The short answer is yes. It is very possible that a Savannah cat can kill a dog. But the answer must be qualified in several ways. First of all, it depends on what kind of dog you own. If it’s a small or even medium breed, your Savannah may well be able to overpower it. A Mastiff or Great Dane may be another story.
There is also the fact that a Savannah cat is highly intelligent. As a result, they can also be trained to a high degree. This means that a large amount of their feral instincts can be smoothed over, at least at surface level. You can train your Savannah to be less aggressive around other pets and family members.
While the number of Savannah cat fights with dogs is a relatively low one, it is true that they do occur. These will usually occur in the wild during a hunting, fishing, or camping trip that you may have brought your dog along. Keep in mind that you are taking a risk by choosing to enter wild cat territory in the first place.
It is also sadly true that humans will kill a few dozen Savannah cats per year. This is usually when encountering them out in the wild. However, if you own a Savannah as a house pet, you need to make sure that they stay inside. There have been quite a few incidents of Savannahs being shot and killed by neighbors once they leave your house.
Are Savannah Cats Good With Dogs?
Savannah cats are a mix of a domestic cat and a feral species known as a serval. This means that they are the feline version of a popular wolf-dog hybrid. As such, they are bound to have wild instincts to a lesser or higher degree. It all depends on the mix that an individual inherits. Some are less wild, others are more so.
Of course, if you raise a Savannah from birth, they have a higher chance of becoming domesticated. This means that you will have a much higher level of ability to teach them to respect other humans as well as most animals they will come into contact with. This is all the more important if you want to keep your smaller dogs safe.
Your best bet may be to simply not bring your Savannah into any kind of contact with other animals. You do need to keep in mind that a Savannah, however tame and easily trainable on the surface, is still an at least semi-wild animal. This means that, like all cats, they have the instincts of a predator.
However, unlike your domestic tabby, a Savannah cat is substantially larger, stronger, and more able to easily satisfy their carnivorous urges. While a Savannah can be taught to coexist with dogs, it’s probably better not to tempt fate. Keeping them well away from any canine pets you may have will more than likely be the best policy.
Are Savannah Cats Dangerous To People Or Other Pets?
As noted above, a Savannah cat can be very dangerous both to people and other pets. If you want to keep a Savannah in your house, it’s most likely best not to bring any other animals into your home. You want them to get used to your family members as soon and as easily possible. It’s best not to introduce any extra distractions.
A Savannah will not usually attack humans unless they feel that they are being threatened. They are not good to keep around small children. This is not because they see children as food but because they are simply too large and energetic. A fully grown Savannah will be too much for a small child to deal with.
You should also keep in mind that a Savannah cat that has grown up in the house of their owner may very well be extremely loyal to them. After all, they want to protect the human who has given them a lifetime’s worth of food and shelter. If you make any false moves that appear to threaten their friend, a Savannah may well attack you.
For all of these reasons and more, it’s a very good idea to consider all of your various options before adopting a Savannah cat. They are strong, smart, and very loyal. But they are also semi-wild animals with a predator’s instinct. You will need to exercise a great deal of tact, caution, and common sense if you do adopt one.
Ways To Prevent Your Savannah Cat From Fighting With Dogs
There are several ways that you can safely prevent your Savannah cat from getting into fights with dogs.
- The safest way would probably be to simply avoid having other pets in the house beside your Savannah. This will certainly decrease the chances of your Savannah interacting with your dog in a less than welcome manner.
- If you are going to keep a Savannah cat in the house with dogs, it’s probably best to make sure that the dogs are larger breed. This will not guarantee that the Savannah will refrain from attacking them. But it will give your dogs a better chance at warding off or surviving the outcome with fewer scars or injuries.
- Your best bet to keep your Savannah relatively calm around dogs or other pets is to acclimate them to the presence of other animals besides themselves. This way, you can slowly but surely get them used to the idea that you do have other pets. Keep in mind that Savannahs are very energetic and are also natural attention hogs.
If you keep up the process of familiarizing long enough, your Savannah may eventually come around to accepting other pets. However, this is a process that needs to start right away. The younger your Savannah is, the higher the possibility of succeeding. It will take much patience.