the savannah, reviewed

that is my verdict. now see if you can even recognise this breed →

The Savannah is the tallest and most exotic cat most people will ever see, a lean, long-legged animal descended from a wild African serval crossed with a domestic cat. It is spectacular, athletic, and enormously demanding, and it holds the highest gremlin score I have ever awarded. This is not a pet for beginners, and I will be honest about why. Here is the review.

what is a savannah

The Savannah is a recent hybrid breed created by crossing a domestic cat with the serval, a wild African cat, and then breeding the offspring on. How wild a given Savannah is depends on its generation: the earliest crosses, closest to the serval, are the largest and most demanding, while later generations are steadily more like ordinary domestic cats in size and manner. What runs through all of them is intelligence, athleticism, and an intensity that few other breeds can match.

the look

This is an unmistakable cat. The Savannah is tall and lean, with very long legs, a long neck, large upright ears, and a short spotted coat that recalls its wild ancestor. The earliest generations can stand remarkably tall and are among the largest of all domestic-type cats. It moves with a wild, deliberate grace, and it looks like exactly what it is, a small piece of the African bush in your living room. It scores low on fluffiness because this cat is built for motion, not for folding into a bread shape.

temperament: the wild handful

The gremlin score of ninety-seven is not a joke. Savannahs are astonishingly active, intelligent, and curious, capable of leaping onto the highest surfaces, opening doors and taps, and inventing trouble no ordinary cat would consider. Many can be leash-trained, play fetch, and even enjoy water, and they bond strongly with their people in a dog-like way. All of this makes them fascinating, and all of it makes them exhausting. A bored or under-stimulated Savannah is a genuinely destructive animal. This is a full-time commitment, not a decorative one.

care and health, the honest part

The short coat is easy. Everything else is not. A Savannah needs enormous amounts of space, height, enrichment, and interaction, and it does best with experienced owners who understand what they are taking on. There are also serious legal considerations: ownership of Savannahs, particularly early generations, is restricted or banned in many countries, states, and cities, so you must check your local law before even considering one. On health, the breed is generally robust, but early-generation hybrids can have specific dietary and veterinary needs, and not every vet is familiar with them.

is a savannah right for you

For the vast majority of people, honestly, no. A Savannah suits only an experienced, dedicated owner with plenty of space, time, energy, and the legal right to keep one, who genuinely wants a wild-tempered, high-maintenance animal rather than a companion cat. In the right expert hands it is extraordinary. In the wrong ones it is a miserable, destructive mismatch. Please research the law and the reality thoroughly before going near one.

the chairman's verdict

Seventy-eight. The Savannah is the most spectacular cat on my list and by far the most demanding, a magnificent, wild-hearted animal that most homes have no business owning. It earns a record gremlin score and loses points for being entirely impractical for ordinary life. Admire it from a great distance. I certainly intend to.

Related reading from my desk: more breeds in the cat breeds guide, the biggest cat breeds, and the Bengal, another wild-looking handful.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. Savannah ownership is legally restricted in many places and carries real practical demands. Research your local law and speak to an experienced breeder and vet before considering one. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.