The Well Socialized F1 Savannahs

I have a YouTube Channel (my own home page on YouTube) and I am what is called a "partner" at YouTube. The channel does well mainly because there are several videos of two large domestic cat to wild cat hybrids: the Guinness World Records tallest cat MAGIC and TITAN, a superb male. My thanks to Kathrin and Martin Stucki of A1 Savannahs.



Both are F1 Savannah cats. "F1" stands for first filial, which in turn means the first generation from the wildcat to domestic cat mating. These are half wildcats. Their father is a serval.

But the point I would like to make in this short posting is this: these cats are superbly well socialised. They behave like domestic cats. It is the domestic cat half of the cat, if you like, that is the character of the cat. Of course, there is a wild cat element. That's what makes these cats fascinating and desirable. But the wildcat element is shown in subtle ways not in overt and uncomfortable ways. There is that wild look on the face (see header photo). They like water and will join you in the shower - this sort of thing.

F1 Savannah FOCUS - a darling cat - Photo: Michael

I mention this because the videos of these cats get thousands of comments. And nearly all the comments are nice but there is a notable few that demonstrate a lack of understanding of the socialization of these domestic cats - the largest domestic cats in the world.

People say things like, "that girl is going to get scratched" or "if I handled my cat like that he would bite me".

Of course it depends how you handle your cat but it also depends how well socialized your cat is. Socialization is the process whereby a newborn kitten is trained to be comfortable around and with people and other animals. This is not formal training but simply ensuring the kitten during the first 7 weeks of his or her life is handled properly by people and is in contact with and associates with other cats and dogs etc. in a beneficial way. This makes them relaxed around people and animals and prevents them from being defensive in their presence.

A1 Savannahs who raised MAGIC and TITAN ensure that their cats are socialized to the highest level. It is obviously of particular importance that this happens in respect of large first filial wildcat to domestic cat hybrids.