African serval cat

One of the world’s most fascinating wild cats is the African serval cat. With its large ears and long legs, this striking cat stands out from other cats thanks to its distinctive look. Originating in Africa’s grasslands and wetlands, the serval has become an expert hunter due to its perfect adaptation to its surroundings.

Some people have begun to keep servals as exotic pets despite their wild nature. But having a serval entails significant responsibilities. Compared to typical house cats, these cats have very different needs, and in order to be happy and healthy, they need a lot of space and care.

This article will discuss the essential traits of the African serval, how it behaves in the wild, and how to take care of one at home. This guide will provide you with all the necessary information to comprehend servals, regardless of whether you’re just interested in learning more or thinking about becoming a proud owner.

Characteristic	Details
Origin	Africa, mainly found in savannah regions
Size	Medium to large, typically 20-40 pounds
Lifespan	10-20 years in captivity
Temperament	Active, curious, and playful, but can be shy with strangers
Diet	Carnivorous, prefers raw meat
Unique Traits	Large ears and long legs for hunting in the wild
Care Level	Requires plenty of space and stimulation
Legal Status	Ownership laws vary by country and state

For some, the African serval cat is an unusual and exotic pet because of its large ears, long legs, and striking spotted coat. The African serval cat is a wild feline. Owning a serval, however, has several drawbacks, such as their innate hunting instincts, the requirement for large, secure spaces, and the need for specialized care. In order to assist prospective owners in determining whether a serval is a suitable pet for their home, this article examines the traits, needs, and responsibilities associated with owning one.

History of the discovery of African servals

A small member of the wild cat family, servals are wild mammals. Africa is the serval’s native land. Felis serval, also known as Leptailurus serval (bush cat), is the species’ Latin name. Because of their appearance, steppe lynxes and caracals are thought to be related to servals.

Servals are untamed African cats.

The species has a long history dating back several thousand years. Servals and other wild cats prevented rodents from destroying civilization even in ancient Egypt. Back then, people revered servals as sacred animals. However, the 19th century saw the start of these cats’ modern domestication. In Europe, servals were first domesticated. For many years, attempts were made to crossbreed serval with members of other species. The number of servals has drastically dropped as a result. Several subspecies of the species exist:

1. Leptailurus serval serval — Tanzania to the former Cape Province (South Africa).
2. Leptailurus serval beirae — Mozambique.
3. Leptailurus serval brachyura — West Africa, Sahel, Ethiopia.
4. Leptailurus serval constantina — North Africa (endangered).
5. Leptailurus serval hamiltoni — eastern former Transvaal Province (South Africa).
6. Leptailurus serval hindeio — Tanzania.
7. Leptailurus serval ingridi — Namibia, southern Botswana, Zimbabwe.
8. Leptailurus serval kempi — Uganda.
9. Leptailurus serval kivuensis — DR Congo.
10. Leptailurus serval liposticta — northern Angola.
11. Leptailurus serval lonnbergi — southern Angola.
12. Leptailurus serval mababiensis — northern Botswana.
13. Leptailurus serval robertsi — west of the former Transvaal province (South Africa).
14. Leptailurus serval togoensis — Togo, Benin.

The color distinguishes the subspecies apart. The habitat’s territory determines the subspecies division. Generally speaking, the species lives in several African nations. Subspecies also do not interbreed because of natural barriers like water bodies, dense forests, and deserts. Thus, the emergence of distinct serval subspecies is characterized by stable traits.

Photo gallery: some subspecies of serval

Many times, servals with a lot of tiny spots get confused for other species’ cats. Melanists are the name given to black servals (these cats do have spots on their bodies, but they are hardly noticeable due to their color). Cheetah-patterned servals are the most prevalent in the wild, while albino servals are incredibly uncommon. Gray-spotted white servals are a result of selective breeding.

Description of the species

Currently, there is no established norm for these cats because domestication of a wild animal happened on its own. However, this species is being studied by felinologists, so an official description might be released soon. Those who enjoy exotic animals should be cautious about the prospect of domesticating a serval because there is currently only a general description of the species.

Serval: only Africa at all times. It appears that Israel has never even experienced it. A user named Miracinonyx can be found at https://forum.zoologist.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?id=812.

Serval is a wild cat, medium-sized, resembling a cheetah. The cat"s muzzle is small, there are two dark stripes that stretch from the line of the eyes. Because of this pattern on the muzzle, the cat"s appearance seems sad, but this is just a means of camouflage. Large, elongated ears set high on the head. The cat"s neck is long, powerful. The serval"s body is small in relation to other wild cats, but large compared to domestic whiskers. The body length of the bush cat can reach 1 meter in length. The serval"s paws are long (this is due to the need for speed of movement in the wild). The cat can reach speeds of up to 80 km / h. In a jump, the serval reaches 3 meters. Thanks to its developed muscle mass, the serval can weigh up to 18 kilograms or more.

A Serval’s ears can be extended upward and rotated 90 degrees.

Servial wool can be of any color (depending on the subspecies), the main colors are from light beige to dark brown, almost black. There are spots on the body of the cat, the color of which is darker than the main tone. On the back of the spots form lines. In some places (chest, face, stomach) spots may not be. On the ears there are cross strips of the same color as the rest of the spots. Sometimes places without spots have a slightly lighter color than, for example, the back. The drawing on the body of Serval is almost always the same. White servants are also found, the spots of which are silver (or almost invisible). But this is a product of selection, not the result of the influence of nature.

The African cat’s tail is thick but short so as not to obstruct its ability to hunt. A tail can grow up to 40 centimeters in length.

The nature of the servants

Even though the African cat has regal manners, it still gets along well with people. A servant will quickly become accustomed to the owner and other family members if you take him along with a baby. The cat is going to be a playful and curious youngster. A shrub cat’s trust can only be earned by showing it love and care. A cat like that won’t be hostile toward those who feed and engage with him.

Servals are intelligent creatures. Naturally, training a wild cat is more difficult than training a dog. Even so, the animal will comprehend what his owner is asking of him. Everything is dependent on the owner’s level of patience and their bond with the cat. Even if Serval knocked over the television or broke a cup, you can’t beat him or chastise him. The cat will pick up on the person’s disgruntled tone and take the lesson to heart.

Servals are lively and highly inquisitive.

Servals typically choose to be loners in the wild. Cats also mark their territory as a means of keeping other cats out of their territory. Even when someone points this habit out to the serval, it persists. It is therefore recommended that owners of wild cats castrate their animals. Servals get along well with other animals (like dogs). Smaller animals could be mistaken for prey by the cat. Predator teeth can injure birds, rats, reptiles, and other creatures.

Although a serval may just observe outsiders, the cat may also have affectionate feelings for its owner. A pet may purr with happiness if its owner strokes and caresses it. African cats have a voice that is similar to birds chirping, and they can purr. Youngsters who share a home with a serval should exercise caution. Little ones might not realize that the animal is being played with, and it might unintentionally "defend itself" against the aggressor. They thus make an effort to keep kids away from the serval.

A wild serval will attempt to hide or flee if it feels threatened. A cat will occasionally jump a tree. In this manner, it will not get to the enemy and the offender will be easy to spot.

The lifestyle of African cats

In the natural environment, the serval occupies open spaces with tall grass or bushes. The maxim "closer to water" serves as a guide for wild cats when selecting their habitat. These Africans stay away from all plains, even desert ones. In the event that the habitat transforms into a tropical forest, the animal will select the forest’s periphery or its outskirts because it dislikes environments that are overly humid. Early in the morning and late at night are the best times to go cat hunting. Twilight is the primary prerequisite for hunting season. Small animals (hares, frogs, etc. D.) serve the servo.

Serval is a gift from nature to everyone who needs it to survive in the wild.

Nutrition

Serval hunts not only small game but also larger ones. Predators, guinea fowl, flamingos, and even antelopes can fall prey to hyraxes. The cat’s long, powerful legs enable it to move quickly over great distances, and its large, flexible ears enable it to detect movement in the distance. Having a long neck makes it possible to peer out of tall grass in search of prey. A wild cat can also burrow earthen minks and scale trees. This animal rarely fails (half of its attempts result in the victim being captured). Both in captivity and in cats, there is an innate desire to consume animals.

Filimon has expanded. Ate the age of fifteen. consumed raw meat that still had bones (goat, turkey, rabbit, and lamb parts). Everything is alive, but it’s fresh. Kasima, a user on the forum The archive of mainacoon-forum.ru/index.PHP/T-48366.HTML can be accessed using this URL.

Video: Serval Hunting

Propagation

An African cat takes 1.5 years to reach sexual maturity. A domesticated animal can be knitted with both karakals and regular cats, and in the wild, a serval is mating with a female of its appearance. Kids with signs from both parents (either easily or with caravals) will be born when knitting with karakal. Savannahs are the progeny of a wild cat’s mating with a domestic cat (such as a breed of Bengal cat). Americans started breeding this different breed at the close of the 20th century.

A serval mother can carry her young for up to 75 days. A litter can contain up to three kittens. Twice a year, African cats give birth.

An African female cat can nurse her young for up to a year.

A wild African cat’s lifespan in its natural environment is up to fifteen years.

Habitat and role in the ecosystem

African natives are known as servals. Formerly, they were spread across the whole continent. These days, they are found in Zimbabwe and South Africa, in the southern portion of the continent. The Atlas Mountains are home to multiple groups. Furthermore, tiny populations have been found in Algeria, Morocco, and Ethiopia. Since the serval’s range has expanded, Tanzania is now another place where they can be found.

One of the sturdy connections in the food chain is the serval. Because of their predatory nature, there aren’t too many rodents or other pests to overpopulate the plains. Despite the fact that wild cats can also become prey. Tropical soil benefits from the fertilization of excrement and leftover food. Toxoplasma is also carried by servals. All of this indicates that the species’ existence serves as a bridge connecting various organisms, ranging from protozoa to humans.

A specific niche is occupied by servals across a continent’s ecosystem.

Life of servals in captivity

Some breeders recommend keeping a serval only in a private house. After all, in the yard of the house you can organize an enclosure of any size. This is due to the fact that the animal needs to move actively, and this is impossible to do in an apartment. But there is another opinion. In enclosures, the wild character of the predator is preserved throughout life, in such conditions servals are kept only for the purpose of breeding (for example, if the purpose of keeping a cat is to breed kittens for sale). And if a person needs a predatory, but kind and well-mannered animal, then the cat"s habitat should be an apartment. The animal must be able to communicate with all family members.

They resemble cats in appearance and are equally as shrewd and crafty. I’ll say it again: having a serval inside the home is just as safe as having a dog or cat. Their size is another factor. It would be best to keep them in a private home; it’s just a matter of the apartment’s size. Vika, the visitor forum /showthread.php/12163-% at chins.ru D0%9E%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%82-%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%A1%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%B8-%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0

Photo gallery: domesticated servals

One can walk servals. A serval requires a lot of space, but African cats are highly curious about walks, and servals are calm about a harness and collar.

Features of care

Since these cats have been raised in extreme domestication, they are not yet used to receiving care from humans. A serval will tame its own coat. Occasionally, such as during molting, the owner may brush their spotted companion. You will need a brush with natural bristles for this. The cat doesn’t need a special bath, especially not with shampoo. However, you can rinse it if the animal is "friends" with water. These Africans can swim well and are generally not afraid of the water, but whether or not they want to swim depends on the animal’s personality and degree of trust in the person.

Remarkable fact: servals don’t shed much. This makes them suitable for even the most allergy-prone individuals to retain.

A tray is required for a serval that was brought into an apartment. It must be a large tray, the largest one available. You will need to purchase filler for the toilet (cat litter works well, but use as much as you can). A wild cat does not need to be disciplined if it walks by the tray. Point the animal towards the tray after expressing your disapproval in a belligerent tone of voice. In any case, the serval will remember the location of the toilet, but occasionally this takes some time.

You must maintain an easily accessible litter box if you want to stop the serval from leaving messes on the carpet.

A serval kitten can get by with a regular cat litter box, while an adult cat requires a larger toilet. A small bath or basin would work well for this, in my opinion. The walls of baby baths are nearly vertical, and the bottom is level. Such a tray, in my opinion, will not topple over. Yes, and it’s difficult to disperse the filler’s pebbles.

Anything that comes his way, including wires, furniture, shoes, etc., will be devoured by this African. d. As a result, you must give your wild pet an abundance of toys (even if you don’t need them). An anti-gnaw or other specialized agent can be used to treat wires. d. As soon as possible, you must accustom your pet to wearing a leash.

One small trick you can use to raise and train a serval. Play with the cat while you’re lying down on the floor next to it. Without an upward gaze, an animal will have an easier time understanding you. This approach is particularly suitable for use in the early stages of cohabitation.

Video: how a serval plays

A serval must be fed in such a way that its food provides all of the essential nutrients. Meat (including mice and rats) must be a part of the cat’s diet. Occasionally, offal and quail eggs can be fed. You can choose specific vitamins and supplements with the guidance of a veterinarian. The bowl should always contain water. The water is very different from what the cat used to drink, so it is best to filter it before serving. An African cat can provide its owner with years of joy if given the right care. A serval can survive for more than 20 years in captivity.

The African serval cat is a remarkable wild animal that is well-known for its unusual behaviors and striking appearance. It is unique among animals in the animal kingdom because of its tall, lean body and big ears. The serval, with its remarkable agility and keen senses, is bred for hunting, having evolved in Africa’s grasslands and wetlands.

Although some people are drawn to owning servals as exotic pets, it’s crucial to keep in mind that these are wild animals with extremely particular requirements. Their habits can be challenging to control in a domestic setting, and they need room to roam and hunt. Unlike domestic cats, servals may find it difficult to adjust to life as house pets.

It’s best to observe servals from a distance if you find them fascinating, either in the wild or in a sanctuary where they can live happily. Knowing these amazing creatures for what they are makes it possible to treat them with respect and care in the natural habitat in which they thrive.

Video on the topic

✔ Serval is a wild African cat, a solitary night predator, a scourge of small rodents

Serval is a Flying Cat that Knocks Down Birds and Hunts SNAKES!

Serval is the strength and grace of African wild cats. Serval in action.

Serval is a long-legged cat – a snake tamer! Interesting facts about the serval.

Serval (bush cat) – interesting facts. With Photos and Videos