The serval is and will remain a wild animal, even if it is raised and tamed by hand, it will never become a “cuddly cat“. Even if you meet the species protection regulations and get permission to keep a serval, you can never keep it in the house that reliable housebreaking can you don’t expect from a serval.
He needs a large, well-secured enclosure with indoor and outdoor enclosures, as offers enough space to walk and climb. There should also be water to splash around in.
Since only a few have the opportunity to keep Serval in a species-appropriate manner, the dream came true with the Savannah cat to bring a piece of wilderness into the house.
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a medium-sized wild cat of Africa, usually spotted black on an ocher yellow background.
A serval needs a lot of exercises, he should be able to let off steam. It is important for him to convert his concentrated strength and energy into running and jumping.
The larger the enclosure, the more balanced the servals are – 50-100 square meters, of course also larger, well-secured 2.80-3.5 m high enclosure with a heatable indoor area of at least 20 square meters, which offers enough space to run and climb. There should also be water to splash around in.
Of course, a serval should not live alone and lonely in its enclosure!
The serval in the wild
Its preferred habitat is the high grass of the open savannah, as well as the fringes of swamps and lakes south of the Sahara. Just like cats, the serval sneaks up to within a few meters of its prey, only to reach it with a mighty leap. Their prey includes all kinds of rodents, lizards, and birds, but also small or young antelopes.
The serval usually lives as a solitary animal outside of the mating season.
The body of the serval is very slender on high legs, the neck is long, and the head is rather small with extremely large ears. The fur is short and dense, mostly of a golden-brown base tone with black-brown markings.
How big and heavy is a serval?
Compared to other wild cats, the lynx-like wild cat is rather delicate: male animals are up to one meter long and up to 62 centimeters high. They can weigh up to 13 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller and lighter.
Of all cats, the serval has the longest legs in relation to the body. The tail, on the other hand, is relatively short.
Particularly striking is the small head with the big ears, which look almost like bat ears – and for the excellent hearing of the big cat is responsible.
Features
The serval reaches a body length of 70 to 100 cm and a shoulder height of 54 to 62 cm. He has a small head with large and pointed ears. Its legs are very long: Within the cat family, no other species has longer legs. In addition, the serval has a medium-length tail (about 40 cm) and the body is very slender (9 to 18 kg). This makes it look very elegant.
Its spot pattern shows great differences. There are servals with very small spots, while others have large spots that can almost be considered stripes. All-black servals initially thought to be a separate species, have been sighted in highland areas of East Africa, such as the Aberdare Mountains in Kenya.
Way of Life
The serval is a crepuscular loner. It is a pure carnivore that hunts rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, lizards, and wild chickens. His good hearing helps him with this since he can use it to locate the smallest noises from his prey. Servals can also leap up to ten feet high, preying on low-flying birds.
In water-rich residential areas, some servals have specialized in hunting fish or even killing flamingos. He sneaks up on the prey in the typical cat manner. He usually plays with the prey before killing and eating it.
Servals live to twenty years in zoos, but their lifespan in the wild is likely to be much shorter. Servals have few enemies but are sometimes eaten by larger cats such as leopards.
Habitat – Range of The Serval
Servals inhabit the savannas of Africa. Their long legs are an adaptation to life in tall grass. They allow the cat to look over vegetation. The serval feels better the denser the existing plant cover is, since its good ears are not restricted here.
The distribution area is south of the Sahara; a subspecies, the Barbary serval (Ls Constantina), once lived in the Algerian coastal regions.
Nutrition: What Does The Serval Eat?
The serval is active at dusk. Then it’s time to hunt for rodents, rabbits, small antelope, and birds. Snakes, frogs, and fish are also on the menu.
When stalking in tall grass, its long legs and excellent hearing come in handy. It kills its prey by leaping at it from a standing position and grabbing it with its front paws. Servals can jump up to four meters. They even catch birds in flight this way.
Before they eat their prey, young animals like to play with them for a while – a behavior that is also known as domestic cats.
Danger
The Barbary serval subspecies has been pushed back to Atlas Heights by intense persecution, where it now stands on the brink of extinction. The serval was also exterminated in large parts of South Africa.
However, the overall population is not considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Crossing with Domestic Cats
Servals can be crossed with domestic cats. The female offspring of these crosses are fertile, while the males of the first generation of crosses are usually sterile. The domestic cat breed Savannah was bred from such crosses.
Conclusion: No Cat for The Home
For ethical reasons, you should not get a serval or a Savannah cat.
Servals are at home in the wilds of Africa and only there can they lead a species-appropriate life. Also, keep in mind that wild animals are often caught and traded illegally. You should not support such criminal activities.
You should also not encourage the breeding of wildcat hybrids by asking them. Because it is associated with enormous suffering for the animals. Instead, look for an ordinary house cat. They can also be pretty wild sometimes.
