New serval at home?

[Patti]

I agree with what everyone else had said. A serval is NOT a pet, no matter how you look at it. They may bond fiercely to you, but they are not going to be like a cat that sleeps 20 hours a day, nor like a dog that follows you everywhere and wants only to please you. A serval will expect YOU to meet its needs. It wants play time, and that means anything in the house is a potential toy - chairs, lamps, hanging pictures, ceiling fans, rugs, clothing, etc. If they get hold of and swallow the wrong thing you have a $5000+ surgery on your hands for bowel obstruction and the possibility of losing your serval. You will need to replace flooring and maybe even walls because their spray is intense!

I understand the appeal of having an animal bond to you so fiercely, however realize that this could also be your downfall. You can never take vacation, this is not an animal that can be boarded. What will you do if it gets sick? You will need to find a veterinarian that treats exotics, and will make house visits because it is unlikely you will be able to get your serval to the vet. What if it bolts through the door and is running wild down the streets? How will you catch it?

There are so many things that need to be considered before owning a serval. My breeding partner took in three servals from different homes in two years time because the owners either got bored, or could no longer handle the cat any more. This is unfortunately the fate of many servals who are purchased as pets. Having said that, with the right preparation, the right environment, the right tools, and the dedication, serval ownership can work - good luck with your endeavor!

 

[BeSpotted Savannahs]

Just want you to know that sterilizing "in time" does not really make a difference. All Servals that I know of, whether pet or breeder, spray and/or walk down the hallway when you are not looking and poo in the corner!!!! It is pretty rare for a Serval to poo and pee in their litter box! They are very particular about things and anything can set them off. God forbid they already took a poop and then later they need to go again and find out you did not scoop. They will not use a dirty box, they also do not cover pee or poop, and usually won't pee in the box they poo in! Strange creatures they are! Gotta love them for what they are and be prepared.

Agreed.

 

[The Kasbah]

Brigitte's comparison regardin the difference between Serval and Savannah Ownership is spot on. I have personally kept Servals myself and also know many friends who do. Altered or not, I do not know anyone who keeps them in the home as pets with any success., however. Servals typically do not litter box train nicely and those I do know who keep them indoors have horrific odor issues in their homes...not for me, but to each their own. Servals also bore easily and can be incredibly destructive.

Years ago when I was involved with Serval Rescue, I was contacted by a lady who desperately wanted a Serval as a pet. I spelled out for her how problematic I thought the idea was, but she moved forward full speed ahead, got her baby and pretty much fell out of contact...until two years later. She wrote to share what had happened. Sadly, her girl was easily bored and it led to a deadly ending for her. First, while her owner was sleeping, she had chewed through the drywall in their bathroom and had to have a very costly surgery for a bowel obstruction. This was nothing however...in the end, the owner returned from work one day to find glass shards all over the floor and her Serval all bloodied and lying still underneath the dining room chandelier, which had been ripped out of the ceiling and had apparently smashed on the floor accounting for the broken glass. with no one home to discover what was going on, her Serval apparently continued to play with the crystals and the now exposed electrical wires hanging out of the ceiling where the chandelier HAD been. Sadly, she had apparently jumped after the exposed wire and was electrocuted to death... Very, very sad sequence of events.

This is probably the worst story I have to share, but I have countless others that support the fact that most adult Servals simply don't make good house pets.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

 

[The Kasbah]

I agree with what everyone else had said. A serval is NOT a pet, no matter how you look at it. They may bond fiercely to you, but they are not going to be like a cat that sleeps 20 hours a day, nor like a dog that follows you everywhere and wants only to please you. A serval will expect YOU to meet its needs. It wants play time, and that means anything in the house is a potential toy - chairs, lamps, hanging pictures, ceiling fans, rugs, clothing, etc. If they get hold of and swallow the wrong thing you have a $5000+ surgery on your hands for bowel obstruction and the possibility of losing your serval. You will need to replace flooring and maybe even walls because their spray is intense!

I understand the appeal of having an animal bond to you so fiercely, however realize that this could also be your downfall. You can never take vacation, this is not an animal that can be boarded. What will you do if it gets sick? You will need to find a veterinarian that treats exotics, and will make house visits because it is unlikely you will be able to get your serval to the vet. What if it bolts through the door and is running wild down the streets? How will you catch it?

There are so many things that need to be considered before owning a serval. My breeding partner took in three servals from different homes in two years time because the owners either got bored, or could no longer handle the cat any more. This is unfortunately the fate of many servals who are purchased as pets. Having said that, with the right preparation, the right environment, the right tools, and the dedication, serval ownership can work - good luck with your endeavor!

All of the points you make are spot on, Patti.

xoxoxo