Savannah
Breed Organization
TICA Executive Office
P.O. Box 2684
Harlingen, TX 78551
Phone: (956)428-8046
Fax: (956)428-8047
Email: information@ticaeo.com
Website: www.tica.org
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 1005
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Phone: (732)528-9797
Fax: (732)528-7391
Email: cfa@cfa.org
Website: www.cfainc.org
TICA Executive Office
P.O. Box 2684
Harlingen, TX 78551
Phone: (956)428-8046
Fax: (956)428-8047
Email: information@ticaeo.com
Website: www.tica.org
The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 1005
Manasquan, NJ 08736
Phone: (732)528-9797
Fax: (732)528-7391
Email: cfa@cfa.org
Website: www.cfainc.org
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Cat Breed Descriptions
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Cat Breed Descriptions
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Native Country
Unknown
Breed Description Click here to talk live about this breed
Head: Broad, modified wedge with rounded contours. Longer than it is wide. When viewed from the front the face should form a distinctive triangle. The head is slightly smaller than in proportion to the body. In profile the nose is long but with a modest chin and should add to the cats wild appearance.
Profile: Curve of the forehead should flow into the bridge of the nose with no break. Bridge of nose extends above the eyes; the line of the bridge extends to the nose tip, making a nearly straight, convex curve.
Eyes: The eyes are somewhere between oval and almond shaped, medium in size. The more richness and depth of color the better.
Ears: Ears are large and alert, well cupped with a wide base and slightly rounded tips. The tops of the ears are moderately hairy on the inside. The base of the ears should almost meet in the front center of the head. Short ear tuffs allowed.
Neck: Slender, but muscular as well as long.
Body: The shape is long and narrow, but strong. When viewed from the front the cat appears narrow due to the extreme length of legs, depth of body and length of neck. The boning is sturdy yet graceful. The body should be firm and smoothly muscled throughout. Legs and Feet: The legs are strong yet slender. The feet are small with long toes.
Tail: The tail is sturdy, thick and approximately three-quarters the length of the average cats tail. When the cat is attentive it should be, held high or somewhat arched and curved over the rump.
Coat: The coat is short to medium, dense, soft and luxurious. The coat may or may not be glittered.
PATTERNS: Spotted, Clouded (Marbled), or Solid
Spotted Pattern:
The spotted Savannah has sharp contrast between it's markings and it's background color. On the top of the head, almost between the ears four bold stripes run down the neck to the shoulder blades. At the shoulder blades the lines break up into spots that run in two straight broken lines along the spine to the tail. Spots on the back as well as the shoulder can be rounded or run together into double or triple blended spots. The torso and flanks of the cat are well spotted. Large round spots are preferred to small round spots. Rosettes are allowed but large round spots are preferred. Spots should be large and rounded as opposed to square or triangular. Spots running in a horizontal line (front to back) across the cats body are preferred. Angular or rounded spots are preferred on the legs. The tail is spotted near the base and turns to a banded pattern about three quarters down toward the tip of the tail. Tail tip should be dark.
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On the face there are prominent dark lines extending down from the tear ducts
and bracket the nose. A few spots or flecks mark the face. Except for the above mentioned tear duct lines, other facial markings
should be in the form of spots or flecks as opposed to tabby type lines or stripes. There is a broken black collar stripe along the
throat. Virtually white undersides and belly desirable. Belly must have dark markings as well. There should be a virtually white
spot running across the back of each ear. These narrow virtually white ocelli are bordered in with dark marking at the top and bottom
of each ear.
Clouded Pattern:
The Clouded Savannah shall consist of horizontally flowing colors and patterns with sharp contrast, distinct shapes, and sharp edges to the markings when the cat is stretched with a chaining look being preferred. Vertical striping and/or classic bulls eye are undesirable. Cats with three or more shades; i.e., ground color, markings, and dark outlining of those markings are permissible, but single color dark markings on a light background preferred. Contrast must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Virtually white undersides and belly desirable. Belly must have dark markings as well.
Solid Pattern:
The solid colored Savannah should be of one color. Dark shadow markings of Spotted or Clouded patterns on a dark background are permissible. If visible the spots or markings should conform to the Savannah's spotted or clouded standard. No white markings allowed.
Colors
Brown Tabby:
All variations are allowed; however, a degree of rufinism yielding a yellow, buff, tan, golden, or light orange ground color is preferred over a gray or dark orange red background. Markings may be virtually black, tan, or various shades of brown. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a virtually white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, belly, and inner legs (in contrast to the ground color of the flanks and back) is desirable. Rims of eyes and nose should be outlined with black, the nose leather can be either brick red, solid black or black with a light red or pink line running down the center. The lips are black, as are the prominent black tear duct lines on the inner sides of each eye. The eyes are somewhat oval to almond shaped. Eye color should be a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Tail tip must be virtually black. Paw pads should be deep charcoal or brownish black, no speckling or mottling allowed.
Silver Tabby:
The ground color, including lips and chin, pale pure silver. Markings dense black. Rims of eyes, nose and lips outlined in black. Eye color a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather can be either brick red, solid black or black with a light red or pink line running down the center. Paw pads should be deep charcoal or brownish black, no speckling or mottling allowed.
Mink Category
Seal Mink Tabby:
Ground color should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Seal mink tabby pattern may be various shades of seal mink to a dark seal mink. Ivory or cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory or cream whisker pads and chin are desirable.
Clouded Pattern:
The Clouded Savannah shall consist of horizontally flowing colors and patterns with sharp contrast, distinct shapes, and sharp edges to the markings when the cat is stretched with a chaining look being preferred. Vertical striping and/or classic bulls eye are undesirable. Cats with three or more shades; i.e., ground color, markings, and dark outlining of those markings are permissible, but single color dark markings on a light background preferred. Contrast must be extreme, with distinct shapes and sharp edges. Virtually white undersides and belly desirable. Belly must have dark markings as well.
Solid Pattern:
The solid colored Savannah should be of one color. Dark shadow markings of Spotted or Clouded patterns on a dark background are permissible. If visible the spots or markings should conform to the Savannah's spotted or clouded standard. No white markings allowed.
Colors
Brown Tabby:
All variations are allowed; however, a degree of rufinism yielding a yellow, buff, tan, golden, or light orange ground color is preferred over a gray or dark orange red background. Markings may be virtually black, tan, or various shades of brown. Light spectacles encircling the eyes and a virtually white ground color on the whisker pads, chin, belly, and inner legs (in contrast to the ground color of the flanks and back) is desirable. Rims of eyes and nose should be outlined with black, the nose leather can be either brick red, solid black or black with a light red or pink line running down the center. The lips are black, as are the prominent black tear duct lines on the inner sides of each eye. The eyes are somewhat oval to almond shaped. Eye color should be a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Tail tip must be virtually black. Paw pads should be deep charcoal or brownish black, no speckling or mottling allowed.
Silver Tabby:
The ground color, including lips and chin, pale pure silver. Markings dense black. Rims of eyes, nose and lips outlined in black. Eye color a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather can be either brick red, solid black or black with a light red or pink line running down the center. Paw pads should be deep charcoal or brownish black, no speckling or mottling allowed.
Mink Category
Seal Mink Tabby:
Ground color should be ivory, cream, or light tan with pattern clearly visible. Seal mink tabby pattern may be various shades of seal mink to a dark seal mink. Ivory or cream spectacles encircling the eyes, and ivory or cream whisker pads and chin are desirable.
There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and point color. Paw pads should be
dark brown with rosy undertones allowed. Tail tip should be dark seal brown. Eye color should be aqua (blue green) but may also be
green, or green gold, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Silver Mink Tabby:
Body virtually snow white, platinum gray shading on back permissible. Paw pads black preferred, dark seal possible. Light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and point color. Dark Pink nose leather outlined in black or very dark brown. Tail tip black - dark seal mink, eye color should be aqua (blue green) but may also be green, or green gold, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Lynx Category
Seal Lynx Tabby:
Ground color should be ivory to cream with a medium - pale visible ghost pattern. Pattern can vary in color from seal brown, light brown, tan, or buff, with light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. Point color may be darker then body markings. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy pink undertones allowed. Tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eye color must be blue, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Silver Lynx Tabby:
Body virtually snow white, platinum gray shading on back permissible, with a medium - pale visible ghost pattern. Paw pads black preferred, dark seal permissible. Light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. Point color may be darker then body markings. Dark Pink nose leather outlined in black or very dark brown. Tail tip black - dark seal mink, eye color must be blue, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Solid Category
Black Solid:
The black Savannah should be a Lustrous solid jet black. Shadow markings of Spotted or Clouded patterns on a dark background are permissible. If visible the markings should conform to the Savannah's spotted or clouded standard. No white markings allowed. Eye color should be a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather, lips, and paw pads should be black or charcoal.
Smoke Catgeory:
Black Smoke:
White undercoat deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears to be black. In motion the white undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face black with narrow band of white at base of hair next to skin which may be seen when fur is parted with sufficient contrast against ground color for pattern to be visible.
Silver Mink Tabby:
Body virtually snow white, platinum gray shading on back permissible. Paw pads black preferred, dark seal possible. Light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. There should be very little or no difference between the color of body markings and point color. Dark Pink nose leather outlined in black or very dark brown. Tail tip black - dark seal mink, eye color should be aqua (blue green) but may also be green, or green gold, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Lynx Category
Seal Lynx Tabby:
Ground color should be ivory to cream with a medium - pale visible ghost pattern. Pattern can vary in color from seal brown, light brown, tan, or buff, with light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. Point color may be darker then body markings. Paw pads should be dark brown with rosy pink undertones allowed. Tail tip must be dark seal brown. Eye color must be blue, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Silver Lynx Tabby:
Body virtually snow white, platinum gray shading on back permissible, with a medium - pale visible ghost pattern. Paw pads black preferred, dark seal permissible. Light spectacles, whisker pads, and chin. Point color may be darker then body markings. Dark Pink nose leather outlined in black or very dark brown. Tail tip black - dark seal mink, eye color must be blue, the more richness and depth of color the better.
Solid Category
Black Solid:
The black Savannah should be a Lustrous solid jet black. Shadow markings of Spotted or Clouded patterns on a dark background are permissible. If visible the markings should conform to the Savannah's spotted or clouded standard. No white markings allowed. Eye color should be a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather, lips, and paw pads should be black or charcoal.
Smoke Catgeory:
Black Smoke:
White undercoat deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears to be black. In motion the white undercoat is apparent. Extremities and face black with narrow band of white at base of hair next to skin which may be seen when fur is parted with sufficient contrast against ground color for pattern to be visible.
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Eye color should be a rich yellow, green, golden or caramel brown, the more richness and depth of color the better. Nose leather and paw pads black.
History
The Serval cat is the foundation cat for the Savannah Breed. The first and subsequent generations derived from the breeding of a Serval cat to a domestic cat or a Serval cat to a Savannah cat is recognized as a domestic Savannah cat. The goal of the Savannah breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has physical features distinctive to the Serval cat, and with the loving, dependable temperament of the typical domestic cat. The overall impression of the Savannah is a tall, lean, graceful cat with striking large spots and/or randomly swirling bold markings on a luxurious clear light background (except for solid colors, which have no defined markings). The Savannah cat is bred to resemble the tall, lean, muscular Serval cat of the African plains from which it's ancestors originated. Affectionate and outgoing, with exceptionally long neck, legs and ears, as well as a short, three-quarter length tail, the Savannah is both unusual and beautiful. The Savannah is also an exceptionally graceful, well-balanced cat with striking color and/or pattern.
Behavior
Savannahs have been described as friendly, assertive, active, and interested in dogs and children. They are commonly compared to dogs in their loyalty, and they will follow their owners around the house like a canine. They can also be trained to walk on a leash like a dog, and even fetch.
Savannahs often greet people with head-butts, or an unexpected pounce. Some savannahs are reported as being very social and friendly with other cats and dogs, while others may run and hide or revert to hissing and growling when seeing a stranger. Exposure to other people and pets is most likely the key factor in sociability as the Savannah kitten grows up.
Owners of Savannahs say that they are very impressed with the intelligence of this breed of cat. Savannahs have been known to get into all sorts of things; they often learn how to open doors and cupboards, and anyone buying a Savannah will likely need to take special precautions to prevent the cat from getting into things.
Water isn't a fear of the Savannah cat; many will play or even immerse themselves in water. Presenting a water bowl to a Savannah may also prove a challenge, as some will promptly begin to "bat" all the water out of the bowl until it is empty, using their front paws.
Vocally, savannahs may either chirp like their serval father, meow like their domestic mother, or do both, sometimes producing sounds which are a mixture of the two. Chirping, when present, is usually observed more often in earlier generations. Savannahs may also "hiss"-a serval-like hiss is quite different from a domestic cat's hiss, sounding more like a very loud snake hiss, and can be alarming to humans not acquainted to such a sound coming from a cat. Hissing, and even aggressive behavior which involves hissing, is usually more frequent in F1 or occasionally F2 generations, and may subside or disappear as the cat is socialized.
Physical Characteristics - General Feline Information
Sight: Testing indicates that a cat's vision is superior at night in comparison to humans, and inferior in daylight. Cats, like dogs and many other animals, have a tapetum lucidum that reflects extra light to the retina. While this enhances the ability to see in low light, it appears to reduce net visual acuity, thus detracting when light is abundant. In very bright light, the slit-like iris closes very narrowly over the eye, reducing the amount of light on the sensitive retina, and improving depth of field. The tapetum and other mechanisms give the cat a minimum light detection threshold up to seven times lower than that of humans. Variation in color of cats' eyes in flash photographs is largely due to the interaction of the flash with the tapetum.
Average cats have a visual field of view estimated at 200°, versus 180° in humans, with a binocular field (overlap in the images from each eye) narrower than that of humans. As with most predators, their eyes face forward, affording depth perception at the expense of field of view.
Field of view is largely dependent upon the placement of the eyes, but may also be related to the eye's construction. Instead of the fovea which gives humans sharp central vision, cats have a central band known as the visual streak. Cats can apparently differentiate among colors, especially at close range, but without appreciable subtlety.
Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the cat's eyelid opens. This membrane partially closes if the cat is sick; although in a sleepy, content cat this membrane is often visible. If a cat chronically shows the third eyelid, it should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation.
Unlike humans, cats do not need to blink their eyes on a regular basis to keep their eyes lubricated (with tears). Unblinking eyes are probably an advantage when hunting. Cats will, however, "squint" their eyes, usually as a form of communication. Cat owners can often entice their pets to squint or even fully close their eyes just by talking to them in a soothing or pleasing manner. Many cats will also squint in response to seeing their owners squint.
Cats have a wide variation in eye color, the most typical colors being golden, green and orange. Blue eyes are usually associated with the Siamese breed, but they are also found in white cats. If a white cat has two blue eyes, it is often times deaf; however, orange eyes usually indicate the cat is free of hearing problems.
White cats having one blue and one other-colored eye are called "odd-eyed" and may be deaf on the same side as the blue eye. This is the result of the yellow iris pigmentation rising to the surface of only one eye, as blue eyes are normal at birth before the adult pigmentation has had a chance to express itself in the eye(s).
Hearing: Humans and cats have a similar range of hearing on the low end of the scale, but cats can hear much higher-pitched sounds, up to 70 kHz, which is 1.6 octaves above the range of a human, and even 1 octave above the range of a dog. When listening for something, a cat's ears will swivel in that direction; a cat's ear flaps (pinnae) can independently point backwards as well as forwards and sideways to pinpoint the source of the sound. Cats can judge within three inches (7.5 cm) the location of a sound being made one yard (approximately one meter) away-this can be useful for localizing prey, etc.
Smell: A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's. Cats have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as people do, which means they can smell things we are not even aware of. Cats also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's organ. When a cat wrinkles its muzzle, lowers its chin, and lets its tongue hang a bit, it is opening the passage to the vomeronasal. This is called gaping, "sneering", or "flehming". Gaping is the equivalent of the Flehmen response in other animals, such as dogs, horses and big cats.
Touch: A cat has about twenty-four movable vibrissae ("whiskers"), in four rows on each upper lip on each side of its nose (some cats may have more), in addition to a few on each cheek, tufts over the eyes, bristles on the chin, the cat's inner "wrists", and at the back of the legs. The Sphynx (a nearly hairless breed) may have full length, short, or no whiskers at all. Vibrissae aid navigation and sensation. The upper two rows of whiskers can move independently from the lower two rows for even more precise measuring. Whiskers are more than twice as thick as ordinary hairs, and their roots are set three times deeper than hairs in a cat's tissue. Richly supplied with nerve endings at their base, whiskers give cats extraordinarily detailed information about air movements, air pressure and anything they touch. Vibrissae possess exquisite sensitivity to vibrations in air currents.As air swirls and eddies around objects, whiskers vibrate too. Whiskers may detect very small shifts in air currents, enabling a cat to know it is near obstructions without actually seeing them. Cats use messages in these vibrations to sense the presence, size, and shape of obstacles without seeing or touching them.
Whiskers are also good hunting tools. The structure of the brain region which receives information from the vibrissae is similar to that found in the visual cortex, suggesting that the nature of the cat's perception through its whiskers is similar to that via its vision. Stop motion photography reveals that at the moment a cat's prey is so close to its mouth to be too near for accurate vision, its whiskers move so as to form a basket shape around its muzzle in order to precisely detect the prey's location. A cat whose whiskers have been damaged may bite the wrong part of a mouse it's attacking, indicating that signals from these delicate structures provide cats with vital information about the shape and activity of its prey - interestingly, whiskers also help cats detect scents. It is thought that a cat may choose to rely on the whiskers in dim light where fully dilating the pupils would reduce its ability to focus on close objects. The whiskers also spread out roughly as wide as the cat's body making it able to judge if it can fit through an opening. Whiskers are also an indication of the cat's attitude. Whiskers point forward when the cat is inquisitive and friendly, and lie flat on the face when the cat is being defensive or aggressive. Whiskers can also be a bother to a cat, especially when the cat tries to eat food out of a bowl. The end of the whiskers touching the side of the bowl transfer irritating sensations to its brain, making it hard for it to continue eating.
Taste: The cat family was shown in 2005 to lack the T1R2 protein, one of two required for function of the sweetness sensory receptor; a deletion in the relevant gene (Tas1r2) causes a shift in the genetic reading frame, leading to transcription stopping early and no detectable mRNA or protein produced. The other protein, T1R3, is present and identical to that of other animals, and the relevant taste buds are still present but inactive. Such a genetic marker found in the entire family and not other animals must be the result of a mutation in an early ancestor; as a deletion mutation it could not revert, and thus would be inherited by all descendants, as the evolutionary tree branched out. Most scientists now believe this is the root of the cat family's extremely specialized evolutionary niche as a hunter and carnivore. Their modified sense of taste would cause them to some degree to ignore plants, a large part of whose taste appeal derives from their high sugar content, in favor of a high-protein carnivorous diet, which would still stimulate their remaining taste receptors.
Understanding Cat Body Language
Many people fail to understand the silent body language of cats. In particular, people who are accustomed to the outwards signs of dog body language seem slow in detecting what a cat is telling them in its body language, which creates the false impression that cats are cold-hearted, unemotional, or unintelligent. To understand cats, one must observe a feline closely and learn what its body signals tell them. It is important to keep in mind that each cat may display its emotions with different body language. The flattened ears, teeth showing, baring belly for submission are easily 'read' by humans. Some characteristic signals, however, are often misunderstood. For instance, a cat rubbing its body along an arm or leg of its human is not only a way in which to attract attention and, perhaps, a morsel of food; it is also a way of 'marking' its human as its own. Using scent glands located around its mouth and elsewhere, it subtly 'marks' its human as part of its cat territory. Most cats prefer gentle rubs behind the ears. To inform their humans they need petting or attention, a cat may push its entire body weight up against the human as the cat snuggles next to his/her favorite person.
Disgust - Lifting and subsequent shaking of a paw or paws. The more paws, the stronger a feeling is indicated; this can sometimes be a four paw affair with each paw being lifted and shaken in turn. This is possibly related to the identical action that's displayed after stepping in water.
Aggression - The swishing or sweeping of the tail in a wide swath, mid-air or against a person means the cat is trying to get your attention. And if the message isn't getting through, the cat may simply leave the room.
Relaxation - Sprawling on the side or back and, possibly, rolling about; this may be seen, for example, when a person enters the room or stirs from their seat. The cat may display this at the same time as the person's movement.
Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
Affection - A pressing of the face or top of the head against a person's body, leaving a scent as a marking of territory. Rubbing in quick succession. Cats may also slowly blink as an expression of affection or security.
Submission - Upon being approached, it will fall down on its side, indicating it is not seeking attention and is unwilling to put up a fight.
Contentedness - Kneading with the paws on a person or, for example, a favorite blanket or sleeping spot. Young kittens knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the feeding reflex in her so that her milk flows for the kittens to suckle on. Cats may knead for a short or extended period of time, the extended period sometimes interpreted by people as a sign of discomfort or restlessness, but it is more likely the cat is happy. Most cats will demonstrate this for about ten minutes at the longest, although a select few have been known to knead and suckle on their favorite human's shirt over the course of an entire night. Researchers at Oxford University have demonstrated that cats derive immense pleasure from kneading.
Scent Rubbing - This behavior is used primarily to claim ownership of something: although female cats don't spray, unlike male cats. Once male cats are neutered the scent rubbing or spraying will wear out or stop.
Courting - Cats, compared to many other mammals have a unique courting style. Courtship consists of firstly the female coming into season, or heat. Male cats will be able to smell a female cat in heat miles away, and will therefore be seeking her out. This can be very problematic for any owner who has a whole female. When males arrive, they will fight mercilessly for the right to be the first to mate with the female. After the dominant male has left, the less dominant males will then each mate with the female in turn. It is therefore possible that even if a male cat loses first breeding rights, he can still be the father. This is also the reason that a litter of kittens can consist of two or sometimes even three fathers.
Cat Vocal Calls
Purring - Many people find purring as a sign of content, which it is; however, it is slightly more than that. Some cats purr when they are in extreme pain, or in labour, simply to try and calm themselves down. Purring therefore can be a sign of pleasure or pain; usually it is the former. Scientists have not yet been able to discover how purring works, but it is suspected that it is caused by minute vibrations in the voice box.
Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
Distress - Mewing is often a plea for help or attention often made by kittens. There are two basic types of this call, one more loud and frantic, the other more high-pitched. In older cats it is more of a panicky repeated meow.
Attention - Often simple meows and mews in both older cats and young kittens. A commanding meow is for example, attention, or food.
Protest - Whining meows.
Frustration - A strong sigh or exhaled snort.
Happy - A meow that starts low then goes up and comes back down.
Watching/Interest - Cats will often "chatter" or "chirrup" on seeing something of interest out of the window, this is sometimes attributed to mimicking birdsong to attract prey or draw others attention to it, but often birds are not present. Bengals and Tabbies seem more likely to display this behavior.
Cat Socialization
It is a widly held misconception that cats are sneaky, shy, or aloof animals. Most feline shyness/aggression is a result of abuse, neglect, or poor socialization. A cat is unlike a dog in the sense that a dog will instantly trust you unless you have given it a reason not to. A cat will not trust you unless you have given it a reason to trust you.
A kitten is scared of people at first, but if it is handled and well cared for in the first 16 weeks, it will grow up into a sweet, loving cat that will enjoy human company. It is harder to socialize an adult cat, but this can be very rewarding.
Cats are not emotionally dependant on humans like dogs are, and do enjoy some "cat time" away from humans, and will let out a faint "meow" if it doesn't want to be picked up, but for the most part, a cat is a friendly companion animal.
History
The Serval cat is the foundation cat for the Savannah Breed. The first and subsequent generations derived from the breeding of a Serval cat to a domestic cat or a Serval cat to a Savannah cat is recognized as a domestic Savannah cat. The goal of the Savannah breeding program is to create a domestic cat which has physical features distinctive to the Serval cat, and with the loving, dependable temperament of the typical domestic cat. The overall impression of the Savannah is a tall, lean, graceful cat with striking large spots and/or randomly swirling bold markings on a luxurious clear light background (except for solid colors, which have no defined markings). The Savannah cat is bred to resemble the tall, lean, muscular Serval cat of the African plains from which it's ancestors originated. Affectionate and outgoing, with exceptionally long neck, legs and ears, as well as a short, three-quarter length tail, the Savannah is both unusual and beautiful. The Savannah is also an exceptionally graceful, well-balanced cat with striking color and/or pattern.
Behavior
Savannahs have been described as friendly, assertive, active, and interested in dogs and children. They are commonly compared to dogs in their loyalty, and they will follow their owners around the house like a canine. They can also be trained to walk on a leash like a dog, and even fetch.
Savannahs often greet people with head-butts, or an unexpected pounce. Some savannahs are reported as being very social and friendly with other cats and dogs, while others may run and hide or revert to hissing and growling when seeing a stranger. Exposure to other people and pets is most likely the key factor in sociability as the Savannah kitten grows up.
Owners of Savannahs say that they are very impressed with the intelligence of this breed of cat. Savannahs have been known to get into all sorts of things; they often learn how to open doors and cupboards, and anyone buying a Savannah will likely need to take special precautions to prevent the cat from getting into things.
Water isn't a fear of the Savannah cat; many will play or even immerse themselves in water. Presenting a water bowl to a Savannah may also prove a challenge, as some will promptly begin to "bat" all the water out of the bowl until it is empty, using their front paws.
Vocally, savannahs may either chirp like their serval father, meow like their domestic mother, or do both, sometimes producing sounds which are a mixture of the two. Chirping, when present, is usually observed more often in earlier generations. Savannahs may also "hiss"-a serval-like hiss is quite different from a domestic cat's hiss, sounding more like a very loud snake hiss, and can be alarming to humans not acquainted to such a sound coming from a cat. Hissing, and even aggressive behavior which involves hissing, is usually more frequent in F1 or occasionally F2 generations, and may subside or disappear as the cat is socialized.
Physical Characteristics - General Feline Information
Sight: Testing indicates that a cat's vision is superior at night in comparison to humans, and inferior in daylight. Cats, like dogs and many other animals, have a tapetum lucidum that reflects extra light to the retina. While this enhances the ability to see in low light, it appears to reduce net visual acuity, thus detracting when light is abundant. In very bright light, the slit-like iris closes very narrowly over the eye, reducing the amount of light on the sensitive retina, and improving depth of field. The tapetum and other mechanisms give the cat a minimum light detection threshold up to seven times lower than that of humans. Variation in color of cats' eyes in flash photographs is largely due to the interaction of the flash with the tapetum.
Average cats have a visual field of view estimated at 200°, versus 180° in humans, with a binocular field (overlap in the images from each eye) narrower than that of humans. As with most predators, their eyes face forward, affording depth perception at the expense of field of view.
Field of view is largely dependent upon the placement of the eyes, but may also be related to the eye's construction. Instead of the fovea which gives humans sharp central vision, cats have a central band known as the visual streak. Cats can apparently differentiate among colors, especially at close range, but without appreciable subtlety.
Cats have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, which is a thin cover that closes from the side and appears when the cat's eyelid opens. This membrane partially closes if the cat is sick; although in a sleepy, content cat this membrane is often visible. If a cat chronically shows the third eyelid, it should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation.
Unlike humans, cats do not need to blink their eyes on a regular basis to keep their eyes lubricated (with tears). Unblinking eyes are probably an advantage when hunting. Cats will, however, "squint" their eyes, usually as a form of communication. Cat owners can often entice their pets to squint or even fully close their eyes just by talking to them in a soothing or pleasing manner. Many cats will also squint in response to seeing their owners squint.
Cats have a wide variation in eye color, the most typical colors being golden, green and orange. Blue eyes are usually associated with the Siamese breed, but they are also found in white cats. If a white cat has two blue eyes, it is often times deaf; however, orange eyes usually indicate the cat is free of hearing problems.
White cats having one blue and one other-colored eye are called "odd-eyed" and may be deaf on the same side as the blue eye. This is the result of the yellow iris pigmentation rising to the surface of only one eye, as blue eyes are normal at birth before the adult pigmentation has had a chance to express itself in the eye(s).
Hearing: Humans and cats have a similar range of hearing on the low end of the scale, but cats can hear much higher-pitched sounds, up to 70 kHz, which is 1.6 octaves above the range of a human, and even 1 octave above the range of a dog. When listening for something, a cat's ears will swivel in that direction; a cat's ear flaps (pinnae) can independently point backwards as well as forwards and sideways to pinpoint the source of the sound. Cats can judge within three inches (7.5 cm) the location of a sound being made one yard (approximately one meter) away-this can be useful for localizing prey, etc.
Smell: A domestic cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times as strong as a human's. Cats have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as people do, which means they can smell things we are not even aware of. Cats also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths called the vomeronasal, or Jacobson's organ. When a cat wrinkles its muzzle, lowers its chin, and lets its tongue hang a bit, it is opening the passage to the vomeronasal. This is called gaping, "sneering", or "flehming". Gaping is the equivalent of the Flehmen response in other animals, such as dogs, horses and big cats.
Touch: A cat has about twenty-four movable vibrissae ("whiskers"), in four rows on each upper lip on each side of its nose (some cats may have more), in addition to a few on each cheek, tufts over the eyes, bristles on the chin, the cat's inner "wrists", and at the back of the legs. The Sphynx (a nearly hairless breed) may have full length, short, or no whiskers at all. Vibrissae aid navigation and sensation. The upper two rows of whiskers can move independently from the lower two rows for even more precise measuring. Whiskers are more than twice as thick as ordinary hairs, and their roots are set three times deeper than hairs in a cat's tissue. Richly supplied with nerve endings at their base, whiskers give cats extraordinarily detailed information about air movements, air pressure and anything they touch. Vibrissae possess exquisite sensitivity to vibrations in air currents.As air swirls and eddies around objects, whiskers vibrate too. Whiskers may detect very small shifts in air currents, enabling a cat to know it is near obstructions without actually seeing them. Cats use messages in these vibrations to sense the presence, size, and shape of obstacles without seeing or touching them.
Whiskers are also good hunting tools. The structure of the brain region which receives information from the vibrissae is similar to that found in the visual cortex, suggesting that the nature of the cat's perception through its whiskers is similar to that via its vision. Stop motion photography reveals that at the moment a cat's prey is so close to its mouth to be too near for accurate vision, its whiskers move so as to form a basket shape around its muzzle in order to precisely detect the prey's location. A cat whose whiskers have been damaged may bite the wrong part of a mouse it's attacking, indicating that signals from these delicate structures provide cats with vital information about the shape and activity of its prey - interestingly, whiskers also help cats detect scents. It is thought that a cat may choose to rely on the whiskers in dim light where fully dilating the pupils would reduce its ability to focus on close objects. The whiskers also spread out roughly as wide as the cat's body making it able to judge if it can fit through an opening. Whiskers are also an indication of the cat's attitude. Whiskers point forward when the cat is inquisitive and friendly, and lie flat on the face when the cat is being defensive or aggressive. Whiskers can also be a bother to a cat, especially when the cat tries to eat food out of a bowl. The end of the whiskers touching the side of the bowl transfer irritating sensations to its brain, making it hard for it to continue eating.
Taste: The cat family was shown in 2005 to lack the T1R2 protein, one of two required for function of the sweetness sensory receptor; a deletion in the relevant gene (Tas1r2) causes a shift in the genetic reading frame, leading to transcription stopping early and no detectable mRNA or protein produced. The other protein, T1R3, is present and identical to that of other animals, and the relevant taste buds are still present but inactive. Such a genetic marker found in the entire family and not other animals must be the result of a mutation in an early ancestor; as a deletion mutation it could not revert, and thus would be inherited by all descendants, as the evolutionary tree branched out. Most scientists now believe this is the root of the cat family's extremely specialized evolutionary niche as a hunter and carnivore. Their modified sense of taste would cause them to some degree to ignore plants, a large part of whose taste appeal derives from their high sugar content, in favor of a high-protein carnivorous diet, which would still stimulate their remaining taste receptors.
Understanding Cat Body Language
Many people fail to understand the silent body language of cats. In particular, people who are accustomed to the outwards signs of dog body language seem slow in detecting what a cat is telling them in its body language, which creates the false impression that cats are cold-hearted, unemotional, or unintelligent. To understand cats, one must observe a feline closely and learn what its body signals tell them. It is important to keep in mind that each cat may display its emotions with different body language. The flattened ears, teeth showing, baring belly for submission are easily 'read' by humans. Some characteristic signals, however, are often misunderstood. For instance, a cat rubbing its body along an arm or leg of its human is not only a way in which to attract attention and, perhaps, a morsel of food; it is also a way of 'marking' its human as its own. Using scent glands located around its mouth and elsewhere, it subtly 'marks' its human as part of its cat territory. Most cats prefer gentle rubs behind the ears. To inform their humans they need petting or attention, a cat may push its entire body weight up against the human as the cat snuggles next to his/her favorite person.
Disgust - Lifting and subsequent shaking of a paw or paws. The more paws, the stronger a feeling is indicated; this can sometimes be a four paw affair with each paw being lifted and shaken in turn. This is possibly related to the identical action that's displayed after stepping in water.
Aggression - The swishing or sweeping of the tail in a wide swath, mid-air or against a person means the cat is trying to get your attention. And if the message isn't getting through, the cat may simply leave the room.
Relaxation - Sprawling on the side or back and, possibly, rolling about; this may be seen, for example, when a person enters the room or stirs from their seat. The cat may display this at the same time as the person's movement.
Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
Affection - A pressing of the face or top of the head against a person's body, leaving a scent as a marking of territory. Rubbing in quick succession. Cats may also slowly blink as an expression of affection or security.
Submission - Upon being approached, it will fall down on its side, indicating it is not seeking attention and is unwilling to put up a fight.
Contentedness - Kneading with the paws on a person or, for example, a favorite blanket or sleeping spot. Young kittens knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the feeding reflex in her so that her milk flows for the kittens to suckle on. Cats may knead for a short or extended period of time, the extended period sometimes interpreted by people as a sign of discomfort or restlessness, but it is more likely the cat is happy. Most cats will demonstrate this for about ten minutes at the longest, although a select few have been known to knead and suckle on their favorite human's shirt over the course of an entire night. Researchers at Oxford University have demonstrated that cats derive immense pleasure from kneading.
Scent Rubbing - This behavior is used primarily to claim ownership of something: although female cats don't spray, unlike male cats. Once male cats are neutered the scent rubbing or spraying will wear out or stop.
Courting - Cats, compared to many other mammals have a unique courting style. Courtship consists of firstly the female coming into season, or heat. Male cats will be able to smell a female cat in heat miles away, and will therefore be seeking her out. This can be very problematic for any owner who has a whole female. When males arrive, they will fight mercilessly for the right to be the first to mate with the female. After the dominant male has left, the less dominant males will then each mate with the female in turn. It is therefore possible that even if a male cat loses first breeding rights, he can still be the father. This is also the reason that a litter of kittens can consist of two or sometimes even three fathers.
Cat Vocal Calls
Purring - Many people find purring as a sign of content, which it is; however, it is slightly more than that. Some cats purr when they are in extreme pain, or in labour, simply to try and calm themselves down. Purring therefore can be a sign of pleasure or pain; usually it is the former. Scientists have not yet been able to discover how purring works, but it is suspected that it is caused by minute vibrations in the voice box.
Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
Distress - Mewing is often a plea for help or attention often made by kittens. There are two basic types of this call, one more loud and frantic, the other more high-pitched. In older cats it is more of a panicky repeated meow.
Attention - Often simple meows and mews in both older cats and young kittens. A commanding meow is for example, attention, or food.
Protest - Whining meows.
Frustration - A strong sigh or exhaled snort.
Happy - A meow that starts low then goes up and comes back down.
Watching/Interest - Cats will often "chatter" or "chirrup" on seeing something of interest out of the window, this is sometimes attributed to mimicking birdsong to attract prey or draw others attention to it, but often birds are not present. Bengals and Tabbies seem more likely to display this behavior.
Cat Socialization
It is a widly held misconception that cats are sneaky, shy, or aloof animals. Most feline shyness/aggression is a result of abuse, neglect, or poor socialization. A cat is unlike a dog in the sense that a dog will instantly trust you unless you have given it a reason not to. A cat will not trust you unless you have given it a reason to trust you.
A kitten is scared of people at first, but if it is handled and well cared for in the first 16 weeks, it will grow up into a sweet, loving cat that will enjoy human company. It is harder to socialize an adult cat, but this can be very rewarding.
Cats are not emotionally dependant on humans like dogs are, and do enjoy some "cat time" away from humans, and will let out a faint "meow" if it doesn't want to be picked up, but for the most part, a cat is a friendly companion animal.
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