If you've never had the pleasure of a face-to-face encounter with a Savannah cat, you have missed one of life's most delightful experiences. These cats are best described as a "presence"; when a Savannah cat enters the room, conversations stop and mouths drop open. "What is that--a Bobcat?" is often the first thing people say. Savannahs move with an easy grace and confidence that says "I am special and I know it".
These beauties came upon the scene just over 20 years ago. They have been steadily gaining in popularity ever since, but they are still relatively rare. The reason they are rare is that they are more difficult to breed than most other cats. It takes a huge investment of money, time, and patience to get a first litter of Savannah kittens; this is especially true of the early generations, F1 through F3. Their rarity is reflected in the typically high prices asked for them.
Many people have shown interest in breeding Savannahs. I always tell them not to invest money they can't afford to lose because this is definitely not a get-rich-quick business. That being said, it is well worth all the sacrifices when those first kittens come wobbling out of the nest on shaky legs to make their place in the world. If you are seriously interested in breeding, I strongly recommend that you do your homework first. Read everything you can and talk to experienced breeders to find out what you are getting into before you decide to take the plunge. Then invest in the very best quality breeding stock you can find-and remember you generally get what you pay for.
You may be wondering what the terms "F1" or "F2" etc. mean. The letter "F" stands for "Filial", meaning "wild". The number following tells what generation the cat is. For example, a F1 Savannah is First Generation--1/2 African serval and 1/2 Domestic. An F2 is the offspring of a F1 female and domestic male, and so on down the line. Since F1s are typically the most difficult to produce they are the most expensive.
Kianga Savannahs
When only the best will do
African Serval cat
F1 Kaymankatz Kenya: 1/2 African Serval, 1/2 Domestic Shorthair.
F1 Savannah cat (1/2 African Serval, 1/2 domestic shorthair)
