Can you have an African serval as a pet in California?

It is illegal to own a serval in California without a special permit. Los Angeles Animal Services is working to determine if the cat has an owner.

Can you own a serval cat in California?

Owning an African serval is illegal in California, unless you have a permit, something Ann admitted she did not have. “She’s an indoor/outdoor cat. I’ve had my fences reinforced. Keeping an African serval can be very challenging, because their nature is to attack or to flee, according to Dr.

Why are serval cats illegal?

Serval cats are considered wild animals, and legislation restricts their ownership in several U.S. states and other countries. This is because organizations or individuals receiving the animal will also need to hold the appropriate licenses.

Where can you own a serval cat?

You can obtain a license to own a serval in Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maine, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In all the other states, serval ownership is illegal.

Are servals legal pets?

The states in which owning a serval is legal make up about half of the United States. You can obtain a license to own a serval in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maine. It is illegal to own one of these big cats in all other states.

Why servals should not be pets?

Even the “tamest” servals hiss all the time and no one wants a pet that hates them. Servals hunt fish by slapping them hard enough to knock them senseless. They have a lightning fast and powerful slap that can put out an eye or cause other real damage.

Are servals aggressive?

Serval Cats Can Be Dangerous They are capable of being affectionate and aren’t usually aggressive towards humans but keeping one as a pet is still risky. Serval cats should never be kept with other pets or with kids. These cats are the most skilled hunters of any wild cat species.