Serengeti Cat
Cat Facts

If your are looking for a hybrid cat breed, but not an exotic wild hybrid cat, then the Serengeti Cat is for you. The creation of this cat was inspired by the wild African Serval cat, but the good news is that there is absolutely no Serval blood in this cat.

Despite its resemblance to the Serval, no Serval Cats were used in the breeding program. This rare cat breed was developed by crossing the Bengal cat and Oriental Shorthair Cat.

The founder of this new cat breed, Karen Sausman, is a conservation biologist with an impressive résumé with regards to her devotion to animals across the world that are on the endangered list.

Mrs Sausman is strongly opposed to keeping wild animals (in this case wild cats) in captivity, especially for the purpose of domestication. Her love and dedication to animals in danger of extinction, led her to collaborate with other breeders to create the Serengeti. Karen's ultimate goal is to dissuade people from purchasing wild hybrid cats by offering them an alternative to these exotic cats.

The Serengeti hybrid breed was created in California, USA and first graced the 'cat walk' in 1994.

Features and Characteristics

This cat has a beautiful upright posture and is described as medium sized. The cat's body is long and lean, but at the same time strong and solidly built. The cat's neck is thick and long and in proportion to the body. The legs are long and slim and the tail is moderately short but thick with gentle tapering from the base to the end of the tail.

The cat's head is longer that it is wide and this shape is generally described as a modified wedge. Its chin is strong, the muzzle medium sized, the whisker pads moderately rounded and the cheeks should be understated, certainly not prominent.

The ears are very large, the tips of the ears are rounded whilst the base of the ear is wide and deep. The ears are upright and set close together on the top of the head. This cat has large, round eyes separated by a broad nose. Eye-color can be gold or yellow, but green and hazel eyes are preferred. From a breed standard perspective, blue eyes are unacceptable.

The Serengeti cat has a fine textured, but dense coat with the length being short and even. It comes in two patterns, solid or random spotted. There are four accepted coat colors - brown spotted, solid black (with ghost spots), black smoke and silver spotted.

The photographs above showcase the differences and similarities between the Savannah Cat (Wild Serval / Domestic Cross), the wild Serval Cat and the Serengeti Cat.

Serengeti Cat Information

Would they suit a home with Children and other Pets?

This cat makes a wonderful pet, especially for older children. Generally, spayed/neutered cats get on well with all pets, cats and dogs. Early and proper introduction to other pets is essential.

Personality

This cat is described as gregarious, outgoing, companionable and confident. It is an intelligent cat that shows a keen interest in its surroundings. It can be quite talkative but not to the same extent as the Oriental Shorthair or Siamese cat. Whilst this cat prefers company, it does adapt well to being alone, provided it's not for extended periods. Like most cats, they adore a warm lap and being fussed over. It is an affectionate and loyal companion. This is an active and playful cat that loves to be part of an active family.

Indoor or Outdoor Cats

The Serengeti cat is well suited to indoor living provided that they have an adventure zone filled with kitty toys, cat gyms and scratchers to keep them occupied. If your cat is allowed outdoors, it needs to be a cat run or enclosure which allows your cat to roam and explore in safety.

Cat Grooming and Cat Care

This is a low maintenance cat breed which means that you only need to brush its coat once a week. Visit the chapter on cat hair care for great tips and advice for grooming shorthaired cats and cat dental care for advice on cleaning your cat's teeth.

Cat Health Concerns

The Serengeti cat is a healthy cat. Like all other cats they are susceptible to common infectious feline diseases so please do vaccinate your cat. Veterinary fees can be expensive, so you should always consider medical cat insurance for your pet.

Cat Diet and Nutrition

To keep your cat fit and healthy you should feed it the best cat food you can afford. The chapter on cat food provides excellent information on the different types of feline foods and the cat nutrition guide reviews the importance of specific nutrients in your cat's diet.

The Average Weight

3.6 - 6.8 kg (Males: 10 - 15 lbs; Females: 8 - 12 lbs)

Life Expectancy

This cat has an average life span of around 10 years

Related Cat Pages

Serengeti Cat Breeders - international cat breeder directory

Cat Pictures are Courtesy of:

© Karen Sausman, founder of the Serengeti Cat. Visit her website at: www.kingsmarkfarms.com/serengeti/kmshistory.html

Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Karen for sharing her photos with us.