Serval Cat
Serval Diet
The diets of Serval Cats should mostly consist of whole prey and raw meat. More to that topic here.
They can do ok with a “commercial” diet, meaning mostly raw meats (with bone!), some shrimp/sardines/other fishy treats, and some canned big cat food like ZuPreem Feline. But whole prey is a must, even if it’s not their only source of nutrition if you want to keep your cat healthy. Good starter foods are chicks of different sizes, little pinky or fuzzy mice, quail, rabbits, and other “whole” animals.
Great sources for whole prey are RodentPro and MyPetCarnivore.
servals as Pets
Considering a serval as a pet? No problem, as long as they're legal where you live (for U.S. check here), and you can provide for them properly.
They're "wild" cats, so don't be fooled by their cute big ears and fluffy baby coats. They WILL get bigger, more mischievous, and wilder. They are very loving and affectionate, and are said to only fully bond to one human or family for life, though if given enough time, patience, and effort, it is very much possible to create a strong bond with an adult serval. If you cannot take care of it, it will be very hard to impossible to rehome it with another family/person. It might have to go to a wildlife sanctuary, and they are NOT happy about that for a reason.
Servals need lots of raw meat to eat, big toys to play with (think durable dog toys they can't swallow), lots of space to run and be wild (but safe), and LOTS of attention. And I mean LOTS. An unhappy Serval will be just as unhappy as a house cat when not played with and ignored. It will be rebellious and pissy. Literally.
Serval cats spray. Yes, all of them. And possibly a lot. They are litter box trainable (think big litter box please, it's a big cat after all). But it's hardwired in their nature to mark their territory, and your home will not be an exception. It is possible to try to contain it, to prevent damage and (too strong) smells around the house by placing these where it will go. But nothing is 100% and it will be your job to check the Servals' home regularly and wash/clean/sanitize everything that was in its pee-path.
Servals might chew on your cables, push down vases, jump on cabinets - just as their not so closely related house cat. But since they're bigger and veterinary visits might very well be much more expensive, "baby" proofing your house will save you money and heartache when your serval decides to get electroshocked from some cable or swallows something that could cause an obstruction, which sadly happens quite often!
Servals are extremely active cats, they need an outdoor enclosures with protections against harsh weathers.
They can make lovely pets, as long as you know what you're getting into and are prepared to deal with it for the next 20-25 years.
price
How much do Serval cats cost? That depends mostly on where you buy it, but typically ranges somewhere between $4,000 - $6,000 for a Serval kitten. They can be more expensive, of course, but generally are not. Do not let people scare you into thinking that this beautiful cat will cost you anywhere as much as an F1 or F2 Savannah cat. Though don't be fooled, taking care of one might be much more expensive due to its more restricted diet and need for an enclosure - it's a big kitty, it wants to run! ;)
Watch out for scammers! If it's too good to be true, it's probably a scam!
No one will sell you a Serval for $900 unless there's something seriously wrong with it or there's no cat to sell.
Serval Cat Breeders
To buy an African Serval Cat, you have to make sure the breeder is USDA registered to make sure they can guarantee a healthy kitten and are up to USDA standards, which will only benefit you and the cat, especially considering the investment that it is. We do not breed or sell Servals at this time but can recommend some excellent Breeders in the U.S.. Contact us if you need a recommendation.