The Breed

The Savannah cat has been recognized as a breed by the TICA (The International Cat Association) since 1994. It is a large, slim cat with long legs, a long neck and a somewhat small, thin head with large ears. The fur is mainly black-spotted with a gold, silver or light gray primary color; the stomach is usually lighter to white. The following colors have been recognized by TICA: brown (black) spotted tabby, black silver spotted tabby, black and black smoke. However, other colors have also been recognized, depending on the breed that has been crossed. Since there were not originally enough fertile male cats, different breeds were crossed (outcross pairings), especially the Bengal cat, but also the Egyptian Mau, the Ocicat, the Oriental Shorthair and the Maine Coon. There are now enough Savannah males available, which means that Savannah x Savannah pairings are standard and outcross pairings are no longer permitted. The cat may be 1.5 years of age before the primary color becomes lighter. Light imprints, so-called ocelli on the back of the ears are very desirable. Striking, dark tear lines are also visible on the face (http://tica.org/pdf/publications/standards/sv.pdf).

Several different letter and number combinations are used to classify the Savannah cat. To make things easier, the letter ‘F’ for ‘Foundation’ is used for differentiating between different generations. The subsequent number tells you how many generations the Savannah is removed from its serval ancestor. Pairing a serval with a Savannah cat creates a first-generation hybrid cat, a so-called F1 cat. F1, F2 and F3 stand for early generations, F4, F5 and SBT for later generations.

The registration codes that TICA uses to classify the Savannah cat are as follows:

1. Stud Book Codes

• SB: The cat has no cats that are unknown, unregistered or that descend from another breed or breeding groups in its three-generation family tree – in other words, in the last three generations

2. Codes – the following codes are featured in third place when labeling the cat

• T: Traditional: Pairings only with Savannah cats over the last three generations
• P: Permissible: Crosses outside of the breed permitted by the breeding program designed for the breeding (note: previously permitted pairings no longer exist today, when strictly Savannah x Savannah pairings are permitted)
• N: Non-permissible: Crosses outside of the breed, non-permissible pairings
• S: Outcross pairings with other species than Felis cats (Felis domesticus). These pairings are used in foundation breeding programs but are non-permitted pairings by definition. These include pairings with the African serval. That is why all Savannah cats of the first to third generations have an ‘S’ in the third place

3. Ancestry Record Codes

• 01: The cat has at least one unknown or unregistered parent
• 02: The cat has at least one unknown or unregistered grandparent
• 03: The cat has at least one unknown or unregistered great-grandparent

4. Hybridization Record Codes

• AO: This cat is the product of two cats of different breeds
• BO: The cat has at least one grandparent with another breed
• CO: The cat has at least one great-grandparent with another breed

Example: C3S: Third-generation Savannah cat. C: One great-grandparent is not a Savannah cat. S: An outcross pairing with a serval

F1 and F2 are classed as hybrid cats and as wild-cats you need a permission for in Switzerland. for F3 and higher generations there are no legal regulations. SBT Savannahs are classed as purebreed Savannah cats and are the ultimate goal of Savannah breeding. They are much more homogeneous in type than earlier generations and at least four generations removed from the serval.

The Savannah cat belongs in breeding group I within the TICA classification.