Savannah cat
Alert
Have you seen Savannah cat?
Be on the lookout for Savannah cat and report it to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in preventing Savannah cats from becoming a major problem in Queensland.
Call us on 13 25 23.
Savannah cat
© Queensland Government
Pregnant savannah cat
© Michael Broad Creative Commons
A hybrid of a domestic cat and an African serval (a medium-sized wild cat), the savannah cat is much larger than a domestic cat and retains some of the serval's features.
Savannah cats are kept as pets and bred for showing in parts of the USA but cannot be imported into Australia or kept in Queensland. If wild populations established in Queensland, savannah cats could have serious environmental impacts, including increased predation on small and medium-sized native species.
You must not keep, feed, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
Scientific name
Similar species
Description
- Hybrid of domestic cat and African serval.
- Savannah cats show significant genotypic variations depending on generation and individual pedigree. For example, F1 males weigh 8–11kg and stand 40–45cm at the shoulder. F4 and F5 males can weigh 6.3–8.2kg and stand 32–38cm at the shoulder.
- Neck is long, lean.
- Legs are long, slender.
- Face is triangular.
- Ears are large.
- Toes are elongated.
- Fur colour varies, with combinations of black, brown-spotted tabby, silver-spotted tabby, black smoke.
- Coat pattern resembles wild serval, with spots and other bold markings.
Habitat
- Likely to prefer similar habitats to those of feral cats and African servals.
- Feral cats are found throughout Queensland in most habitats and climatic extremes, so feral-serval crossbreeds are likely to have the same adaptability.
- African servals prefer tropical savanna habitats, but will also inhabit arid areas and high-altitude, low-temperature environments.
Distribution
- Not currently known.
Life cycle
- Life expectancy is unknown but predicted to be around 15 years, similar to domestic cats.
- Sexual maturity age is unknown and varies from 7–24 months depending on pedigree.
- Gestation is 63–73 days.
- 1–5 kittens per litter.
Affected animals
- Small mammals
- birds
- reptiles
- amphibians
- insects
Impacts
Environmental
- Likely increased predation on small and medium-sized native species.
- May breed with feral cats, providing genetic characteristics such as increased size and hunting efficiency.
Control
- If you see or are in possession of a savannah cat, contact our Customer Service Centre within 24 hours.
Legal requirements
- Savannah cat is a prohibited invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
- You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by savannah cats.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by savannah cats.
- You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.