Bengal Savannah Cat Mix: Care Guide, Pictures, Info & More
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| Height: | 10–18 inches |
| Weight: | 12 to 17 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 7–15 years |
| Colors: | Black, smoke, silver, red, brown, pointed, marbled, spotted |
| Suitable for: | Families, homes, singles |
| Temperament: | Intelligent, active, talkative, noisy, confident, easy to train |
The Bengal Savannah cat is a crossbreed of the Bengal cat and the Savannah cat. You usually end up with 50% Savannah and 50% Bengal; however, it is possible to end up with 75% of one and 25% of the other at times, or even a completely different ratio.
This hybrid is a new breed, having been created in the 1990s. As with all mixed cat breeds, this cat is supposed to get only the best of its parent breeds. The resulting kittens from these parents are intelligent, active, talkative, and easy to train, not to mention quite loving if socialized and trained the right way. They are gorgeous cats with black, tan, or orange coats with black spots or rosettes.
They weigh between 12 to 17 pounds or more and reach between 10 and 18 inches in height. If you’re considering purchasing one of these majestic cats, there are a few things you need to know before making your final decision. We’ll tell you everything you need to know in the guide below. Follow us to learn prices, care tips, and even a few unknown facts about the Bengal Savannah cat breed that every pet parent needs to know before giving one of these cats a forever home.
Bengal Savannah Mix Kittens – Before You Bring One Home …
We’ll talk a bit about the parents of the Bengal Savannah mix below.
Bengal Cats
Bengal cats weigh between 8 and 17 pounds and have a life expectancy of 10 to 16 years. As a mix between a wild Asian Leopard cat and a domestic cat, these kittens end up with unique coats that are nothing short of glamorous.
Savannah Cats
Savannah Cats weigh between 12 and 25 pounds and have an average lifespan of between 12 and 20 years. This breed is a mix between a Serval and a domestic cat. It is a wild, exotic-looking cat and a bit larger than your average housecat, which is partially why they are so popular as pets.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Bengal Savannah Mix
1. There Could Be Owner Restrictions
While you might not run into this with the mixed breed, in the United States, there are restrictions in some places regarding wild or partially wild animals. If you’re looking to adopt a Bengal Savannah mix, you must first check and see if it’s legal in your state or town.
2. Bengal Cats Like Water
If your kitten suddenly decides to jump in the tub with you, it’s taking after its Bengal parent, which is very fond of water. While most cats get upset when they get near water, the Bengal cat will leap right in, in most cases.
3. Savannah Cats Are Quite Dog-Like
Savannah cats tend to be more dog-like than Bengal cats. They will follow their owners from room to room and love attention. This means that your Bengal Savannah kitten may require a fair amount of your attention every day to stay happy.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Bengal Savannah Mix 🧠
Bengals and Savannahs are energetic felines, and a crossbreed from the two cats is likely similar in temperament. Unlike other domestic cats, the Bengal and Savannah can be destructive if they don’t have enough toys, scratching posts, and attention from their owners.
For the most part, you can expect your kitten to be friendly, energetic, intelligent, and curious. No matter which parent your little friend takes after, you can expect the kitten to be loving and loyal. If you’re looking for a cat that’s entertaining, loving, and funny at times, this hybrid is the right choice for you.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
Although they’re known to be shy at first, this hybrid breed is exceptionally loving once they warm up to the family. They get along with children and most other cats. However, it’s best to socialize and train the cat from a kitten so that it knows how to act around children. The Bengal Savannah is always ready to play games with its family, but because it is so active, you should supervise the cat around young children to prevent accidental injuries to the child or cat.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
Although the Bengal Savannah gets along with other pets, you should introduce your new cat to your other pets gradually. When you bring the cat home, keep it in a separate room from the other pets. You should feed it and allow it to use the litterbox in the room for a few days until the other animals get used to its presence. Then you can open the door and carefully introduce your cat to its new roommates.
The Bengal Savannah can grow to love other cats and dogs, but it’s best not to keep small rodents or aquatic creatures in your home. Because of the parents’ high prey drive, the crossbreed will likely try to hunt and kill smaller animals.
Things to Know When Owning a Bengal Savannah Mix:
Now that you know all about the Bengal Savannah mix and its parents, you might be ready to go out and adopt or purchase this adorable hybrid mix from a reputable breeder or rescue shelter. In the next section, we’ll discuss a few things you need to know when owning a Bengal Savannah kitten.
Food & Diet Requirements🐡
You’ll need to keep a few things in mind when feeding your Bengal Savannah cat. This breed requires a great deal of protein in its diet. The protein helps them stay lean but still build up the muscle mass needed to be their energetic selves. Make sure to choose a food that is high in protein and has meat as the first ingredient.
A quality dry kibble with high protein and low carbohydrate levels is best, but you can supplement the diet with premium wet food to ensure your pet stays hydrated.
Since this breed is extremely active, they need a lot of calories, which means you need to feed them more than you would your normal domestic cat. A good rule of thumb is to feed your feline pal 20% more than the label on the bag recommends.
However, these cats are prone to obesity, so if you notice your cat gaining too much weight, you’ll want to cut back. If you’re unsure how much food to give your hybrid, consult your vet for recommendations. As with any other breed, you must provide a steady supply of fresh, clean water.
Exercise🐈
As previously stated, your Bengal Savannah cat will probably be energetic and quite active. This means that they made need more exercise than your traditional house cat. The cat loves to leap and run and may surprise you at the heights it can jump to.
Take your cat outside whenever you can, as they get bored easily. This will help to stave off the boredom and give the cat the physical exercise it needs to be healthy and happy for many years.
Exercise is essential, but don’t forget mental stimulation. Interactive cat toys are a great way to sharpen the cat’s mind, just as cat towers are great for physical exercise, so you’ll want to have plenty of both available for your little pal.
Training🧶
Your little Bengal Savannah kitten should be pretty easy to train. Owners have had success when it comes to training this breed to use a leash, so taking the cat out for a walk should be easier than it would be with other breeds. You shouldn’t have any issues teaching your pet to use the litter box and stay off the counters.
Grooming✂️
Your cat’s grooming needs will depend on which parent they take after. For instance, if the kitten takes after the Bengal, it’ll need to be groomed more often. Either way, it’s recommended that you brush the cat at least once a week. Keeping its nails clipped and teeth brushed is also crucial for the cat’s health. You can clip its claws once a month and try to brush its teeth every one to two weeks. However, if your cat is challenging to groom, you can take it to a professional groomer.
Health and Conditions🏥
As with any mixed breed, there are a few conditions that your Bengal Savannah cat can inherit from their parents.
- Hip dysplasia
- Luxating patella
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
If you see signs of any of these conditions in your Bengal Savannah mix breed, you should immediately make an appointment with your vet for diagnosis and possible treatment options. Also, just because your cat is predisposed to develop these conditions doesn’t mean it will. Taking your pet to the vet for regular checkups can reduce the chances of your cat developing a severe health condition.
Male vs. Female
We found no considerable differences between the male and females of this breed. The male may be slightly larger and heavier than the female, however.
Final Thoughts
The Bengal Savannah mix is a crossbreed between the Bengal and Savannah cats. Though they still retain a bit of the wildness of their ancestors, these cats make great pets for families, single people, or anyone looking for a pet who is loyal, loving, and entertaining.
They are easy to train, fun to be around, and relatively simple to groom. If you’re considering adopting one of the gorgeous cats, remember that it’s a huge responsibility to take care of a pet, so make sure you and your family are up to the task.
Featured Image Credit: Ben Harding, Shutterstock
