Is it OK to own a serval?

While you may be able to acquire a serval cat from a breeder, they are considered wild cats. To own a serval cat, you must create a large, secure outdoor enclosure and provide a warm environment year-round. Ownership of a serval cat is illegal in many locales and requires licenses, permits, and inspections in others.

Why do servals slap?

Escaped servals have died by being hit by cars or of starvation, since they never had the opportunity to learn how to hunt. In the wild, servals will leap high into the air to catch flying birds, and can slap fish hard enough to stun them.

What can a serval do?

Standing on its hind legs, a serval can jump more than 9 feet (2.7 meters) straight up to grab a bird right out of the air! But small rodents are its most frequent prey item, and a serval doesn’t hesitate to reach a long leg down into a rodent’s burrow to snatch a meal out of the tunnel!

Where is it legal to own a serval?

Serval cats aren’t legal everywhere in the U.S. In some states, they are completely illegal to own. In others, you will need to obtain a license. In others, such as South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Idaho, you can own a serval cat legally without a license.”

How high can Serval jump?

Servals are renowned for their athletic ability and agility, and will leap high to attack prey; they can leap 1–4 m horizontally and 3.5 m vertically (Webber 2004). Figure 2. Serval demonstrating a vertical jump of almost 2.5 metres.

Where is it legal to own a Serval?

Are serval cats rare?

The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is rare in North Africa and the Sahel, but widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.

Do serval cats bite?

“Servals have a bite force at the canine teeth of 172 Newtons, whereas feral domestic cats have a bite force of 56 Newtons,” notes a 2016 Queensland Government safety report. “Because of this higher bite force, servals can subdue larger prey than can feral cats.”

Are serval cats safe to keep as pets?

While there are many admirable qualities to the serval cat, there are also risks involved with keeping one as a pet. What Is a Serval Cat? A serval is a cat native to the African grasslands typically found south of the Sahara Desert. The cat has a lean body and long legs.

What do servals need to survive?

When it comes to food, the serval needs more than just canned cat food; it needs raw meat, raw bones and nutritional supplements for healthy development. Before one decides to keep a serval as a pet, it is important for him to familiarize himself with the laws in his county or local area regarding the keeping of exotic pets.

Can You declaw a serval cat?

Declawing also has the chance of causing infections to the serval, and this may lead to amputation. Their scratches are much worse than those of domesticated cats since they play and hit hard. Given the risks involved, it is important for one to reconsider buying a serval cat as pet.

Why do people keep servals as pets in zoos?

The San Diego Zoo adds that ancient Egyptians worshiped the serval for its grace and power. Some people keep them as exotic pets today, but they are limited in number. Most servals can be found at zoos or large cat rescues, and there is a reason for this.