As a cat lover, you may have wanted to include a beautiful Savannah cat in your home. However, you may have quickly discovered that it is illegal to own a Savannah cat in your state. This is because the Savannah cat is considered an exotic species that may pose a danger to wildlife, other pets, or even small children if they escape.
Savannah cats originate from America, but their ancestry is what causes a lot of concern for wildlife regulators. Savannah cats are a cross between a serval and a domestic cat. A serval is a wildcat found in Africa. It can grow up to 24 inches in height and can weigh up to 40 pounds.
Servals are dangerous in that they are wild. They hunt rodents and can even jump to six feet when pouncing on prey.
When servals mate with domestic cats, they produce a Savannah cat that shares many of its wild genes with its parent. It’s because of those genes that Savannahs are considered illegal in many states.
The primary concern is that those cats will escape the home or be let loose. They may find other domestic cats and reproduce with them. Then even more feral cats will be out in the wild. This is cause for concern because those feral cats are basically juiced up feral cats thanks to the serval genes that are prominent in their makeup.
They may pose a danger to local wildlife and to small children who mistake them for common domestic strays.
There is also a legal matter of exploitation. Like all exotic animals, there’s always a risk of capturing them or killing them to the point of extinction. Servals are often captured and forced to mate with domestic cats in order to produce Savannah cats. They’re placed in mills similar to the abhorrent puppy mills that run rampant across the world.
While the population of Savannah cats may flourish, the population of their ancestor, the serval, might start to perish. This can have a huge impact on the ecosystem in which they inhabit.
Definition of a Savannah cat
If you want to own a Savannah cat, then it’s important you understand the exact definition of one. A Savannah cat is any cat that is born between a serval and domestic cat. However, there are certain generations of Savannah cats that are legal to own.
Cats that belong to the fifth generation or beyond are legal. This means that the cat has to have four generations preceding it from the serval. This helps to dilute the wild cat genes within it and makes it more similar to a domestic cat that is safe to own.
First-generation and second-generation Savannah cats are particularly illegal. The wild genes in their makeup can make them too dangerous for owners to have.
What states is it illegal to own a Savannah cat?
While there are some states that don’t regulate the ownership of exotic felines, there are some that do. It is illegal to own Savannah cats in the following states:
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Texas
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Idaho
- Washington State
- Hawaii
Some of the above states do allow hybrids as long as they have permits. New Hampshire and Delaware, for example, allow you to own a hybrid as long as you have a permit.
Most of these other states, with the exception of Georgia, Hawaii, and Nebraska, also allow you to have a Savannah cat if it is either a fourth-generation or fifth-generation Savannah cat. Anything prior to the fourth-generation is illegal.
What cities is it illegal to own a Savannah cat?
While some states may allow you to own a Savannah cat, there are certain cities that do not. All of New York City, for example, finds hybrids to be illegal. Regardless of the generation, Savannah cats are not allowed in New York City. Baltimore is another city that has made it illegal to own a Savannah cat no matter what generation it is.
There are several cities and counties in Texas that considers Savannah cats illegal no matter what generation. Dallas, El Paso, Fort Bend, and Hidalgo are just a few of them.
In Denver, it is illegal to have hybrid cats.
Seattle is another city that doesn’t allow any generation of hybrid cats to exist within its borders.
To ensure you’re able to own a Savannah cat, you should check with your state and local wildlife regulations.
Are Savannah cats dangerous?
Savannah cats have destructive behavior when their needs aren’t met. This is due to the wild serval genes that still reside within it. They are used to having to hunt and hide in order to survive. They have a lot of energy that needs to be released regularly.
Savannah cats aren’t quite like other domestic cats in that they’re more similar to a dog. For one, they’re active, loyal, and social. They’ll quickly bond with their family and are wary of strangers. While they won’t attack strangers, they will remain aloof for a time.
They also enjoy playing fetch and even swimming in the water. This is because their serval ancestry also enjoys swimming in the water and hunting for fish. It’s not uncommon to find Savannah cat owners taking their cat for a walk on a leash either.
This is a great method for helping your cat release some of its energy.
They’re also natural climbers and love to perch on high objects. Buying them a cat tree can give them a sense of security and offer them a place to run around and climb to expend some of their energy.
Like dogs, they also have destructive behavior when they’re bored. You need to be sure that you’re ready to own an energetic and active cat before buying one. One step you need to take is to ensure your cat can’t leave the house. If they get outside, then it’s unlikely that they’ll come back.
You’ll also want to buy durable toys. They play rough which isn’t ideal for young children.
