The SERVAL (Felis serval)

Authored by, Mikki Hanks

Tall, slender and elegant describes this magnificent creature, who is indigenous to most of Africa.  Dry grasslands, known as savannahs, are home to the Serval.

Their colors vary from pale yellow to buff red.  Solid, jet black spots, that range in diameter from freckle-sized to quarter-sized, cover their glorious coats.  They may reach 24 inches at the shoulder and can weigh between 30 and 40 pounds.  The Serval's tail is three-quarter length, and it reaches down to its hock. Having the largest ears and the longest legs in the cat family makes them a specialized hunter.  They can jump twelve feet in the air when pursuing birds, which are a main part of their diet, along with rodents and frogs.

Servals are widely distributed throughout most parts of Africa.  They prefer the grasslands where there is plenty of water for playing and hunting.  They are known to live in the rural areas and coexist with humans.

In the wild they are most generally a solitary animal, only coming together at breeding time, but in captivity they can get along well with each other without any disputes.  In captivity they often live to be twenty years old or more.

Servals are humorous, with a high energy disposition;

they certainly love their play time.

Their gestation period is between 70 and 75 days, and they will have between two and five kittens in a litter.  In the wild they are usually weaned around eight months old.  Around a year old they go out on their own.

Unfortunately for the Serval, their beautiful coats are still in demand, and they are being hunted for this reason. 

Even though Servals often bond strongly with "their person" in captivity, the Serval is still a predatory, wild animal whose high energy and wild behaviors do not make it a good candidate for a household pet.