Part Savannah Cat?

silvertortie

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My roommate's ~9 month old cat has always been very different in both looks and personality. Until recently, I'd always brushed it off as being caused by potential inbreeding or something of the like, although he has always reminded me of a serval. After all, it seems incredibly unlikely that he could be even a small fraction wild cat. Right?
Recently, however, his personality has become even stronger than usual, which I'm assuming is due to the fact that he reached sexual maturity. He was just recently neutered, so hopefully he calms down a bit, though we all love his "wild" personality. Because of this recent spike in wild-like behavior, I've done some research on hybrid cats, specifically the savannah cat, since Kevin's overall face and body shape has always looked serval-like to me, especially in comparison with my own DSH.
It turns out, according to one source I found, that much more often than we may think, people with higher content hybrid cats release their cats into the wild, so to speak, due to their overwhelmingly destructive personalities. This is often done rather than turning them in to shelters, because it is a known fact that shelters will automatically euthanize hybrid cats without attempting to rehome them. These released hybrid cats not only wreak havoc on the environment by killing abundant amounts of wild animals, but they also interbreed with feral cat populations.
Kevin was in fact born feral, so it's my idea that he could have a very small fraction of savannah cat in him? I've put together a list of all of his strange attributes that make me think this:

-Very thick, bushy tail that he carries very oddly (a few of the pics show this)
-Long hind legs- so much so that it has made him built "downhill"- have a couple pics that really show this
-High-set, large ears
-Big eyes that are flat across the top (as opposed to being round)
-Not scared of anything- new people, dogs, cars, loud noises, large objects, etc
-Extremely outgoing and very dog-like. Will play outside with the dogs and walks very well on a leash
-Bites a lot/plays extremely rough. Often breaks our skin by biting so hard while playing, though we have tried to break him of this habit
-Will eat anything and I mean ANYTHING. He has tried, and loved, just about every food imagineable
-Very toy/food aggressive. He will growl very loudly/occasionally hiss and blow air out of his nose when/if you attempt to take something away from him. He will then latch on to whatever you're taking like a dog playing tug o war.
-Marks his territory in my cat's litter box by leaving his waste uncovered
-Can be very destructive when he puts his mind to it- he has completely torn apart bags of treats as well as cat toys
-Very heavy for his size
-Large fangs- something I only noticed recently. Will add a pic that compares his teeth with my cat's
-Uniquely-shaped peachy pink nose- greatly resembles that of many savannah cats I've seen pictures of
-Can jump extremely high and has a very strong prey drive

Overall, I feel like there must be some sort of substantial reason that he is the way he is, although he could of course just be an inbred little weirdo! What do you guys think?


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sivyaleah

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It would be impossible to tell but, Savannah's are fairly rare.

I see nothing remotely akin to one or any breed of wild cat, mixed or pure. Not in color, structure, shape or size and most important, coat pattern.

He is a domestic short hair Mackeral tabby (Mackeral because he's striped, and it resembles the bones on a fish :D)

Being as he was feral (or stray)  would explain some of the more aggressive behaviors - and certainly that he wasn't neutered until recently.  Many of those listed are common to all cats in general to some degree or another and, cats like people, have different personalities and will exhibit a range of behaviors depending on their natural tendency towards being high energy or a more laid back kind of feline.

I think he's just a rambunctious teenage boy cat LOL.  Very handsome indeed!
 

Bobby's mom

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He is a beautiful tabby, but not a savannah. Actually, a well bred savannah whoch is also socialized does not act as you described. I have a Chausie mix, savannahs, and a bengal. They all have different personalities. But nothing as you described. I have a foster fail with issues. But she is a highland lynx/savannah mix. She was abused by her precious owner. She trusts me, but nobody else.

These cats need someone that has time for them. They have a lot of energy also. I love them.
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basscat

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You're description sounds like feral cat tendencies while adjusting to the good life. Probably get better, nicer, calmer with age.
But, it's my understanding, If a cat that close to "wild roots" starts out like a feral? It'll never be a pet.
 
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