Not sure where to start when buying a Savannah Kitten? No worries, we will tell you where to find a Savannah cat for sale with a comprehensive list of trusted Savannah cat breeders.
Buying a kitten should be an exciting time, but we understand it can also be stressful. You are taking on a big commitment and you will want everything to be perfect. You do not want to have to worry about ensuring your Savannah cats are coming from a good place.
This is why we have researched Savannah cat breeders in the UK and put together this list for you. On this list you will not see Gumtree or Pets4Homes – this is because we do not advocate buying any pets from websites like this.
Savannah Cats For Sale – List of trusted Savannah Cat Breeders
Firstly it is important to understand the legalities of owning and buying a Savannah Cat in the UK. In the UK, F2, F3 and F4 Savannah cats are legal and available to buy from reputable breeders. It’s illegal to own an F1 Savannah cat in the UK without a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence, which an average cat owner will not be able to get.
The reason for this is because a purebred F1 Savannah Cat is the actual son or daughter of an African Serval cat. It is extremely important you do your research on Savannah Cat breeding before making a commitment. The size of a fully grown Savannah cat should always be taken into consideration.
The majority of breeders in the list breed F3 Savannah cats, as you will notice regulated and registered Savannah cat breeders are limited in the UK – therefore you will need to travel. In some cases, people will travel to mainland Europe to find an f1 Savannah cat for sale.
If you are trying to gauge the costs you will incur, we recommend reading our extensive guide on the price of a Savannah cat.
How to find healthy Savannah cat kittens for sale
Normally, for other cat breeds, such as Bengals, we always recommend breeders governed by the GCCF (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) – however, Savannah cats are not recognised as a breed on their list.
Why are Savannah cats not recognized by the GCCF?
The GCCF states: Ineligible for recognition as derived from an outcross to a wild species. There you will never see a Savannah cat registered with the GCCF. If a breeder advertises this it is a lie.
However, they are recognized by TICA ( The International Cat Association). This association ensures all breeders which are a member meet and uphold the code of ethics set out by TICA. This code ensures good linage, healthy breeding, and ensuring good homes for kittens.
It is important to note the TICA does not have control over the price of Savannah cats, this can be set to any price. However, the average price of an f2 Savannah cat in the UK is £6000! With f3 Savannah kittens costing around £3500.
Worldwide Savannah Cat Breeders: Quick Reference list
When looking for an unusual breed of cat, it is not unusual to have to travel a fair distance (maybe even country!) to get the right one and to ensure you are buying from a good place with the correct intentions.
UK-based Savannah cat breeders – Registered with TICA
London, England: Kwazulu Savannahs
Suffolk, England: Suffolk Savannahs
Glasgow, Scotland: Stylisticat
Questions to ask before buying a Savannah kitten
Often the first contact you will have with a breeder will be over email or over the phone. Before you even visit the kitten there are a few questions you can ask to ensure you are buying a kitten from the right place.
When was the kitten born? Will you be able to see the kitten with its mother?
The first is important because a kitten must be 8 weeks of age to be rehomed. Seeing a kitten with
its mother helps to avoid kittens that may have been ‘farmed’ or imported illegally.
A purebred kitten born to a reputable Savannah cat breeder will probably stay with its mother until it is 12 or 13 weeks old or until it has found a new home, so seeing them together should not be a problem.
Is it possible to see evidence of a kitten family line?
This is important and essential with purebred cats. A good breeder will have no issue with showing you this. A family line ensures there has been no inbreeding and ensures you are actually buying the breed you want! For example, some people may try to sell a Bengal cat as an f2/f3 Savannah kitten.
Is the kitten registered with the TICA or similar?
The kitten should come with specific paperwork about its pedigree, should be fully vaccinated, and may be insured. It will have a registration certificate with a unique registration number and registered name. Remember, Savannahs’ cannot be registered with the GCCF.
Have both mum and dad been tested for inherited diseases?
Savannah cats are predisposed to certain diseases – Pyruvate kinase deficiency is an inherited lack of the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which is used by red blood cells. Without this enzyme, red blood cells break down too easily, resulting in a low level of these cells (hemolytic anemia). There are three outcomes of PK Def testing and every responsible savannah breeder should test their breeding cats for this genetic mutation.
If you are happy with the answers provided then you should next visit the kitten before committing to buying. During the visit, you can ask further questions as well as look out for certain things. It is also VITAL during this visit that you see the kitten with the mother. Also, ensure that mum looks healthy and well cared for.
It is not common for the father cat to be present during visits, many breeders will use a stud cat, who will live with someone else.
During the visit, monitor if both mum and kittens are confident around people and happy to interact. A confident mother will be more likely to raise confident, playful kittens.
Be aware if there are many litters or cats in the home. Large numbers of cats and kittens can increase the risk of the spread of disease and lessen the ability of the owner/breeder to keep everything as clean as necessary to minimize this risk and to give each kitten the attention it needs.
It can also increase stress among the cats which reduces their ability to fight disease.
Does the kitten look healthy? Are the ears clean? Are its eyes clean and bright? Is it lively? Is the coat free from dirt and parasites? Is it clean under its tail?
The answer to all of the above should be yes. A good breeder should have no concerns with you checking these things when you are buying a Savannah kitten.
Products you will need to buy for your Kitten
When buying a cat, the price obviously does not stop after the initial purchase price. Therefore you need to take this into consideration when deciding to buy a cat.
Veterinary fees are inevitable at some stage throughout your cat’s life. This will come in the form of preventative health issues such as neutering, vaccinations, and parasite control but sadly, also through natural aging and if they become unwell. Therefore, we always recommend pet insurance, the price for this can vary, but on average it will be around £15 per month for a good comprehensive cover – you may find the price varies dependent on the type of Savannah cat you purchase – for example, it may be higher for an F2 than an f4.
Obviously, your cat is going to need to eat, so food will be a consistent cost. Diet will change at different points throughout your cat’s life, from kitten to senior. The most important thing is to ensure you purchase a complete diet, not complementary.
Food costs will vary and often it may be beneficial to buy cat food in bulk from places like Amazon.
Depending on your home situation, you may also want to purchase an automatic cat feeder. We use this double feeder – it works great for what we need and includes cooling packs to ensure food stays fresh.
Other essentials to consider when weighing up the price of a cat are toys and brushes. All cats, especially kittens need toys. Toys are obviously for enjoyment but they also stop behavioral boredness which may result in problems or stress for your cat. Try to purchase a combination of toys that they play with you and toys that they can play with on their own – such as interactive toys.
A good cat tower scratching post will also be essential to prevent behavioral issues as well as allow your cat to display natural behaviors. The size you need will depend on the breed, for example, a Savannah will want to buy a cat tree for large cats.
Looking for a healthy Savannah cat kitten for sale and then purchasing one should not be a snap decision, it should be a well-thought-out and considered process.