chat) holds a kitten for the Savannah-Rama being judged by Francine Hicks

The TICA Breed Stages Explained

1.Experimental - is purely for ancestry tracking purposes. This type of registration doesn't mean the breed is recognized or accepted by TICA.

2. Registration - Only implies TICA agrees to provide registration facilities for the development of the breed. There's no explicit or implied guarantee TICA will accept the breed for Championship at any time in the future The application must be approved by both the Genetics and the Rules Committees. Following the presentation of the breed to the TICA board, the board then votes on whether to advance the breed to “Registration Only” status.

3. Preliminary New Breed (PNB) - requires at least one year since the breed's acceptance for "Registration Only" status. The application must be approved by both the Genetics and the Rules Committees After presenting the breed to the TICA board, the board then votes on whether to advance the breed to PNB status.

4 Advanced New Breed (ANB) - requires at least one year since the breed's acceptance for PNB status. The application must be approved by both the Genetics and the Rules Committees. After presenting the breed to the TICA board, the board then votes on whether to advance the breed to ANB status.

5. Championship Breed - requires that at least one year since the breed's acceptance for ANB status. The application must be approved by both the Genetics and the Rules Committees. After presenting the breed to the TICA board, the board then votes on whether to advance the breed to "Championship" status.

It took twelve years to go from "Experimental" to "Championship Breed" status, the longest in breed history, next to the Serengeti, which is still in the "Advanced New Breed" status (as of 2021).

**The Savannah went from "Registration Only" to "Preliminary New Breed," to "Advanced New Breed," then back to "Preliminary New Breed" again—likely a first, before advancing again to "Advanced New Breed" and finally…." Championship Breed."

2012 Brigitte Cowell Moyne of Kirembo Savannahs was elected as the first TICA Savannah Breed Chairman.

2012 Paige Dana designed and developed the Savannah Cat Chat Forum, which has over 4900 members and also, a Facebook Group and spent the prior two years helping Savannahs, Bengals, and Chausies become legal in Connecticut

2012 A1Savannahs “Lightening” of AList Savannahs owned by Janet Spain Rohrbaugh became TICA’s first Supreme Grand Champion cat

—2013 was the first year the breed was eligible for International Breed Awards. Kirembo Zarina Isoke “Zari” F5SBT was Best Kitten

2014 Mike and Sandy Hale’s “Halestone Midnight Hunter” was not just the “Best Alter” but also the 20th best “International Best Alter” award. Hunter followed up the next year to an even bigger achievement, our first “International Winner” across all breeds of cats all over the world.

2017 AList Savannahs "Midnight Jas," owned by Janet Spain Rohrbaugh, earned the TICA Lifetime Achievement Award, which means eligible cats must have received at least one Top 25 International award as a kitten, cat, or alter and two International or Regional top 25 awards as a kitten, cat, or alter (Photo attribution Diana Starr of Starlight Photography)

2018 The Savannah Cat Care Fund (SVCCF), established by Paige Dana, is an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit organization providing financial assistance throughout the United States to Savannah cat owners who can't afford emergency care for their Savannah cat SVCCF financial assistance applies to all illnesses and injuries requiring immediate emergency or urgent care. The fund started to prevent Savannah cats from being euthanized or surrendered when owners couldn't pay the veterinary bills. This fund has been years in the making, and as our breed grows, so do its needs

—2021 Doreen Boileau of Drinkwater Cats is currently working with Florida, teaching Wildlife officers the difference between F1 Savannah and pure Servals. Doreen state's there is a massive problem in the U.S. with Servals entering illegal homes under the guise of an F1 Savannah

2021 Paige Dana of Agato Savannahs fought TICA in its quest to stop registering new F1 Savannahs and the fight was a win! Paige continues to work with a committee on this issue to come up with a solution

2021 The current Savannah Breed Committee: Paige Dana, Brigitte Moyne, Patti Struck, Heather Jackson, Donna Lawyer, Katrin Albertsmeyer, Siyuan (Helen) Sun

2021 The current Savannah Cat Rescue team members are Brigitte Cowell Moyne, Kristine Alessio, MaryJo Morrison, Paige Dana, Pam Flachs, Heather Jackson, Teresa Adebahr, Kathleen McGown, Stacee Dallas, John Popp, Danielle Aston, Sue Marzonie.

2021 A1 Savannahs Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other unforeseen circumstances, A1 has ended its breeding program However, the website will remain available with a substantial amount of breed information and keep the A1Savannahs Legacy alive

In 2021 there are 21,248 registered worldwide.

Savannah-to-Savannah pairings are now the norm and using outcrosses is considered less than desirable. There are no longer any permitted domestic outcrosses for the Savannah breed since TICA “Championship Status” has been achieved Previously, domestic outcrosses for the Savannah Breed permissible in TICA were: The Egyptian Mau, the Ocicat, the Oriental Shorthair, and the Domestic Shorthair. According to the TICA breed standard, outcrosses that are "nonpermissible" include the Bengal and Maine Coon cats These nonpermissible breeds can bring many unwanted genetic influences to the Savannah Outcrosses are no longer needed because many fertile Savannah males are available for breeding, including F5 males and below, with the very rare occasional F4 being fertile. Using a Savannah cat with the Serval to produce F1s maintains the breed “type” as possible

Today, Savannah catteries exist in Europe, Asia, Mexico, Russia, Canada, and the United States However, the Savannah breed is still considered “young” by feline breeding standards

There are many people who determinedly and selectively bred down generations to produce wonderful "purebred" Savannahs. These cats are what are called the SBT Savannah (Stud Book Traditional). This is the cat fancy term for” purebred”, where all three generations of the pedigree only have that breed.

**This document is an ongoing work in progress and will continue to be updated as new (or old) information is received

Other acknowledgments and those unavailable or contact-pending for an interview in alphabetical order:

Connie Cutbirth of Amore Cattery is one of the first 20 Savannah Cat breeders, producing F2 and F3 kittens.

Pam Flachs of Clos du Chat is the second Savannah Breed Chair, a valued member of Savannah Rescue, and runs the Savannahs Lost and Found Facebook group. She shows regularly in the Great Lakes Region.

—Nicole Greig of Wagati Cattery was crucial as an early breeder, and her cats appear in many pedigrees,” According to Brigitte Moyne. Gary Fulgham also said, “Wagati Savannahs used to breed many years ago. Nicole was producing some of the best of the best Savannahs out there”

Grace Lush from Canada, stopped breeding Savannahs many years ago and moved to Columbia where she owns a coffee farm and also works to save the Margay, a small wild cat native to Central and South America

Meryl Peek of Ivory coast Savannahs (Retired) Ivory coast can be found in some pedigrees as she worked hard producing many foundation cats Merry’s work, early work in developing fertile lower generations, shouldn’t be forgotten

Joy Peel worked closely with Lorre Smith at all the early shows Her “Joykatz Savannahs” were also important in the early days as she had a good number of F1 females to breed from.

Eva Rubin of TicWildside Cattery, Sweden, produced some of the first fertile males after A1 Savannahs and along with Margitta Graeves of Germany, some of which were imported to the U.S.

Patti Struck of Jasirisana Savannahs

Serval Facial Development Over One Year

Courtesy of: Makala Johanson of Savannah Heightz Savannahs

7-year-old F5 Zombie of Kirembo Savannahs owned by Kelly Ann Bennett & Megaspotz Savannahs wishes everyone a Happy July 4th!

Reputable Breeding and the Pledge of Ethics

by: Melissa Rodriguez, Savannah breeder California

O remind ourselves of the re we take when we become a br at that Some subjects regarding th attention and to be addressed

It seems that more and more cats appear from unregistered litters The real question is, why aren't breeders altering their kittens before sending them to their new homes, especially when there's no intent to improve upon the breed? We must protect our lines when sending an unaltered kitten, not of breeding quality, to a new home In certain situations where the breeder can't alter the cat before leaving for its new home, please practice due diligence and follow up with the buyer to ensure they intend to alter the kitten Some buyers will claim they want the kitten to live a "natural life " That's where we, as breeders, must explain that it isn't cruel, nor inhumane, to alter animals Altering the cat can decrease their risk for certain diseases and infections. And a bonus, early spay or neuter (ESN) could result in a bigger cat, a trait many buyers favor If your buyer insists on receiving an unaltered kitten, this might indicate they intend to breed the cat The breeder should take caution against this red flag and proceed to find another buyer.

The second subject I'd like to address are breeders that auction or offer kittens in giveaways. Not only is this behavior inappropriate, but it's highly unethical A breeder has no control over what kind of home it'll live in with a giveaway. Our kittens aren't like makeup offered by an influencer or a piece of clothing signed by a celebrity This cat, being made a promo item, is a living, breathing being. If you have issues finding a home for your cat or kitten, lower the price! I can't speak for other breeders, but I'm

appalled by the thought of a kitten placed through a contest Breeders work immensely hard at perfecting our lines. Is it ethical for someone to buy a cat from my line after gaining my trust, only to turn around and offer it as a promo item? All for a small gain in business and followers?

Last but not least, breeders and pet owners are calling the Savannah breed "wild animals." Breeders work diligently to identify this breed as "domestic " Using the term "wild animals" to describe our breed creates fear, and that fear is what gets our cats outlawed It's not the type of publicity we want nor need! This issue gives the Savannah breed a bad reputation and appearance. Breeders, please stop calling these kittens "cubs " The word "cubs" is yet another reference to actual wild and big cats, which I cannot stress enough, is not what a Savannah is What is our breed coming to? What impression are we trying to give to our buyers? And when did breeding Savannah cats become a marketing game with taboo selling tactics? As breeders, we have a responsibility to uphold a standard and work with integrity.

Here are a few basic breeder rules:

Screen your buyers and make sure they have a safe home and environment for a cat. Ensure that your potential pet buyer has the intention of being a forever home. If you sell a cat as a breeder, be sure the buyer understands the basics and that it's in the breed's best interest rather than for financial gain

Don't sell unaltered cats to just anyone Get a feel for your buyer and pay attention to how they approach the breed. For example, when some people see Savannahs, they immediately think it's a business opportunity because of a higher than the average price tag. Issues begin when the buyer no longer cares for your contract, the breed's best interest, or the kittens Additionally, rescue cats should never be sent out unaltered.

Don't be "kitten blind " Stop selling breeding cats that have unfavorable physical & temperament traits to new or experienced breeders. Be honest with yourself on the quality aka type and resist the temptation to make extra money selling every kitten with breeding rights Even if they're first-generation, they may not belong in a breeding program. If you don't plan to improve the breed, you have no business being a breeder. By all means, if you genuinely feel the lines behind the cat will make lovely kittens, it's understandable Please don't sell them to new or inexperienced breeders, but instead, try the kitten within your program. Our kittens are a direct representation of our catteries, so we must take pride in what we offer Doing so could set a new breeder up for failure with undesirable kittens and a vicious cycle of selling non-breeder quality cats to new breeders Not every kitten will be perfect, but you should pass only the best into a breeding program.

To comment on or share the web version of this article, click here.

Located in Washington and Nevada, we're a small in-home TICA registered breeder specializing in producing unique purebred F1A, F2B, F3C, and F4 and F5 SBT Savannah kittens with a wild majestic look of their ancestors. Our cats are bred to develop the Savannah breed standard further, emphasizing large ears, triangular faces, long bodies, and legs with a majestically bold spotted pattern Additional generations to come in future breeding.

Available kittens and an upcoming litter of F3, and F4 Won’t likely have an F5 litter till January

25-Year-Old F1 Savannah Cat "ROCKSTAR" Has More Than Earned His Name

By: Cindy Lowther, Savannah Owner, West Virginia

I've always been a bit of a "Cat Lady" and become familiar with Savannah's in the ea finding them intriguing I'd brought two domestic cats into my relationship when I married, but my husband, Matt, wasn't a cat lover. However, he understood us to be a package deal and came to like the cats more than he'd care to admit, even today My domestic cats lived to the ripe old ages of 16 and 20, and we had a wonderful life with them Matt never failed to remind me that he didn't want more cats once they passed on, but I couldn't fathom my life without cats. So when they both passed, there was about one year without cats and it was probably the longest year of my life

We found out in the Spring of 2010 that I was expecting our first baby and were thrilled. But, sadly, I couldn't carry to full-term I was off work after the miscarriage when I received an email from Savannah Cat Rescue (SCR), which at that point, I'd been on their email list for over three years. This email spoke to me, being I was so sad about our loss, and it was the perfect time for a diversion

Matt came home and saw the open email where two F1s were available for adoption, needing rehoming together, and he asked about their story I explained, and he said, "Well, you applied, right"? I replied, "You said no more cats." He looked at me and said, "I think you need those cats." He was right. I DID need them… oh how I needed them. So I anxiously applied.

I received an email stating I wasn't chosen to adopt those two but advised me of an older F1 male recently surrendered back to his breeder, Nicole Greig of Wagati Cattery This boy was a product of a marbled Bengal and a Serval I was very excited to explore this option; however, a bit uneasy when I'd learned he was a senior cat. I had years with my previous cats, and the thought of taking in a cat that may not have long to spend with us was concerning I also worried he might not be “adoptable,” and others might be apprehensive about taking on an elderly cat. It made me rethink making him part of our family.

I discussed it with Matt, and he was very supportive of applying for this senior cat as he'd not seen me as sad as I'd been those weeks after our pregnancy loss. I'm pretty sure if a giraffe or elephant were up for adoption

he'd have agreed if he thought it might bring back m smile. So I contacted Wagati Cattery and applied to the old senior boy a home.

I remember Nicole Greig advising me of his age an she hoped his new home would offer him some "qu last few years" as he was nearing 14 years old Aft much correspondence, Nicole chose us to give this home That was 11 years ago! Eleven incredible ye with this amazing boy, and we look forward to more energetic and lovable and absolutely a perfect fit fo lives He'll be 25 on his next birthday! Most people shocked at his age as he doesn't seem to have any he's elderly The breeder advised me that his push when adopted was a rarity He's one of the first Savannah's ever bred when the breed first started. moves a little slower, takes the stairs one at a time longer leaps in a single bound, sleeps longer, and vision has started to fail. Despite all of those things boy is still quite remarkable I often wonder what a handful he must've been as a kitten, knowing what handful he was as a 14-year-old adult! Even now, a approaches 25, it's impressive how much spunk he has.

In the days leading up to bringing him into our hom prepared a small area and implemented a slow introduction into our home to not overwhelm him However, he had other plans. The very first night after we got him settled in, while we sat in the living room discussing him and still in awe of this amazing creature, out of nowhere, we hear the door open, and out he comes We then discovered his skills of opening any door and better understood what the original owner meant by his inability to keep him from escaping; this being one reason for his surrender We knew the first night we had some challenges, but he settled in amazingly well. It's like he knew I'd waited my entire life for him He was energetic, unruly, but lovable and very social. He proved to be demanding when hungry or if we weren't giving him attention when he wanted it He was likely going to give a love bite, more of a pinch with his teeth. It didn't take long to know this guy was going to run the house, which was ok with us. My non-cat-loving husband was quite smitten as well and agreed our new cat was definitely in charge.

The cat was large and in charge and stunning, but his name left something to be desired as it was a very odd name and didn’t suit him at all…but should we change it? Will a cat that old adapt to a new name? We started calling him the new name, and he responded enough for us to make it official and buy the ID tag His new name and a fitting name would now be "Rockstar."

"Rockstar" would prove to be the perfect name as we saw his personality and antics In true Rockstar fashion, he could trash a room like a partying Rock Star, stay up all night and sleep all day, and had a following of fans as everyone that meets him sees how special he is He's never known a stranger, and when he enters a room, and everyone takes notice

In his early days, we had to spend much effort securing the home as he was the most intelligent animal I’d ever seen. He’d watch everything we did and learn exactly how things worked. He even attempted to open windows once he saw how they operated. I have teeth marks on windows, doors, and doorknobs throughout our home He also learned how to use the toilet merely by his observations He had a toy box full of toys and loved his flying feathers on wands and playing fetch. However, sometimes, he’d play at 3:00 a.m. He’d make a chuff sound over and over to get our attention, and when that didn't work, he'd start throwing things into the bed If no reaction, he'd go into the bathroom and open and close the vanity cabinets, slamming the doors and make such a commotion, he’d certainly get us up. Matt sometimes could sleep through this. I’d lie there awake waiting to see what he might do next He was truly entertaining even in the middle of the night I’ll admit he was and still is a bit spoiled, but I wouldn't change a thing. Some sleepless nights were worth the entertainment and joy he’s brought to our home. We finally learned to wear him out about 11:00 p.m., and that buys us some extra sleep We even attempted locking the door to keep him out, but he'd shake the door until it seemed like it was coming off the hinges.

One instance, he woke us up banging something up and down the hallway making a ton of noise, only to discover it was a small bottle of liquor from a gift basket. Then a few nights later, after he attempted his usual methods of getting our attention to no avail, he jumped on the desk and started banging the keyboard

He’d discovered the shortcut to the music library and woke us up blaring ACDC "Hells Bells," which I might add from a dead sleep is rather disturbing We laughed about his Rock Star-like week Finally, we had to shut down the computer at night as he discovered how fast we jumped out of bed. He did this every night if one of his other antics didn't work

A few years later, we had the pleasure of adopting another male F1, Sultan, who we thought might be a good partner in crime After much patience and effort, we successfully merged them that’s another story the merging of two F1 rescue males! Sultan and Rockstar became the best of friends, as I’d hoped. Of course, it helped the middle-of-the-night play sessions, as they had each other, which finally gave us some muchneeded sleep

I genuinely think having another cat with him has contributed to his long life They enjoy each other's company, but they play hard and rough at times. Then, minutes later, they’re grooming each other or curled up together napping. I think the younger cat, Sultan, who’s now 15 years old, has helped Rockstar get up and move at times when he may not feel like it My beautiful Rockstar is showing his age a bit, and his once beautiful eyes are cloudy and not working as well, but he’s still very active.

I pursued options to help his vision, but the vet felt it’d be too stressful and dangerous to attempt to correct due to his age. He still carries himself with confidence and runs this house He still has his favorite toys he carries around but doesn't fetch as he used to, nor are there leaps for flying wands He’s still quite vocal and manages to find every roll of toilet paper in the house or cardboard to chew up…and that's okay If he has the desire to be ornery and active He most certainly shall be given that freedom to do so. That's what we love most about him. We discovered early on with broken lamps, speakers, vases, furniture, etc , that our "stuff" wasn’t as valuable as him. So we learned to rearrange, and if we valued it, it was up to us to secure it So I've often said if you’re “high-maintenance” and find value in ”things” more than your pets, please rethink becoming a Savannah owner.

Rockstar and Sultan have a room of their own and lots of stimulation in our large home. One of their favorite perks is their bridge that goes across our great room They enjoy looking down upon their kingdom We also tend to call our half bath the "Boys Bathroom" as this is the toilet they choose to use from the bathroom options they have.

We’re so grateful to share our home with these spectacular cats, and they’ve brought us much joy. Rockstar and Sultan both came to us after having other owners, but you’d never know they ever had another life before this one I saw a sign once that said something along the lines of “working hard to give their cats a better life ” I'd have to say that's been our sentiment; however, we aren't joking about it. We’re working this summer on a new project to add to their lives It's the least we can do for our fur babies, especially this year, to celebrate Rockstars' 25th year of life. I'm excited to get it completed. It's funny that both were "rescues," but I also feel they were the rescuers because they add so much love and joy to our home. I’m beyond grateful for that opportunity eleven years ago to adopt this senior cat and so happy the "few" years the breeder thought we’d have with him turned out to be much longer. We never stop admiring his beauty and appreciating his big personality, the need to be the center of attention, and most importantly, "Rockstar" was a perfect and wellearned name.

To comment on or share the web version of this article, click here

DIY: Building Stairs For Your Senior Cat

by: Laura Root, Savannah Owner

Several months ago, I realized that our senior kitty, Yedeed (a Red Abyssinian), was beginning to have difficulty getting up onto our bed by himself. I began searching for pet stairs, and while some were inexpensive, they were also fairly unattractive. So, to the drawing board, I went! I searched in Chewy, Etsy, Amazon, Woodworkers Journal, and virtually anything else to get ideas about the size and construction methods I ended up building something so very complicated; there was NO WAY I would be able to break it down as a DIY for Savannaghans! (Photo included of the Beast Stairs) The good thing about my first staircase is that they are big enough that Ascher (F2, 30#) uses them daily

In rethinking my plans, I decided to construct a very simple staircase that would be fairly easy for someone with just a few shop tools available I redesigned the plans to include only three 6” steps and kept the width at 16”, resulting in the final dimensions being 18” tall x 18” deep x 16” wide These dimensions are adjustable to your pet’s needs (and the height of the object you want them to access!)

Some plans I found complicated things with adding extra supports on which the treads would rest. However, I thought that was excessive for a pet less than 30 pounds might use Other options also included a “bed” in the back or storage drawers for toys or treats within the stairs themselves (I tried both of those options with the Beast, I realized several months ago that our senior kitty, Yedeed (a Red Abyssinian), was beginning to have difficulty getting up on our bed by himself I began searching for pet stairways, and while some were very inexpensive, they were also fairly unattractive. So, to the drawing board, I went! I searched in Chewy, Etsy, Amazon, Woodworkers Journal, and virtually anything else to get ideas about the size and construction methods. I ended up building something so very complicated; there was NO WAY I would be able to break it down as a DIY for Savannaghans! (Photo included of the Beast Stairs) The good thing about my first staircase is that they are big enough that Ascher (F2, 30#) uses them daily

Some plans I found complicated things with adding extra supports on which the treads would rest. However, I thought that was excessive for a pet less than 30 pounds might use. Other options also included a “bed” in the back or storage drawers for toys or treats within the stairs themselves (I tried both of those options with the Beast, and it really came out well, but far, far too much “stuff” going on )

I had some ½” Baltic Birch that wasn’t of a suitable size for any of my upcoming projects, so I just drew 6” treads and risers on two pieces that would become the sides of the box. I used a bandsaw, but a jigsaw would work just as well and carefully cut on my pattern lines The treads and risers were taken from other scraps of a suitable size

Once I had cut all of the pieces to size (see the cut list below), sanding all (6!) sides were done, including (especially) the edges, as the sides of the treads and risers would be exposed and Baltic Birch actually has some nice “grain” going on in the exposed ends; making them smooth and a little rounded over adds some interest to the stairs, especially if you don’t stain or paint, and only apply a sealing top coat (which is what I did for these). Then I began gluing with the bottom riser. You never have enough clamps, but I not only used clamps as I progressed, but I also used an air-pinner to secure the treads to the sides – call it the “belt and suspenders approach ” The second piece I glued/pinned was the bottom tread – it should cover the top edge of the riser you just installed and butt up to the 90-degree corner for the second riser I suggest letting the glue on these first two pieces cure before proceeding to the middle tread and riser. Once the glue has set, repeat the process for the middle and then upper steps, using the treads to cover the top edges of the risers and tightly butting the back of the treads up against the sides The top thread should be flush in the back with the rear of the sides

Lastly, I inserted two stringers, Baltic Birch, across the back –both at the top and down at the bottom. These will provide some strength and prevent things from being able to twist over time and use

When all of the glue has dried, lightly sand to get any glue seepage off the edges This is important if you plan on staining; painting gets the wood smooth; for these stairs, I sprayed two layers of topcoat, sanding the sides and the risers to smooth between coats. I did not sand the treads because I wanted them to be almost “rough” so any pet using them would not slip You can choose to add some sanded sealer to the top of the treads or even scrap carpet, ensure a safe surface for your babies! In Memorium ~ Yedeed, Beloved Friend 08/09/2006 04/15/2021

Equipment List:

Bandsaw or jigsaw

Circular saw

120 Grit Sandpaper or Orbital Sander with 120 Grit

Pinner

Wood Glue

Clamps (lots)

Stain/Paint/Topcoat/Sealer

Optional: Sanded sealer or carpet

Cut List:

Two pieces of ½” thick wood of your choice, at least 18” x 18”

Risers:

A - 6” x 16”

C/E – 5-1/2” x 16”

Treads:

B/D/F – 6-1/2” x 16”

Stringers:

2 x 2” wide x 15” long

To comment on or share the web version of this article, click here.

What You Need to Know About Adding a Serval to Your Home as Pet or Breeder

by: Makala Johanson, Savannah Breeder and Serval Owner, Washington and Nevada

Servals are exotic cats indigenous to Africa. Servals have also become an ncreasingly popular exotic pet based on their exotic nature, size, and majestic ooks However, many people fail to fully comprehend or consider that Servals re still wild animals, even when bred and raised in captivity. They require a articular environment, diet, vitamins, enrichment, and enclosures Many tates, counties, and cities require special ownership permits and legal ocumentation of import and export history. Permit requirements depend on ocal and federal departments such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). It can take everal months and even a year-long process requiring annual or biannual site nspections and approvals

Servals should come from a legitimate breeder who knows their cats and ittens personally and can provide complete health records. One should never urchase from a broker who buys and flips exotic animals and knows no prior istory of the kitten Depending on the Serval breeder's location, a USDA cense to breed African Servals may be required. Research is crucial, and as a uyer, you should verify you're not purchasing an illegal Serval Unfortunately, ome pet Servals are rehomed to licensed rehabilitation centers after purchased because buyers realize they've become more than they can handle or house due to maturity behaviors Servals around the age of two develop personality and behavioral changes, often negatively tolerated by under-educated and under-equipped owners Rehoming an adult or juvenile Serval is an arduous task since Servals bond with their human from an early age When considering one as an exotic pet, please don't take it light-heartedly.

Raising and owning a Serval has been an exciting, entertaining, yet serious experience. As a breeder at Savannah Heightz, our one-year-old Serval stud

Tahfari isn't only our exotic pet but a core member of our Savannah Heightz cattery, where we produce F1A – F5 SBT Kittens. Tahfari is a young, maturing stud who's still growing and with ever-changing requirements As a small inhome cattery, our breeding animals spend their day-to-day lives in our home They sleep with us and have 24/7 secure and monitored access to their custom indoor/outdoor enclosure (constructed by Rugged Ranch Products located in Vista, California). Owning a Serval isn't a simple or easy task, and as charming as some Servals are, not all share the same personality or temperament.

Before picking up our Serval baby, we completed a couple of years of research and prior planning Then we established a backup family member/friend outside our immediate family for emergency care, vacations, or a tragic, unexpected end-oflife scenario of myself and my spouse We also established two routine veterinary care offices for exotics specializing in African Servals and two emergency Veterinary hospitals within a 100-mile radius of our home to not rely on one local option. Nothing about owning or raising an African Serval can be taken lightly and entails thorough planning to the fullest extent Exotic animals of any breed or species, especially Servals, aren't a simple plug-in and play dynamic household pet

By no means am I a Serval expert as I only have a couple of years of direct experience However, as someone raised around animals and exotics my whole life, I can speak on behalf of my experiences One of the most important things we've done from the moment we brought our Serval baby home is socialization and exposure for desensitizing purposes. Desensitizing has allowed us to slowly expose Tahfari to safe but potentially startling sounds, movements, and items needed for routine or emergency care that could overstimulate or startle him, causing injury. These wide-range routines include household sounds, cleaning agents, other people or animals and their noises, kenneling, vehicle rides, leashes, kennel types, nail care, stud diapers, pet store visits, and veterinary office visits and handling Next, emergency care scenarios of gentle restraint, bathing, surgical prep, fur clippers, inflatable, and non-infallible cones, and surgical recovery suits It's also important to be consistent with one-word or short commands taught from kitten age such as "ouch", "gentle", "no", "leave it", "come", "sit", or "down" Using such words or phrases aid inconsistent expectations and boundaries for Serval, owner, and guests. You can also use these words to calm or cue your Serval in an unsure or emergent situation as they have built trust with you These are not one-time actions but a continuous process as we actively reassure him that the exposure is safe and will not harm him at any time. Advanced levels of desensitization depend upon the Serval's body language to decrease traumatization

Some adverse parts of Serval ownership begin with the start-up costs, then the routine care, enclosure requirements, diets, licensing procedures, ownership insurance bonds or policies, and emergency costs Servals have a very costly start-up expense and paperwork process and continue to provide proper care, enclosure space, and enrichments for the average max captive 20-year life span. Breeding servals in captivity as pets isn't easy, which is why they're such a large investment, even as a pet When a Serval is part of a Savannah breeding program, they cost significantly more, and breeding becomes even more complicated with success and survival rates, which drives the cost of early generation Savannah Cats so high. Routine care can start at about two hundred dollars a month, depending on your location and how much you prepare yourself Finding routine and emergency exotic veterinary care with experience in Servals is very difficult in many geographical areas Some exotic veterinarians won't work with exotic cats or Servals Vaccinations aren't as sophisticated and widely studied as domestic feline vaccinations nor approved for such uses As they mature, Servals become less tolerant of being picked up or held. Keep in mind that; Servals are a 30+ pound cat fully grown. Humans don't typically carry around or hold medium to large dogs either. Servals are known to get spooked and become

severely injured even by familiar objects or family members, which can cause accidental injury to your Serval and humans involved. Servals, as stated earlier, require a very stable environment, lots of indoor and outdoor space, diet, and socialization. They don't do well in a home where they're frequently left alone for several hours or days from their bonded owner Servals require a confident handler as you are the Serval's foundation

In the time we've been raising our Serval and conversing with other Serval owners of varying ages and ownership purposes—from pet to business--I can validate ownership with positive experiences Servals can be excellent one-on-one companions who'll bond strongly with an individual while still enjoying the company of other family members. This bond is even stronger if you can be with them full-time I'm fortunate to work from home and spend 90% of my day with our Serval stud. He wears custom stud pants to catch any unwanted spraying. When properly cared for and socialized, they are uniquely majestic and a very rewarding animal to own They enjoy affection in similar ways you may show love or devotion to a medium or large-sized canine as they have some similarities

Servals are very smart and easily tamed when hand raised and socialized with children from kittens Communication, in the form of chirping, sounds similar but unique to each Serval If trained to do so, they love to walk on a leash like a dog Servals can be indoor or outdoor pets, as they can adjust to all weather conditions, being they're wild animals. With a never-ending channel of energy and curiosity, when raised and exposed to other animals, they can co-exist safely; but with supervision. Their level of curiosity allows them to be friendly with strangers when socialized as kittens. They love to get on, in, or under larger or tall objects, and at no age does this stop They love to openly run, jump and play in a large open enclosure if there are no items to cause injury Our stud Tahfari loves head and chin scratches, giving kisses to your nose on command, laying in your lap or alongside you, head bumps, playing fetch, and chasing his non-destructive dog toys or enrichments

At Savannah Heightz, we're over the moon in love with our Serval stud Tahfari and wouldn't change our decision to bring him into our home, lives, or cattery Every Serval owner can attest to how amazing these animals are but follow the truth of the requirements and dedication of Serval ownership. With Servals, the Savannah breeding community, such as ourselves, can continue to bring in new genetics and bloodlines to prevent line breeding, thus removing the increased chances of health issues You can observe and follow some of the things we continue to do with our friendly, curious, and playful Serval on any of our social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or the website www.Savannahheightz.com.

To comment on or share the web version of this article, click here

SAVANNAH CAT RESCUE

Founded in 2003, Savannah Cat Rescue (SVR) is a volunteer service (not brick and mortar) by Savannah breeders: Kristine Alessio and Brigitte Cowell Moyne with a core group of volunteers across the United States and Canada The mission of SVR is to rescue Savannah Cats and provide education to the public about the Savannah Cat Breed

SVR cats come from various places, the primary being breeders who’ve sold kittens to owners who are unprepared or unable to care for a Savannah The second, the breeder didn't assume responsibility when new owners needed help or decided to return the cat. A good breeder will always take back a cat he/she has bred, no matter the age or circumstances Luckily, most Savannah breeders fall into this “good” category!

When owners first contact the SVR, they prefer to help them work through any problem(s) they may be having. If a resolution is unsuccessful or the owner’s lost the patience or ability to deal with the problem, SVR can take possession of the cat with the owner’s agreement (a legal surrender form).

SVR identifies qualified foster homes and places rescued cats for evaluation until placed into a permanent home SVR will work with foster homes

Adoption fees for each Rescue Savannah are usually $200, and donations also fund SVR.

If necessary, to rehabilitate cats, have them vetted (vaccinated and spayed/neutered), and evaluate any special needs or requirements SVR gives first preference to foster homes if their home is a good fit.

Although the Savannah breed is young, it’s growing fast, and the numbers of Savannah cats and catteries producing Savannahs are increasing SVR expects to see more Savannah cats in Rescue in the future, but this is NOT a reflection of a breed problem, merely a fact of feline life

Available rescued Savannah cats are showcased on the SVR Facebook page or https://groups.io/g/SavannahCatRescue. SVR never knows when a cat will become available in any location Rescue Savannahs are typically adult cats of varying generations, ages, and genders and are rarely kittens All Savannahs available for adoption through SVR will be spayed or neutered and come from a foster or the current owner’s home.

Check the Hybrid Law site to ensure Savannahs are legal where you live before inquiring about an available Savannah. SVR will NOT adopt to anyone living in an illegal area! If in doubt about your community's legality, homeowners association, city, county, state, or province, contact your local Animal Control officer Always make sure you’re in legal compliance with the number of pets you may own. We do require landlord permission and proof to own a cat if you rent or lease your home.

Shared with permission from SVR. Please consider donating to the SVR here.

Savannah Cat Care Fund

Savannah Cat Care Fund (SVCCF) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to provide financial assistance throughout the United States to Savannah pet cat owners who cannot afford emergency care for their Savannah cat. SVCCF financial assistance applies to all illnesses and injuries requiring immediate emergency or urgent care.

The fund started because we were disheartened by the Savannah cats euthanized or surrendered when the owner(s) couldn't pay veterinary bills This fund has been years in the making, and as our breed grows, so do its needs

The Savannah Cat Rescue (SVR) team felt a need to have an organization that could help pet Savannahs BEFORE being surrendered or euthanized A group evolved, and the idea came to fruition with many people's help The SVCCF works with Savannah Cat Rescue to save our precious Savannahs The SCCF works with the community and anyone in need of emergency funds to save or help their Savannah cat

The goals of the Savannah Cat Care Fund are:

To generate financial support for the organization's initiatives, through outreach and fundraising, with a primary focus on providing financial assistance to Savannah pet cat owners experiencing financial hardship due to unanticipated emergency/urgent cat care expenses

To work with SVR and help/save savannah cats BEFORE they are surrendered or euthanized due to an owner's inability to provide emergency veterinary care.

To work with veterinarians on accepting pet insurance and allowing owners to pay only deductibles and copays; To provide education and resources to Savannah owners as needed

We define a Savannah cat as (a) a Savannah with TICA registration; or, (b) a Savannah rescued from SV Rescue with proof of such; or (c) a cat with no registration papers but deemed a Savannah by the SVCCF Board of Directors or their appointees; or, (d) a Savannah recognized and confirmed as such by the cat's breeder

Written with permission by the SVCCF. Please consider donating to the SVCCF here.

Watch for the Fall Photo Contest Coming Soon! It will be unveiled on our Facebook page and on the Website. Start pulling out your best photos (Open to Savannah owners only)

SAVANNAHGANS - THE International Savannah Cat Magazine SU2021