The Savannah cat, for example, is a hybrid cat developed in the U.S. from crossing a serval with a domestic cat. In Idaho, the keeping of serval cats and Savannah cats as pets requires a permit from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). According to the ISDA, these animals are regulated because they pose concerns for people, native wildlife, and domestic livestock animal species.
Application for a Permit
Prior to purchasing a Serval cat or Savannah cat in Idaho, you'll need to complete an Application for Possession of Deleterious Exotic Animals. In addition, you'll need to contact Animal Industries. Some of the requirements for the application include:
- A license issued by the USDA
- Your name and address
- The name and address of the vet who will provide care for the cat
- Written statement detailing your training and experience with the cat
- The date on which your facility will be available for inspection
Your application will be reviewed by the Administrator, who will consider factors such as:
- The proximity of your facility to areas wherein native Idaho wildlife may commonly be found
- Potential for escape
- The size of your facility
- Whether you have adequate knowledge, experience, and training to maintain the health, welfare, and safety of the cat
Following your application's review, the Administrator will either issue or deny you the possession permit and notify you. If you're granted the permit, it may include any conditions intended to ensure the welfare of the animal covered by the permit. The permit remains valid until your cat's death or until it leaves the state. However, your permit may be revoked at any time if you violate any conditions under which the permit was issued.
For example, all deleterious exotic animals, including serval cats, must be confined in areas/facilities so constructed as to prevent them from escaping. Furthermore, all deleterious exotic animals are to be identified with a microchip. Your permit may be revoked if your serval or Savannah cat is found at large and without a microchip.
Serval cats vs Savannah cats as pets
As I mentioned earlier, the Serval cat is a wild cat found in Africa, while the Savannah cat is an offspring of a Serval cat and a domestic cat. The Serval cat is one hundred percent wild. On the other hand, the Savannah cat (F1) is 50 percent wild and 50 percent domestic. Nevertheless, savannah cats are generally considered domestic cats. When you breed a Serval to a domestic cat, you get F1 Savannah (First Generation Savannah).
When an F1 Savannah is bred to a domestic cat, you get F2 Savannah kittens. Servals are larger than Savannahs and are harder to keep as pets. Both cats are very smart and have similar colors and patterns. Anecdotally, Savannahs make better family pets in comparison to Servals. The best generation of Savannah cat, according to a breeder, is the F2 Savannah.
Serval cats require a diet of whole animals, preferably alive, and a vet with expertise in exotic animals. They are not very good with other pets or children and must live outside in a large enclosure.
Conversely, Savannah cats require high-quality cat food and can be good with kids, particularly the F2. F1 Savannah cats are generally not recommended for families with young children, as they tend to be large and less domesticated in nature.
Conclusion
Currently, you can not own a Serval cat as a pet in Idaho without being issued a permit by the Administrator of the state's Department of Agriculture. The same rule applies to Savannah cats as well. Check out the four species of monkeys that are legal to own as pets in Idaho.
