The Happy Cat Site

All you need to find a kitten and raise a happy, healthy cat

  • Breeds
  • Book
  • Kittens
  • Food
  • Health
  • Names
  • Cat Facts
  • Toys
You are here: Home / Cat Breeds / How Big Are Savannah Cats? Your Serval Mix Size Guide

How Big Are Savannah Cats? Your Serval Mix Size Guide

June 9, 2018 By Caitlin Riffee 6 Comments

How big are Savannah cats?

How Big Are Savannah Cats? Your Savannah Cat Size Guide – From F1 And Beyond!

As one of the world’s newer cat breeds, the Savannah cat is gaining in popularity among lovers of exotic cats.

As you may know, the Savannah is not your standard domestic cat – he has wild African Serval in his lineage!

Since a Savannah is created by crossing a house cat with the much larger Serval, how big will a Savannah cat be when they’re born and when they’re full grown?

In this guide, we’ll get into the size difference between a Savannah and “normal” domestic cats, as well as how big you can expect each of the seven possible Savannah generations to get.

How Big Are Savannah Cats?

Savannah cat size depends upon the generation.

As a wild cat hybrid, your Savannah cat can be as big as a Serval or as small as a domestic cat.

They range from 11 pounds, 11 inches tall to a staggering 30 pounds, 70 inches!

How do you know how big your Savannah cat is going to be?

What combination of breeds creates a Savannah cat?

A first-generation Savannah is created by breeding a domestic cat with a wild cat called the Serval, found in Africa.

(To learn more about the Serval and other wild or wild-looking cats, check out our article about Cats That Look Like Leopards!)

Subsequent generations of Savannahs are created by breeding a Savannah with another domestic cat, or by breeding a Savannah with another Savannah.

These generations are described using filial numbers ranging from F1 (first generation) to F7 (seventh generation).

As the number of generations increases, the resulting Savannahs have less Serval influence; each generation has fewer Serval genes than the generation before.

Serval cat size vs. domestic cat size

If you’ve ever seen a picture of a Serval cat (or a real one, for that matter), then one of the first things that you probably noticed is how long their legs are and how much larger they are than domestic cats.

After all, domestic cats typically weigh between 7 and 11 pounds (although I must admit, my domestic shorthair mix is currently 12 pounds!) and stand between 9 and 10 inches tall at the shoulder.

Some large cat breeds, such as the Maine Coon, reach 15-20 pounds (or more, in some instances). They may be a few inches taller than the aforementioned standard.

However, even large house cats pale in comparison to the standard Serval size.

According to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Servals may weigh anywhere from 28 to 42 pounds (males tend to be larger) and are about 23.5 inches at the shoulder.

With the above measurements in mind, you may be wondering how large a cat with Serval blood, such as a Savannah, will be.

How well do you know your cat? Discover the secret world of cats.

The Happy Cat Handbook - A unique guide to understanding and enjoying your cat!
the happy cat handbook

The answer is that while Savannahs tend to be tall, long-legged, and lean, each individual’s size depends largely on their breeding and what generation they are.

We’ll tell you how to approximate the size of a mature Savannah in upcoming sections.

How big are Savannah kittens?

We cannot say with accuracy how big Savannah kittens will be, as their size at birth may reflect the size of each of their parents.

However, as with any breed of kitten, it’s possible that you will not be able to tell just how large a Savannah cat will be by looking at his birth weight and height.

After all, a small kitten may grow up to be a large representative of a breed.

Conversely, a large kitten may grow up to be an average-sized representative of a breed.

Ultimately, genetics make the final determination on Savannah cat size.

How big are Savannah kittens?

How big are Savannah cats In Later Generations?

As we’ve mentioned a few times throughout this article, a full-grown Savannah’s height and weight will depend largely on his generation and how close he is, genetically speaking, to his Serval relative.

Generally, F1 Savannahs, which are 50% Serval, and F2 Savannahs, which are 25-30% Serval, are the largest Savannahs.

It’s a toss-up with F3 Savannahs, as they still have 12/15% or more Serval in their blood.

They may still be a bit larger.

As a result of their being further from their Serval heritage, F4-F7 Savannah generations tend to stay smaller, although they commonly still appear lankier than a “normal” house cat.

(However, it is possible that you may have a large later-generation Savannah. DNA is just funny sometimes!)

How Big Are Savannah Cats When They Are Full Grown?

Although we’ve established the above guidelines, it’s still rather hard to predict a Savannah cat’s mature size.

Did you know that thousands of research papers have been published on cat behavior and health? No time to read them all? Don’t worry - we’ve done it for you! And picked out the best bits! The Happy Cat Handbook - A unique guide to understanding and enjoying your cat!
the happy cat handbook

This is because genetics play a lead role.

Many Savannah cat breeders do not guarantee a size for their Savannah kittens, since genetic diversity makes the final outcome hard to predict, regardless of the cat’s generation.

Because of the lack of certainty in Savannah cat size, and to help confirm any trends in size by generation, the Savannah Cat Association asked a variety of Savannah cat owners to submit their cats’ generation, sex, height, and weight.

I’ve used that study as a reference for the following Savannah cat sizes by generation.

As the study was relatively small and there is a lot of room for size fluctuation, as we’ve already discussed, please read the sizes as approximations.

They are not meant to be read as hard guidelines.

F1 Savannah cat size

It’s generally accepted that the F1 Savannah is the largest of all Savannah generations, which makes sense, given its close genetic relationship to the Serval.

Male F1 Savannahs may reach 25-30 pounds, with females weighing in about 10 pounds less.

Their average height is between 16 and 17 inches tall at the shoulder, although it’s certainly possible that an F1 could be closer to their Serval parent’s height of 23.5 inches.

F2 Savannah cat size

Since F2 Savannahs are one quarter Serval, they also tend toward the Serval’s end of the size spectrum.

Male F2 Savannahs may reach 14-20 pounds, with females trending just a few pounds less.

Their average height is about 14 inches tall at the shoulder. Again, an F2 Savannah could be larger (or smaller) than these measurements.

F3 Savannah cat size

With just one eighth Serval in their blood, F3 Savannahs may be the first generation to start the decrease-in-size trend, but there’s still a 50-50 chance that they’ll retain the larger size.

Male F3 Savannahs may reach between 15 and 20 pounds, with females a few pounds less.

Their average height is between 13 and 14 inches tall at the shoulder.

Definitely allow for some size variation, as even one eighth of Serval genes has the potential to create an “oddball” which doesn’t conform to these size ranges.

F4 Savannah cat size

Because they have just one sixteenth or less of Serval in their blood, F4 Savannahs are considered to be the first generation of “purebred” Savannahs.

Male F4 Savannahs mature to between 15 and 17 pounds, with mature females staying around 12-15 pounds.

Their average height is likely to be about 11 inches, give or take an inch or two on either end of that range.

Due to the variance in genetics in the F4 generation, it’s possible that you’ll get a Savannah that is smaller than the above measurements.

Chances of an F4 being larger than the above measurements start to decrease here.

F5-F7 Savannah cat size

For F5, F6, and F7 Savannah cats, you can generally expect them to stay in the size range of 11-13 pound and 11 inches tall or less.

In other words, later generations are more likely to grow to roughly the size of a large domestic house cat.

Though later Savannah generation sizes are easier to predict than early generations, we cannot stress enough that even F5, F6, or F7 Savannahs can be taller or heavier than their expected size range.

The Happy Cat Handbook

How big are Savannah cats – a summary

The Savannah cat is the result of combining a wild African Serval cat with a domestic cat, or by breeding a first or later generation Savannah with another Savannah.

This results in multiple generations of Savannah cats, each with a certain amount of Serval genes in their DNA.

Since the Serval is very large (taller, not always heavier) when compared to the house cats that many of us are familiar with, folks who are interested in purchasing a Savannah may be concerned about just how much a Savannah kitten will grow.

Based on their generation and genetic relationship to their Serval ancestor, a Savannah kitten may grow to be tall and heavy like a Serval. Or they may be a bit smaller, but with the Serval’s same lanky appearance.

 

However, even careful breeding can result in the occasional large Savannah when a smaller Savannah was expected, and vice versa. Therefore, the question “How big are Savannah cats?” is truly a loaded one!

How Big Are Savannah Cats

References

Markula, A., Hannan-Jones, M., Csurhes, S. “Invasive Animal Risk Assessment: Serval Leptailurus serval.”

Your Amazing Cat!

the happy cat handbook

We are so excited to share our new book with you!

If you have enjoyed your visit to The Happy Cat Site we think you'll love The Happy Cat Handbook.

Written by the founders of this website including the author of the hugely successful Happy Puppy Handbook, it's packed with cat care information and fascinating cat facts.

Grab your copy today!

     

Comments

  1. Kitty no really that is my real nickname says

    September 8, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    I’ve been reading up on Savannah cats since a stray cat decided to have her 5 kittens in my garage 2 years ago. Now Mom is very exotic looking and I’m sure is some part of Savannah. She is small and lanky and 3 of her kittens are marked just like her. They are however 4 and 5 times her size. 2 makes (huge) 1 female (huge). The other 2 are nothing like her, they are Tortie Points, so I guess mom fooled around a bit. When Mom first got here, I tried to find her owner, posted on line, and hung up posters. No one claimed her so she became part of my family along with her 5 little demons. They have all been spayed and neutered. They all live indoors except for Mom, she refuses to stay indoors and wants nothing to do with her kids. So she stays out, but doesn’t leave the yard. When it’s really hot here in Florida, I make her stay in the garage which is air conditioned and the same when it gets cold (occasionally here) in the garage she stays. I have no idea what their “F” numbers are and I don’t want to do a DNA test, they are well fed, cared for, loved, (most of the time anyway, they can be a handful sometimes) but we survive. I did have her checked for a micro chip when I brought her to be spayed and she has none. I can’t imagine someone would just let a cat like that loose, so I have no idea where she came from, but she has a home now and that’s all that matters. Thank you for posting all that information about Savannah Cats, it’s a very interesting read.

    Reply
  2. Heather Fournier says

    October 8, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    We also found a savannah kitten and the man we got her from told us they were found outside. I think it happens when the gene pool “gets too diluted” and theyre “not worth a lot anymore” so they just let them go. At least thats my thoughts on it. Its sad but we now have an awesome cat. Kudos to you for taking them in. Theyre a lot of work but so awesome to raise. Watch out as they can learn how to turn on faucets and open doors. Our whole house is baby proofed all over again lol. She puts everything in her mouth that will fit. ?

    Reply
  3. Mialma Fine says

    February 25, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    For Christmas I was gifted what we thought was a Tabby kitten. It did not take long to figure out my wild child had some true wild in him! Now Keegan is 4.5 months old, long and lanky, VERY curious about everything & some day’s too clever for me! His growth comes in overnight spurts, now ht wise he is catching up to my small dog & big fluffy cat. His colorations & markings are gorgeous! The original owner had no idea & the litter mates were either Savannah’s or Blues. I cannot wait to see how this little wild one grows! He is very skilled with his paws, fetches fav toy’s, jump’s floor to 5′ in a single bound & is incredibly affectionate.

    Reply
    • Quetzali says

      June 13, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      Wow!! Did you join Savannah Cat Enthusiasts on Facebook? I joined but I have not posted as I noticed from several different online forums that people can be quite unaccepting of those who found a pure bred or near pure bred instead of purchasing one.

      I got my kitten from a rescue and they didn’t know he was a Savannah. I had not ever heard of this cat before so it is not like I was trying to see features that weren’t there.

      I in fact discovered the Savannah breed when on the day I brought him home, I took a pic of him that really emphasized the unusual shape of his eyes and face. I tried describing his eyeshape on google and discovered the Savannah. Mine is not TICA standard as he has a marble coat. He is GORGEOUS! He displays all the features unique to a Savannah including wide poofy nose, ocelli, cheetah dip back, very long legs and toes etc., as well as behavioral characteristics such as dog style panting and weird sounds like a cross between growling and grumbling when he doesn’t want to share with his same age ‘sister’. Getting him to walk on a leash was as easy as 1, 2, 3!

      Reply
  4. denise herring says

    January 11, 2022 at 8:08 am

    I really would love a savannah kitten and can’t afford one ! I would love to find a legit adoption of one ! I have no more than 200$ for one can anyone lead me in the right direction? Before my son was murdered we were gonna get one but never got the chance !

    Reply
  5. Stephen Burrell says

    June 17, 2022 at 11:04 pm

    I am interested in more information regarding F-3 cats. What are the laws in the states? SUCHas Massachusetts. Also what is the cost of an F-3?. Where would I locate A breader?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Happy Cat Handbook

Recent Posts

blue bengal cat

Blue Bengal Cat Traits and Colors

The blue Bengal cat is a large and athletic … More...

Buprenorphine given to a cat by a vet

Buprenex For Cats

Buprenex for cats is the common term for the … More...

red pointed siamese

Red Pointed Siamese Cat Traits and Personality

A red pointed Siamese cat has orange tinted … More...

lilac pointed siamese

Lilac Pointed Siamese Cat

A Siamese lilac point cat is also known as a … More...

The Happy Cat Site by Red Cat Media - copyright 2017 Red Cat Media Ltd. - Logo by Toby Mattinson Animation
The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk
The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
View Privacy Policy