Breeding Nonstandard Savannahs for Beginners

[John Popp]

I would suggest offspring sired by a serval should fall within the breed standard. That's what a Savannah was before anybody constructed through TICA what a Savannah should be.

 

[Trish Allearz]

In the case of the Habari, the aim is to produce a large exotic looking spotted or rosetted pet (rather than a breed) with a sweet personality. It's kind of like a chimera or very expensive turducken. Where there's a niche there's a way.

Thanks for the information, Deb! I just kinda find it silly- but I'm sure people find SVs silly too

Me- I love Geoffs, I love Servals, I love ALCs and Fishing Cats. I wouldn't want a Serval x Geoff though- would seem like you'd eliminate a lot of the things I love about both of them. Etc.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I would suggest offspring sired by a serval should fall within the breed standard. That's what a Savannah was before anybody constructed through TICA what a Savannah should be.

Yes and no. The Savannah Breed is designed to replicate the Serval in the domestic form.

Serval hybrids were not called Savannahs by many until TICA gave the "breed" a name. For example, Select Exotics claims to have bred F1s before they were called Savannahs, they just didn't name them that.

Now, any domestic cat crossed with a Serval may be registered as a Savannah, but for example if you bred a caracal to a serval the offspring are NOT Savannahs, they get cool labels like servicals or caravals depending on which parent is the Serval.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Me- I love Geoffs, I love Servals, I love ALCs and Fishing Cats. I wouldn't want a Serval x Geoff though- would seem like you'd eliminate a lot of the things I love about both of them. Etc.

Has anyone had a ServalXGeoffrey cat? A Geoffral or Serffrey? Interesting thought though...

 

[Becki]

I decided I wanted a Savannah because of how cool they look, those big ears and exotic coloring. But I knew I would and will never breed, anything I bought would be a very loved, very spoiled pet. I will be honest, on the outset of this journey, I wanted a big, cool cat. Heavy on the big. Now? I could care less if Nyah grows a centimeter more. She is by far the most incredible cat I have ever come across. Her smarts that still astound me, her intensity, her crazy. I love this cat. Now that I know what I know, color is not important, though I still love the exotic looks. The personality is what got me hook line and sinker, but I am a pet buyer so I am allowed such indulgences. Breeders, on the other hand, are striving to get to perfection as described by the standard, as they should.

 

[SV Dad]

The vast majority of buyers don't care if there are rosettes (probably prefer them), the angles of the face and bought into the breed because it's big and has spots.

I don't know if the word "vast" is is the right wording, but I am in total agreement the first time buyer for a pet is doing just this. We have many breeders and showers on this site, but I would wager a large part of the members of this board do not show, and wanted originally a large spotted cat.
This is not meant to knock the breed standard. I am supporting John's point of market pressure to produce large spotted cats.

 

[WitchyWoman]

Thanks for the information, Deb! I just kinda find it silly- but I'm sure people find SVs silly too Me- I love Geoffs, I love Servals, I love ALCs and Fishing Cats. I wouldn't want a Serval x Geoff though- would seem like you'd eliminate a lot of the things I love about both of them. Etc.

The attempted breeding of a cat such as the Habari skirts what is ethically acceptable to me. I know it's a slippery slope. It angers me when breeders attempt to satisfy the whims of the general public and/or judges' preferences to the point where an animal's health is compromised. There is very nearly no pure bred dog that doesn't come with a slew of health issues because breeders saw $$$$ when the general public and/or judges showed a preferences for bug eyes, squashed snouts, or legs so short the dog looks like a skink. Last time I was at a cat show I was appalled at the "type" of some of the breeds (Persians for example).
(stepping off the soap box now)

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I don't know if the word "vast" is is the right wording, but I am in total agreement the first time buyer for a pet is doing just this. We have many breeders and showers on this site, but I would wager a large part of the members of this board do not show, and wanted originally a large spotted cat.
This is not meant to knock the breed standard. I am arguing John's point of market pressure to produce large spotted cats.

I agree, when I first discovered Savannahs size was a draw...just the more I learned the less important it was. And I don't disagree that there is a significant market for large spotted cats... just that doesn't have to be a Savannah, after all we know that there are really substantial Bengals out there, Habaris and Safaris too! When defining a breed standard, we are describing what makes the breed unique. The Serval is not a large exotic cat, it is a leggy and elegant cat. Some domestics weigh more than a Serval can after all... so our Breed Standard is focused on relative legginess and a lean muscular build instead of "large".

What you may forget is that most of us breeders at least started only as pet owners. I still probably am more a pet owner than a breeder, hence the reason my "business" as cattery runs at such a huge loss. I have as many altered pets as breeding cats. I interact more with pet owners than breeders too, I sell many more of my kittens to pet owners than as breeders. So am not unaware of the wants and preferences of pet owners by any means.

 

[SV Dad]

The attempted breeding of a cat such as the Habari skirts what is ethically acceptable to me. I know it's a slippery slope. It angers me when breeders attempt to satisfy the whims of the general public and/or judges' preferences to the point where an animal's health is compromised. There is very nearly no pure bred dog that doesn't come with a slew of health issues because breeders saw $$$$ when the general public and/or judges showed a preferences for bug eyes, squashed snouts, or legs so short the dog looks like a skink. Last time I was at a cat show I was appalled at the "type" of some of the breeds (Persians for example).
(stepping off the soap box now)

I'm with you on this point. It certainly was serendipitous that the cross between a Serval and DSH produced sustained hybrid vigor (so far...). A very lucky occurrence I would argue, and was definitely part of the decision process to bring more SV's into my house.

 

[SV Dad]

I agree, when I first discovered Savannahs size was a draw...just the more I learned the less important it was.

Yep! I am taking the position most of the second time buyers for pets will jump on this bandwagon.