The Serval is the foundation cat for the Savannah Breed.  Servals refer to cats of the Order - Carnivore, Family - Felidae, Genus - Leptailurus, and Species - Serval .  Their are many different subspecies.  The name Serval is derived from a Portuguese word meaning "wolf-deer."  The Serval is indigenous to most of Africa including the Savannas, reed-beds, open woodlands and forest.  Their habitat is normally located near water.  Servals are less common in the most arid regions of the continent, such as the Sahara and the rainforest belt of Central Africa.

The head and body length of a Serval averages two to three feet.  They are approximately one and one half to two feet tall at the shoulders, and average twenty to forty pounds.  Males are larger than females.  The serval has long muscular legs with a slender neck, relatively small head and large oval ears with rounded tips.  The back of the ears have conspicuous vivid white spots called ocelli.  The long muscular legs enable the Serval to have good climbing and great leaping abilities, which enabled them to flush out a bird on the ground and then catch it in mid flight.  Their large parabolic ears, which trap sound waves, assist Servals to find their prey.  Their hearing is so acute that they are able to detect tunneling rodents underground, which they often dig up and eat.

The general coloration of Servals range from an off white to a dark gold color.  Their entire pelate is marked with either small dark spots or large spots that tend to merge into stripes along the top of the back.  These stripes on the back of the neck may extend down the sides of the chest.  There is considerable variation in appearance depending on the particular subspecies.  Servals are paler or whited on their undersides.  Their face in often marked with freckles or flecks of color.  Generally, servals from the wetter areas display finer markings, where as those from dryer regions display larger, bolder spotted markings.  Melanistic servals are usually found in the moist and densely forested areas of Africa.  Their relatively short tail has several rings and a black tip.  Their forepaws have retractile claws which assist with grabbing and holding on to their prey.

The Serval hunts for its prey both early and late day, often napping in the afternoon.  Their diet usually consists of small hoofed mammals, birds, rodents, insects reptiles, and frogs as well as vegetable material, fruit, and a variety of many types of grass.

Servals attain sexual maturity at around 18 months of age.  Their mating cycle is nonseasonal.  The gestation of the female Serval is about 75 days, with litter size of 1 to 5 cubs, the average litter size is 2-3 cubs.

Servals have been kept in Europe as a pet for many centuries, they have recently gained popularity in the United States.  Servals settle well into a domestic lifestyle, and bond very strongly with their human family.

They do not become aggressive as they mature.  They are extremely affectionate.  They purr like domestic cats: other vocalizations include shrill high pitched calls and growls.  The Serval's lifespan in captivity is reported as being between 15 and 20 years.

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The International Savannah Breeders' Association
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