Why is the Savannah Cat so expensive?
This is a question that many people ask. Savannahs are a remarkable breed and breeders had to overcome many obstacles to get this breed started. It is a fairly new breed (just over 20 years old) that was created by crossing domestic cats of various breeds with an African Serval. Pricing can depend on location (one close to you), the breeder and the quality of the cat as well as generation, color, pattern, sex, whether show quality and if a pet or breeder.
Creating the first generation (F1’s) is a very difficult endeavor. Only a handful of breeders have been successful. There is a gestation difference between the Servals and domestics. It takes a lot of work and a pile of money to find a domestic that can carry to term as well as finding a Serval that has an interest in breeding a domestic. Breeders have put a lot of time, care, financial investment and energy into creating an F1 program. The number of F1’s available each year is limited. The supply is low and the demand is high.
There is a lot of cost that goes into making F1’s. There is the price of a Serval that ranges from $4000.00 to $5500.00. Then there is the acquisition of the domestics and savannahs that are being used in the breeding programs. Raw food diets and vitamins for the Servals and high quality dry and wet food the females, as well as large enclosures that are very pricey to build and maintain factor in as well. Add vet bills and bottle feeding to the mix and you will see a lot of money going out the door before ever having the first F1 born. These costs have to be maintained for up to 2 years before a Serval might even begin to have an interest in breeding. If the male Serval doesn’t breed, a breeder will have to start over with a new Serval male.
How much do savannah cats cost?
Price depends on many, many factors so I will simplify the cost by making chart for a broad price range below. The higher the percentages of Serval blood in a generation, the higher the price. I have seen F1’s from 50 % to 78% Serval. Price range will include all percentages of each generation. The range will also include pet and breeder cats. Almost all F1 females are sold as breeders. The lower price is for pets only and the higher prices are breeder only. Some breeders may price kittens outside of this price range.
| Type | Male | Female |
| F1 | $9,000 to $12,000 | $9,000 to $20,000 |
| F2 | $5,000 to $8,500 | $4,000 to $8,000 |
| F3 | $3,000 to $4,500 | $2,500 to $6,000 |
| F4 | $1,500 to $2,500 | $1,000 to $4,000 |
| F5 and on | $1,000 to $4,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 |
Are there other cost considerations when purchasing a Savannah?
Yes, there will be other cost. A few breeders will microchip kittens before leaving but most do not. You will have the cost of neutering and micro chipping once you receive your new forever fur baby. There also may be shipping cost if you are not close enough to drive. Shipping runs between $300.00 and $400.00 on average for all shipping cost (airfare, crate, health certificate, and rabies). Breeders will also require a vet visit within 72 hours of you receiving your new kitten for the health guarantee. Savannahs also require a higher quality food that is grain free. This food is more expensive
I have seen the same generation with a lot of different prices. Why is there a price difference?
There are many reasons for the price difference. Quality, coloring, male or female, pet or breeder and age are all factors. Quality should play the largest part in price in the way kittens are priced. A kitten that has large ears, golden coat, black spots and conforms to the standard should command a higher price. A kitten that has small ears, spots not well defined, with a ticked background coat and a round head would not be as close to the standard, therefore less money. It would be wise to for anyone wishing to purchase a pet or breeder to study the savannah cat standard to learn about type (head, ear, tail, coloring and body shape). Things such as a crooked tail, lockets (unwanted white spots), off colored (cinnamons, blues, reds etc), not conforming to standard etc are a few things that might reduce the price on a given kitten.
A breeder that pays top dollar for the best breeding stock will most likely be asking a higher price. The kittens that are closer to the breed standard and will of course cost more. Some kitten in the same litter can also be priced differently. Some may not be the expectations the breeders was looking for or be close enough to the breed standard to command top dollar. That does not mean the kittens will not be exotic looking or have any less than a great personality. Some Savannahs kittens may be priced higher but are not always a higher quality kitten. That means is the breeder is asking a top dollar and not taking quality into the quotient. It is imperative that a buyer do their best to research what a good quality savannah should look like. Check kittens on different pages that look similar and see what the pricing is. Contact multiple breeders and ask questions. You can join savannah cat lovers on Facebook as well. There are a lot of the top breeders there. You can ask questions and see the pics people post (there are lots and lots) and learn what you are looking for in a savannah.
Gary Fulgham
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