Care and grooming for a Savannah: coat, litter and prevention
Savannah : Its short coat only needs weekly brushing. Many Savannahs enjoy water: a water fountain and supervised water play can enrich its daily life.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Stainless-steel pin brush for cats (€18.90) · the whole shop
We don’t ship products to your country yet; our practical guide downloads anywhere: The Healthy Cat Handbook: Prevention Made Simple (€15)
🩺 This health information is general in nature and does not replace a consultation: at the slightest doubt about your animal’s condition, talk to your vet.
In short: Large athletic cat (often 4 to 10 kg depending on generation), short spotted coat, very high energy. A serval hybrid with an active, one-family temperament that jumps very high and gets bored quickly. Its two-metre-plus leaps call for a secured habitat such as a meshed enclosure and closed storage, even up high.
Coat care
The Savannah needs a weekly pass with a soft brush or grooming glove, more during the moult. During the moult, simply step up the pace a notch.
Litter: the most sensitive product in the house
The tray spec for a Savannah: at least 70 cm long (often beyond the cat aisle — think XXL tray or repurposed storage box), fine unscented substrate, and a quiet corner away from the bowls. Golden rule: one tray per cat plus one, scooped daily — most toileting accidents start there.
Health watch-points for the Savannah
The breed is monitored for: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Check claws every three to four weeks, inspect teeth and ears while grooming, and keep parasite treatment year-round even indoors. Life expectancy: 12 to 18 years — and for anything unusual, the vet comes before the forums.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a Savannah be brushed?
Plan on a weekly pass with a soft brush or grooming glove, more during the moult.
What litter tray size for a Savannah?
At least 70 cm long: the cat must turn around without touching the sides. Preferably uncovered, with fine unscented litter.
The guides that apply to you
- Burmese cat: hereditary WNK4 hypokalaemia, screening and care
Muscle weakness and low head carriage in Burmese cats: what the WNK4 mutation means, how DNA screening works, treatment options and likely costs.
- Abyssinian: rdAc retinal atrophy and how to read the DNA test before you adopt
A recessive CEP290 mutation blinds an Abyssinian between three and five years old. What the studies measure about carrier frequency, what the test detects, and what to ask a breeder.
- Scented cat litter: a bad idea in disguise
Scented litter masks odours for you but can drive your cat away from the box. Why it backfires and how to neutralise smells the right way instead.
- Best Litter Box for a Senior or Arthritic Cat: Low-Entry Trays Explained
Litter box for a senior or arthritic cat: why a low-entry tray matters, what size to choose, and how to spot discomfort getting in and out.