While people are initially attracted to the exoticism of the cat's looks, 'what most come to love most is the Savannahs' intelligence, bond to their humans, and playfulness,' which makes them almost dog-like companions, according to the International Cat Association's Savannah Breed Committee, via spokesperson Paige Dana. “It’s like you’re bringing a piece of wildness in your apartment or your home.” He compares the Savannah’s allure to that of the Bengal, a popular hybrid with a rosette coat pattern inherited from its wild Asian leopard cat ancestors. The exceptional hunters use their supersize, radar dish-like ears to locate prey amid the tall grass, and long legs to pounce.īy 2001, the Texas-based International Cat Association began registering the breed, and the Savannah cat gained in popularity.įor one, their exotic look fascinates people, says Carlo Siracusa, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Servals, spotted and striped cats that weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, are widespread throughout southern Africa.

The first Savannah kitten-named Savannah, after the African savannah-was born on April 7, 1986, in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, to a Siamese mother and a serval father. But these hybrids between an African wildcat and a domestic cat are also controversial, with bans against owning the pet in certain U.S.

With their lithe, slender bodies and attractive spots, Savannah cats have charmed the Internet, garnering 1.1 billion views so far on TikTok alone.

Cat screenplay