The serval cat is a large wild cat, reminiscent of a cheetah in coloring and a caracal in face and build.
Brief information
Serval cat is a wild representative of the cat family, belonging to the bush cats. It prefers to settle near water and hide in tall grass in nature. It hunts fish, waterfowl, and small animals.
History of origin
The Serval’s habitat is almost all of Africa. Originally, spotted cats were being hunted for their lovely skins, and so now this kind is an endangered one. It can hardly be observed in its natural environment, first, due to the fact that it is rare; secondarily, the spotted tale is a nocturnal animal. The wild cat earned its name in reference to the spotted cat that resided in the Royal Menagerie of Versailles during the 18th century. The wild cat was identified in 1776, and the classification of the wild cat and all its breeds was developed in 1858.
The ancient Egyptians carried out domestication: representatives of the species turned out to be excellent home defenders from snakes and rodents. In the 19th century, servals were smuggled into Europe and America. Crossbreeding them with local cats led to the emergence of the Savannah breed, which is currently considered the largest among domestic cats.
Breed characteristics
Serval is not a domestic cat breed; it is a domesticated predator. This explains its unique “wild” appearance and the lack of pedigrees, species standards, and behavior. Such a pet will not be allowed to perform in competitions and exhibitions meant to showcase animal-tending talent. In some countries like the Russian Federation, its storage at home is unlawful under the law.
In the wild, they live for up to 15 years.
Height
An adult animal can reach 65 cm, body length – 1.5 m.
Weight
Depending on gender and individual characteristics, it varies from 7 to 20 kg.
Head
The species has a triangular, small neck that seems miniature against the animal’s overall size. The neck is elongated, slender, and muscular.
Ears
Large, vertical, and located close to each other. There are always white spots on the back of the ear – kittens use these “eyes” to navigate in the twilight so as not to lose sight of their mother.
Eyes
Medium-sized, round, usually green or yellow in color.
Body
Intense, with well-developed muscles, elongated. The limbs are elongated; the back ones are noticeably longer than the front ones. The strength of the limbs allows it to reach speeds of up to 80 km/h and jump up to 3 meters in height. The tail is thick and short: 27-45 cm.
Wool
The serval has a dense, short, soft coat without undercoat. Most representatives of the species are distinguished by a spotted color of varying degrees of saturation: in the “steppe” servals, the primary color is almost orange with contrasting black spots. In forest servals, the shades are much paler. The belly, chest, lower part of the neck, and the inner sides of the paws are much lighter or white. The spots, more minor on the chest and paws, merge into stripes on the sides. Completely black representatives of the species or albinos are very rare.
Photo of a serval
Feeding
The serval feeds on small animals, waterfowl, and fish in the wild. It eats all of these whole, including the skin and internal organs.
Please note: “The unusual bright appearance attracts attention and causes admiration; it is impossible to make a pet out of a predator taken from the wild. It is better to take a closer look at other breeds. For example, the Savannah breed has an equally unusual appearance but is much better suited for keeping at home.”
