Ocicat or Savannah: which one to choose?

2023 Author: Alex Livingston | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 11:39

There are many cat lovers who would like to take a cat with them a little more " wild"Compared to the average: the Ocicat and the Savannah share this characteristic and are therefore the most popular candidates. But which of the two it would be better choose? And based on what? You will find answers to these questions and many others in this article.

When you decide to welcome a new four-legged friend into your home, the first step is to make sure we can guarantee him the best possible lifestyle and this depends not only on our personal habits and possibilities (even economic), but also on our personal needs of the animal. The Ocicat and the Savannah, if simply observed in photos, may also look very similar but in practice they require substantially different care and attention.

Let's start with the first origins: the Ocicat, despite its exotic appearance suggests the opposite, is the result of crosses between completely domesticated breeds and in particular the Abyssinian, the Siamese and the American Shorthair. The Savannah was initially born from the union between African Serval and domestic cat, although later further crossings were made to "dilute" its more markedly wild features.

Since male Savannahs up to the fourth generation are sterile, this cat is very rare and consequently expensive: yours price it can reach up to € 20,000 against the Ocicat's average € 900.

About the size, it should be noted that in both cases these are certainly not small cats: they range from 40-46 cm in length to 3, 5-5 kg of weight of the Ocicat al Savannah which, in addition to often setting real records of size, can measure from 50 to 63 cm and weigh from 4.5 (fourth and fifth generation) to 11 kg (first generation).

We come now to the character of these animals, which can greatly influence our ability to better manage a cat in our house: the more a cat shows “wild” traits in its personality, the more difficult it will be to keep up with it. The Ocicat in this regard is rather affectionate and sociable, as well as willing to learn some commands; the Savannah is no exception, but has a more marked wild nature.

However, they are very active and playful cats, whose intelligence and curiosity require constant stimuli. It is good to have very large spaces, perhaps outdoors, in which to welcome them, so that they can explore, play and climb in complete tranquility and give free rein to their great energy.