Why are Savannahs so expensive? The price you pay reflects the rules of supply and demand. Savannah cat and kittens are hard to come by. And many people want them. The Savannah cat is a newer breed and there are a limited number of catteries. AND Most importantly the Savannah cat is an imediate offspring of a domestic cat and a wild African Serval. This is a waiting game. You don't know if your Serval will or can mate with your chosen female. And when they do the gestation (days of pregnancy) time for a Serval and a domestic cat is a couple (10 ish) days different. The babies are too early and out of your small litter only one may survive. Prices of Savannah cats can vary. This is because breeders sometimes sell cats that may have a minor flaw. This could include incorrect eye colour, a slight kink in the tail or something else that makes it less than perfect to breed from and show, but doesn’t have any effect on the cat’s health or personality. So, if you are buying a pedigree cat just as a pet and you don’t plan to show or breed from it, a pet quality cat will be ideal. These are less expensive than show and breeding quality cats. When you speak to the breeder let her know exactly what you want your cat for. If you want to show your cat, you will pay more for a show quality cat. Generally breeding cats are the most expensive to buy. What is a typical price to pay? The Savannah cat is still in the development stages and is generally not produced by breeding Savannah cats to Savannah cats. It is also hard to find an f1 female because the breeder will often keep the kitten for their savannah breeding. The male f1 is sterile and is of no value to a breeder for producing Savannahs, but there are so few of them that their price is in the HIGH thousands. When you get to the middle F-generations the price levels off to about $3,500 for a breeding female. A male pet will still run you about $2,000. Then you have to pay for transportaion. If you are lucky enough to get a fertile F5 male price jumps up a little. The female price stays about the same as the middle ones. The guaranteed fertile F5 male can start at $4,500 and for a perfect show quality F5 male he can get up to the price of a F1 Male. What does the "F" stand for? Savannahs are often referred to as “F” Generations. F is Filial or relating to ie. son or daughter. F1 A F1 Savannah kitten is the result of breeding between a Serval and a domestic cat. F2 A F2 kitten is the F1 Savannah cat bred to a male cat. Most perferably a F5 Savannah male. F3 and F4's Follow F2 rules. F5 F5 Savannah cats are the immediate offspring of an F4 Savannah parent. F5 male Savannahs are the FIRST generation of males that are fertile. When you come by one they should be the perfered choice to continue the Savannah line. Isn't a Wild cat Illegal? The f1 Savannah cat is legal in almost all states and requires no special permits. The f1 on down is legal in most states as a pet cat or kitten and no permit is needed. The serval is restricted. Although in most states people can have servals as pets but you need to check localy if a permit is required. I do know of some county's within states that have restrictive laws and yearly requirements. Why is the F5 male the first fertile generation? Even my vet is a little stumped on this one. The information I have gotten from books, websites, and talking to other breeders is this.. If you breed 4 more generations to a domestic cat which is Serval and a domestic = F1. That F1 to a domestic =F2. That F2 to a domestic... you get the picture. But none of the males in these f1, f2, f3 and f4 generations can reproduce. The f5 generation male can. He is 1/32 serval. That's only 3.12% serval in the down breed line. This dilution of Wild Serval in the domestic cat must somehow play a genetic part in the reproductive system of the male Savannah cat.