Not every family that visits Designer French Bulldogs is looking for a dog. Some people want a cat with presence: tall legs, large ears, a spotted coat, and a personality that is often described as more dog-like than a typical house cat. That animal is the Savannah, and our sister company Iwanna Savannah is a Savannah cat and kitten breeder based out of Kansas City.
What a Savannah cat is
A Savannah is a hybrid of an African serval and a domestic cat. The first Savannah was produced by Bengal breeder Judee Frank on April 7, 1986, from a male serval belonging to Suzi Woods and a Siamese domestic cat. The kitten was named Savannah, and the breed takes its name from her.
Savannahs are known for long, slender bodies, very tall legs, large ears, long necks, and relatively short tails, along with the distinctive spotted coat. In 1996, Patrick Kelley and Joyce Sroufe wrote the original Savannah breed standard and presented it to The International Cat Association. TICA accepted the breed for registration in 2001.
Adult size and look vary by generation. Savannahs commonly range from about 10 to 30 pounds. Coat colors include the traditional brown spotted tabby (BST) in warm golden or cooler tones, silver spotted tabby, melanistic (black with black spots), and a classic marble or swirl pattern.
F1 through F6: what the generations mean
The “F” number tells you how close a cat is to the serval. An F1 Savannah is the offspring of a serval (typically the father) and a later-generation Savannah, usually an F4 through F6. F1 and F2 cats are generally the largest and most exotic-looking. Later generations, F3 through F6, are still unmistakably Savannahs, but they are often a more practical size and slightly easier to keep as household cats.
Iwanna Savannah specializes in high-percentage F1, F1, and F2 kittens and also produces F3 through F6 generations. The program’s main focus is F1 and F2, which are also its most requested cats. Founder Melissa Morris notes that she usually produces brown spotted tabbies, occasionally has melanistic kittens, and has a silver queen, so silver kittens appear from time to time as well.
A TICA member cattery in Kansas City
Melissa Morris runs the program as an in-home cattery in the Kansas City area and is a proud member of TICA. Kittens can be picked up there, or they can be flown to a family’s local airport when a personal pickup is not possible. Iwanna Savannah can be reached by call or text at 913-593-5929.
According to the program, kittens go home TICA registered, vet checked, FIV and FeLV negative, litter-box trained, and covered by a two-year health guarantee. They receive two rounds of vaccines and two rounds of dewormer, along with a blanket, a toy, a 16-page kitten care guide, and lifetime advice. Parents are genetically tested for PRA and PKDEF, with results reported as NN (clear). F1, F2, and F3 kittens are harness trained, come with a harness, and are microchipped. Melissa raises the cats alongside her four young children, which is part of how the kittens are socialized to busy family life.
Is a Savannah the right companion?
A Savannah is an athletic, curious, and interactive cat. Many enjoy play that looks more like a dog’s day, including fetch, leash time, and an interest in water, but they still use a litter box. They need space, enrichment, and an owner who has read about generation differences and local rules, because some places restrict higher-generation Savannahs. If that is the kind of companion you want, visit this Savannah cat and kitten breeder and ask about current and upcoming litters.
If you are here for a French bulldog puppy, visit Designer French Bulldogs. Call or Text: 609-827-2645.