- Servals require a diet of a large variety of whole prey protein items.
- Due to its wild nature, this breed is not recommended for families with small children or other pets.
- It requires an large, outdoor, temperature controlled, fully enclosed enclosure.
- Ownership is restricted in several states.
What do you feed a serval cat?
According to one exotic cattery owner who has kept a number of servals since 2012, “A serval cat needs variety in its diet, just like in the wild.” She suggests a variety of meats “such as chicken and turkey necks/back/legs/gizzards, mice, chicks, beef, a variety of birds such as quail/duck/grouse, and smaller prey such as mice/rats/rabbit.”
Can you keep a serval cat as a pet?
The serval cat is a beautiful animal that some people keep as an exotic pet. While you may be able to acquire a serval cat from a breeder, they are considered wild cats. To own a serval cat, you must create a large, secure outdoor enclosure and provide a warm environment year-round. They will need to feed on whole prey food items.
What do African servals eat?
In the wild, servals eat whatever is available, which makes replicating its ideal natural diet difficult. You may not necessarily have access to everything Africa has to offer wild servals, but rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, insects, reptiles, and frogs are usually on the menu of its varied protein sources.
What do servals need to survive?
Servals are a long-lived breed. Servals require a diet of a large variety of whole prey protein items. Due to its wild nature, this breed is not recommended for families with small children or other pets. It requires an large, outdoor, temperature controlled, fully enclosed enclosure.
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How much should I feed my serval cat?
Metabolic rate and maintenance: is about average 2 to 4 pounds of food a day or 1000 calories a day. Serval cat diet should consist of the following Iron, calcium, phosphorous,taurine,protein,fat,oils. The most important are the taurine in a serval cat diet, but keep in mind that all these vitamins have to be balanced.
Is it cruel to have a serval as a pet?
Serval cats are not recommended for households with young children. They play using their teeth and claws, and they may be too rough with children or view them as toys or prey. This is not likely, but it is possible.
How do you take care of a serval?
The spotted serval cat is a long-legged African wild cat that can be kept as an exotic pet, but it needs a lot of room to play and a diet consisting of whole prey. To keep these cats healthy and happy, serval owners must provide large outdoor enclosures in locations that stay warm year-round.
Can serval cats eat raw chicken?
Serval's diet should be akin to their natural habitat and based on animals served whole, such as mice, one-day-old chicks and quails. Our servals also eat raw chicken meat, offal, beef, fish and their favourite “Purrrr” series of “Catz Finefood”.
What does the serval eat?
Servals eat a great variety of prey, including rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, and insects. They catch much of their prey by leaping high into the air and pouncing.
Do servals make good house pets?
Serval cats are wild animals. Native to many parts of Africa, serval cats roam savannahs and wetlands hunting for prey. They have a poor quality of life when kept as pets. These wild cats are not much bigger than a medium-size dog, but they still retain their wild instincts and are cunning escape artists.
How much does it cost to own a serval?
Purchasing an Exotic Kitten Costs Are Extremely High Most of the mid-size cats, like Servals and Caracals, cost $1700.00 to $2800.00 and Ocelots can run as high as $15,000.00. The more rare the cat, the higher the price.
What do Savannahs eat?
Meat-Based: It's essential that the primary ingredients in your Savannah cat's dry food are meat-based. Chicken is preferable, although chicken meal isn't the absolute best ingredient. Duck-based recipes are also incredibly healthy for you feline.
What human food can cats eat?
12 human foods that are safe for your cat to eatFish. While you don't want your kitty eating from the aquarium, feeding him oily fish such as tuna or mackerel can help his eyesight, joints and brain.Meat. Poutry, beef and other meat is a natural option for your little carnivore. ... Cheese. ... Bananas. ... Berries. ... Melon. ... Carrots. ... Rice.More items...•
Can cats drink milk?
The truth is that most cats are lactose intolerant so giving them cow's milk can actually cause significant health issues. Milk doesn't part of necessary cat nutrition and many cats suffer stomach upsets or other related problems because their owner thought that they were giving them a treat.
How much does a serval cost?
Purchasing an Exotic Kitten Costs Are Extremely High Most of the mid-size cats, like Servals and Caracals, cost $1700.00 to $2800.00 and Ocelots can run as high as $15,000.00. The more rare the cat, the higher the price.
Why are servals so expensive?
What is this? They are expensive because it is hard to successfully breed a domesticated cat with a Serval. The generational differences may also influence price, as well as the cat's gender. The cost of caring for Savannah cats and all the necessary vet costs also drive up the price.
How much is a serval kitten?
F1 savannah cats have the largest percentage of wild African Serval in them, and are usually the most expensive type of savannah cat. Male F1 kittens generally range from about $12,000 all the way up to around $16,000. Female F1 kittens typically range from about $15,000 to $20,000.
How long do serval cats live?
Servals generally live 10 to 12 years in the wild and can live up to 20 years or more in captivity. Servals are between 23 ¼ and 39 inches long. They are between 9 ½ and 18 inches tall and generally weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. Males are typically larger than females.
Serval Cats: An Introduction
Servals are medium-sized wild cats found throughout most of the continent of Africa. Their long legs make them fast, athletic, and the best hunters of all wild cat species. Serval cats are far-ranging, solitary animals. They eat a wide variety of different prey including rodents, birds, and fish.
Conclusion
Wild animals belong in the wild, not in your backyard or living room. If you’re tempted by that cute picture of a baby serval cat, remember that all babies grow up, and grown-up serval cats don’t make good pets. Thousands of homeless domestic cats need forever families in shelters and rescues throughout the world.
What is a serval cat?
Rather, a serval cat is a wild animal with specific needs and inherited instincts that must be nurtured in a specific environment. Several states have prohibited serval cat ownership or required specific licenses. Photo: 3342.
Where do serval cats live?
A serval is a cat native to the African grasslands typically found south of the Sahara Desert. The cat has a lean body and long legs. The coats are predominantly shades of tan or orange with black or dark brown markings. The coat pattern helps the cats disguise themselves when hunting in tall grasses.
What is the life expectancy of a serval cat?
9 (A domestic cat’s kill rate is more like 10%.) 10. The average life expectancy for a serval cat is around 22 years. 10.
Is a serval cat a wild animal?
Serval cats are considered wild animals, and legislation restricts their ownership in several U.S. states and other countries. If you decide to get a serval cat and later decide it won’t work, you may find it difficult to relinquish ownership of such an animal.
Is a Serval a lap cat?
Serval cats are not your typical lap cats. Sure, they can be affectionate and are normally not aggressive to humans, but remember that this is still a wild animal. They have basic, inherited instincts they need to fulfill. Woman playing with her pet serval cat.
Can you feed a meow mix to a serval cat?
Serval cats require special diets. This is not a cat you can feed Meow Mix and assume their nutritional needs are met. According to one exotic cattery owner who has kept a number of servals since 2012, “A serval cat needs variety in its diet, just like in the wild.”.
Can a serval cat be a pet?
There are many risks surrounding keeping a serval cat as a pet. Please seriously consider all of the following before deciding to bring a serval cat into your home as a domesticated pet: 1. Serval cats need zoo-like areas to explore, swim, hunt, run and occasionally climb.
How long do servals live?
With an average lifespan of more than 20 years, servals tend to live longer than their common domestic counterparts.
Where do serval cats live?
Native to the African grasslands, the serval resembles a small leopard. They are prevalent south of the Sahara Desert and comparatively rare to the north. The cat lives a solitary life, only pairing to mate before mothers raise litters on their own.
Can you own a serval without a license?
Maybe you’ve seen them on social media. It is legal to own a serval without obtain ing a license in Alabama, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Licensed exotic cat lovers can keep servals as pets in Arizona, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Is it legal to keep a serval cat as a pet?
Risks of Keeping a Serval as a Pet. A domesticated serval cat. There’s a reason domesticated servals aren’t legal in all 50 states. Servals are wild animals and introducing them to home life is hard and often risky work.
Can servals be used for cat food?
Providing for these needs will likely be expensive and often necessitate creating an entire outdoor enclosure. When it comes to their meals, servals can’t make do with your average store-bought cat foods. They require a specialized diet featuring a wide variety of protein and nutrient-rich meats.
Is a serval cat dangerous?
Servals are considered a particularly unsafe choice for homes with young children and/or other pets. Carefully reflect on your capacity to provide for the needs of such an unusual and demanding pet before bringing home a serval or any exotic cat.
Is a serval more aggressive than a cat?
Servals Are More Aggressive Than Typical Cats. While servals are perfectly capable of showing affection, it’s hardly in their nature to relax on the couch or in someone’s lap. Their bites are nearly three times stronger than those of typical cats and they love to roughhouse with their claws.
Risks
Habitat
Variations
- Breeders have also been crossing serval cats with domestic cats to produce hybrids. Savannah cats are one such hybrid and can be a choice if you like the look of the serval but need a tamer cat that easier to care for.
Behavior
- Serval cats can bond with humans, especially if they are bottle-raised and hand-fed. Typically, they are a one-human cat and bond for life. You will need to spend time with the cat, playing with the cat on its level, eye-to-eye. They can be affectionate but require patience and a gentle hand in training. While you can try to socialize a serval, they will often remain shy of strangers and can b…
Safety
- While servals can be litter-trained, be aware that urinating on objects is part of their natural way of marking their territory. For safety when walking your serval you will need a special serval harness since they aren't built like domestic cats.
Preparation
- You will need to have a plan in place for someone to care for your serval cat if you take a vacation, need a respite, or develop your own health problems. You will need to ensure you have access to a veterinarian who can care for exotic pets. Servals need the same annual immunizations and dewormings as domestic cats.
Health
- While many pet servals are declawed in the interests of preventing injuries to humans, this is a practice that can result in an infection. It also makes the serval more vulnerable during confrontations with other animals. One common veterinary emergency for servals is swallowing foreign objects, which can become lodged in their throats or difficult to pass.
Diet
- In the wild, servals eat whatever is available, which makes providing the most natural diet as pets difficult. You may not necessarily have access to everything Africa has to offer wild servals, but rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, insects, reptiles, and frogs are all readily available to provide a varied diet of protein sources. Whole prey should be...
Breeding
- If you are interested in similar cats, look into these breeds to compare the pros and cons: Look into the many cat breeds that are available.