Owning a Serval Cat: Care, temper, and more

Serval cats are a breed of wild cat native to sub Saharan Africa. They have long legs, big ears, and are tan with black and brown spots. They are playful, decently quiet, and very,very, active, making them a now decently popular exotic mammal pet. 

Temperance

Serval cats are a breed of wild cat native to sub Saharan Africa. They have long legs, big ears, and are tan with black and brown spots. They are playful, decently quiet, and very,very, active, making them a now decently popular exotic mammal pet. 

So, looking at this, if you live in a small house/apartment or have young kids or pets like dogs and birds, it is not a good idea to get a Serval Cat.

Feeding

Ideally, pet servals’ diet should contain a variety of animal prey—preferably living—that they can pursue and devour as they would in the wild – usually no cat food! Rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, insects, reptiles, and frogs are usually on the menu in Africa. Serval diets are very high in protein which is why living or recently killed prey makes up the bulk of the diet, and can help them get exercise chasing prey.

Where to keep them

Servals can live inside of a house as long as they can access a large open space, but a large outdoor pen at least 30×15 feet long, and 5 feet tall. It should a closed top. This will allow them to run, play, jump and hunt without getting away or hurting someone. If you get frost and snow in the winter, then a heater is a necessity.

Legals

Unfortunately, owning a Serval is illegal in most states. Read the “Laws on Exotic Pets” On this sight. You may need a permit. There are no laws in Alabama , North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada , Wisconsin , Texas , Kentucky and Delaware.

Health

You have to take a Serval Cat to the vet at least once a year. They need to go to a special “Exotic Pet Vet”. This could be tough to find, so before you get the cat or any reptile for that matter, look up places to take them. Sometimes, You may need to even travel to other states to take your animal to the vet.

External Exercise

As well as getting exercise on their own, it’s good for them to exercise by doing things like walking on a leash, especially if they have small to no cage, or a small yard. They enjoy leash walking, chasing mice and such, and swimming and digging. You can walk them like a dog, but be careful. Servals can be unpredictable, especially around other animals or areas. Be sure the leash doesn’t go too far, so that you have a method of control if the cat decides to try to come at someone or thing. We recommend taking your cat on trails and woodland paths (as in the picture above) as opposed to city/neighborhood environments, at least for the first few times. Just remmember, if you can, avoid taking you’re animal in crowded areas, especially with other animals.

Cost and Adoption

The Serval Cat can be quite exspensive. We can’t give an exact number, but we would say around a few grand for a kitten. They need to be adopted, like most pets of the matter. Adoption can be very hard to find, and may even cost extra money.

Conclusion

To conclude this, we would like to say that while this pet is odiously not an easy task, if you are a hobbyist and have a big wallet, then this pet may be right for you.