Serval Cat

Portrait of a Serval Cat

The serval cat is perhaps best known as the wild cat used to create the Savannah cat breed.

The Serval is an African wild cat that can weigh up to 50 pounds. They look very much like cheetahs and have the longest legs percentage wise, of any cat species.

Servals can reach speeds of over 50 miles per hour, but they usually use their long legs for stalking and then pouncing on prey, unlike cheetahs who simply outrun their quarry.

Servals are solitary animals that have large territories they mark along the perimeter.

They scent mark with a spray of urine, or leave visual clues by scratching particular trees.

Pregnant females do not generally den, but make a nest in tall grass. They almost always have three kittens which are born a grey color with barely visible spots.

The kittens change quickly, and within two weeks their eyes are open and their coat has taken on the adult coloring, with a fuzzy top layer.

Young servals will stay with their mother for about a year before heading off on their own.

Captive serval cats are regularly bred with domestic cats to produce a hybrid called the Savannah cat.

Savannah cats are beautiful animals that have many of the features of the wild serval, but a more domestic disposition.

Folks also keep full servals as pets, but this requires dedication and experience.

a few more Serval Cat facts

Serval cats are bred to domestic housecats to produce Savannah cats
The serval eats rodents and small birds whole
Serval cats have the biggest ears of any cat species
The servals tail is about half the length of a domestic cats tail
Servals are the most efficient hunters of all cat species
Servals are successful in 50 percent of their hunts
Lions are only successful about 30 percent of the time

So Much More to Explore...

What do you think of these fabulous animals? Leave a comment in the box below.

Serval Cat

Vote Here for Your Favorite Animal!

a few more Serval Cat facts

see more animal extreme closeups

Recent Articles

African Animals - Animal Facts Encyclopedia

Baboon Facts - Animal Facts Encyclopedia

Great Apes Facts - Animal Facts Encyclopedia

This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields (labelled below in red) have been filled in
Vote Here for Your Favorite Animal!
Pick Your Fav!