Servals as a pet

keeping - food - requirements

History

Servals are already domesticated and trained and started as a hunting assistant for over 1000 years in Africa. So there is nothing unusual that this kind of cat live together with human.

 

Heavy arguments

A Serval is a very special cat. There is no domestic cat / pedigree cat with the same size and weight like a Serval cat. A large Ragdoll cat or a Main Coone cat can weigh up to 8-9 kg. A Serval tomcat can be up to 18 kg. Servals are very docile and intelligent. You can teach a Serval to go out with a leash. He listens to his name, retrieves and enjoys going into the water. Also doing agility sport is possible. Domesticated is possible with proper instruction. However, to avoid marking of his district a Serval cat can be neutered after few month.

 

Keeping conditions

For the keeping of a Serval or a Serval pair a correspondingly large compound or space is required. A big space is better for the serval. Only keeping a Serval in the house without free run is a terrible idea and should not happen.

 

There are certain minimum requirements to be followed. These are the "opinion on the minimum requirements for the position of mammals," published by the "Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) Bonn" from "10 June 1996" fixed (for Germany). The following is an extract from that:

 

3.1 little cats

 

Space requirement/couple

(Be for area details Outer enclosure; at not hardy The same measures take Inside enclosure.)
Serval, desert lynx,
Ocelot, gold cat, Fish cat: . . . . . . . . . 15 m2

Climatic conditions
Hardy types ( for example North lynx, European wildcat, Manul can year-roundly) in Outer enclosures with weather protected Sleep boxings being held; particularly Manul before overheating and protecting humidity. For tropical forms are had the heating on Inside enclosure required, temperature more than 18° degrees Celsius. Many types can also during the cold season short-term into the outer enclosure at free Entry to the inside enclosure.

Enclosure facilities
Partly grown in the outer enclosure Floor or sand. Scratching wood, climbing and hiding-place possibility are important.
Social structure
Attitude as a rule in pairs, at some ways in small groups at times possible ( unstable!)

Diet
Whole, fresh killed food animals - or meat with mineral and Vitamin addition.

Catch and transport
Catch with fishing-net. Transport in celebration put wooden boxes barred Front.

 

The requirements are the minimum requirements for zoos determines appropriate and necessary. In any case you should first contact to the relevant authorities.

 

Authorities requirements

The authorities requirements concerning the keeping of a serval vary from state to state. In some states (ex. Hessen, Germany) it is sufficient to transmit a corresponding breeding proof to the authority. Obviously, also suitable authorities requirements must be created. If necessary these will be reviewed by the appropriate veterinary services. Other federal grant authorities requirements. To obtain this you must be able to demonstrate authorities requirements welfare conditions.

 

Food

A serval is a wild cat and therefore need good food to all essential ingredients to get. There are different ways to feed a Serval. The best is to feed as close as possible to the model of nature. Ideal is to feed the whole animal of food animals. Of course this is only limited possible. Chicken wings, other parts of chicken, beef, beef liver, wild, feed mice, rabbits, fish and sometimes a raw egg should be on the menu. Of course, high-quality cat food can also be fed.

 

Care

The most beautiful compound with heated indoor and outdoor space with sun where they can play hide and seek can not replace contact with your serval. Who does not have time or do not want to spend time with his Serval should not take one. Nothing is more important than joint ventures and joint play and fun.