Sphynx vs Savannah - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

Sphynx vs Savannah - Breed ComparisonSphynx is originated from Canada but Savannah is originated from United States. Both Sphynx and Savannah are having almost same weight. Sphynx may live 6 years less than Savannah. Both Sphynx and Savannah has same litter size. Sphynx requires Moderate maintenance. But Savannah requires Low maintenance

History

sphynx - historyThe Sphynx cat is well known for its hairlessness. This breed started its development in Toronto, Canada.

A hairless kitten was born and it was mated to produce more hairless kittens. These kittens were called Canadian Hairless Cats. They were used as the foundation for a new breed.

In the 1970s, more hairless kittens were born and placed into the Sphynx breeding program. They were mated with Devon Rex cats. The International Cat Association recognizes this cat breed.

savannah - historySavannah cats have been bred to look like a Serval but it is essentially a domestic cat. The first Savannah cat was born in the United States in April 1986. The person who was successful in making this happen was Judee Frank.

She bred a Serval wild cat and a Siamese cat and they produced a female kitten with the name of Savannah – named after the African savannas from where the serval cat comes from.

It will take your Savannah kitten about 3 years to reach his adult size. The Savannah will give birth to up to 6 kittens. The cat was recognized by TICA in 2001.

Today when you’re looking to buy a Savannah kitten, you’ll notice the cats are always described with a filial number, for example, F1, F2, F3, F4, and so on. The filial number describes the generation a cat comes from.

Because this cat belongs to a hybrid group, the feline is banned in a number of states and cities in the United States of America.

Description

sphynx kitten - descriptionThe Sphynx is a medium-sized, fine-boned, muscular cat that weighs roughly between 3.5 – 7 kg. The skin of the cat has a soft chamois type feel to it.

Sometimes there can be a few hairs. The head of this cat is longer and narrower than many of the other cat breeds. The ears are large.

This cat is going to need a bath once a week with special medicated cat shampoo. The cat also has no whiskers or eyelashes. The legs are long and slender and he has a barrel chest. All skin patterns and colors are available with the cat.

Temperament:

The Sphynx is a loving, friendly, energetic, extrovert cat that loves nothing more than to be petted and pampered.

It one of the few dependent cats there are. Even though he is social, he isn’t very vocal. They are playful too and because they are also intelligent, they will need stimulating games and toys to keep them from becoming bored.

They get on well with children in the home. Like many other cats, the Sphynx cat can be doglike and they like to welcome their owners home.

savannah kitten - descriptionThe Savannah Cat is a fairly large cat that weighs anything from 3 to 8 kg. It is a cross between a domestic cat and one of Africa’s smaller wild cats, the Serval.

Because of the Serval in the mix, the Savannah cat is able to leap into the air too because of his long legs. The cat has a short tail, and similar to the Cheetah has tear markings running from the corner of the eyes down to the whiskers.

A striking feature of this cat is his hooded eyes and the large ears. The Savannah cat has exotic looks and is regarded as a low maintenance cat with its short fur. The coat is tawny-colored with black spots but it comes in 4 background colors – smoke, silver, brown, and black.

Temperament:

An interesting aspect with the Savannah Cat is that they are sometimes compared to dogs. They become loyal pets and companions and will follow their owners around and can even be trained to walk on a leash.

The Savannah is an intelligent cat and can be taught a trick or two. Because the Savannah cat is a hybrid, they aren’t predictable in nature. Some are friendly and social while others are more wild and hostile. Some of them don’t like meeting strangers and will growl and hiss with uncertainty.

They enjoy playing in water and it will be a good idea to invest in a paddling pool for this cat’s outdoor enclosure. It’s an active cat and will require daily exercise. It is better suited to homes where there are older children.

Characteristics

sphynx cat - characteristicsThe Sphynx can be in a house where there are children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

The cat is energetic and loves to entertain and amuse his human family with his antics.

He is loving and loyal to his human family and absolutely hates staying on his own. He can actually get depressed when he is left on his own often.

He would be far better off with another cat companion. If you're looking for a fun, playul, loving and affectionate feline companion, you need look no further than the weird-looking sphynx cat.

savannah cat - characteristicsThe Savannah cat's temperament is exceptional, and when you’ve got a Savannah in your home, you’ve got a true companion.

Cat lovers who have owned one of these cats will tell you that this cat is similar to a dog in many ways. The intelligent cat will follow his owners around and be a friendly, loyal, and devoted companion.

With so much intelligence, beauty, and energy, this cat has all the qualities of a splendid feline companion.

The Savannah will form a particularly strong bond with the human family member who grooms and feeds him.

Everybody who has known the social, affectionate, loyal cat has nothing but good words to say and he may just be the cat companion you want.

Health Problems

sphynx kittens - health problemsThe Canadian Sphynx, just because of its lack of hair, already faces challenges. Other cats have fur to keep them warm and to protect the skin from sunlight.

In fact, when the kittens are born, without hair, they are vulnerable and become prone to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders, therefore, only allow their kittens to go to new homes when they are at least 14 weeks of age.

This cat is also prone to skin problems and this could include rashes and fungal infections. As with any other cat, the Sphynx cat requires protection from harmful cat diseases by being vaccinated.

savannah kittens - health problemsThe Savannah is generally a healthy cat. The cat can also fall prey to some of the typical cat illnesses there are -

Allergies:

Allergies happen with cats when their immune systems become sensitive to certain things. Cat allergies can be environmental, from fleas or from food allergies.

While some allergies may come and go, others will require an examination by the vet as they can include itchy skin problems. Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing and coughing, runny eyes, diarrhea and vomiting.

Irritable bowel disease:

This is a gastrointestinal disorder. Cats of any age are affected but it is found more in older cats. Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can come about because of a food allergy for instance or parasitic or bacterial infection. Your Savannah cat will be vomiting and lethargic and have diarrhea and weight loss.

Hookworms:

These are parasites that invade the small intestines of a cat. It can cause anemia and inflammation of the small intestine. Hookworms can produce symptoms such as weight loss, coughing, and diarrhea as well as skin irritations.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:

This condition causes thickening of the muscular walls of a cat’s heart. The heart’s left ventricle is thickened. The heart can beat rapidly and this results in more oxygen usage. It can also lead to oxygen starvation which causes heart cells to die off. A condition known as arrhythmia develops where the heart beats irregularly.

Caring The Pet

sphynx cats - caringEven though the Sphynx cat is hairless, he isn’t to be regarded as a low maintenance cat. First of all, the sheer lack of hair means he is more vulnerable to the sun and to the cold. If he goes outdoors, you have to be careful that his skin doesn’t get burned.

These cats also have more ear wax than other cats as they don’t have hair in their ears. Dirt, wax, and oils can accumulate in the ears. They will need to be cleaned regularly, and a vet or the pet groomer can help you with this.

The Sphynx cat also collects oil and dirt under their nails, so just like the ears, the nails as well as the surrounding skin folds will need to be properly cleaned. Cat owners need to know that these hairless cats aren't as low maintenance as thought, but require quite a bit of grooming. Special grooming products are available for this cat.

What one cat likes to eat won’t be the same as another cat. The Sphynx, like every other cat, is a carnivore and he will need all the different nutrients from his food.

The best commercial cat food manufacturers know that the proportion of these nutrients will vary as the cat ages and goes through different stages of its life. Your cat needs the right meat foods and he needs the right quantity as well.

savannah cats - caringThe Savannah cat's diet needs to be a high-quality type of food with efficient levels of protein and taurine. The reason for this is that all cats are carnivores. A properly balanced raw diet will be the best nutritionally balanced food you can provide.

The Savannah has a short coat, which makes him low maintenance. He will still need to be brushed once a week. This will ensure a healthy sheen, and it will remove loose hairs and dust.

Provide for this intelligent cat’s physical and mental stimulation. He will need a variety of interactive toys. You yourself, need to become involved with your feline friend and give him a game too.

Make sure your Savannah is up-to-date with all his vaccinations. If you’re in any doubt about your pet’s health and wellbeing, get him to the vet who can provide you with valuable information on his health and his diet to ensure optimal health for your feline friend.

Basic Information

Origin:
Canada
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 14 Years
14 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
All colors
grey with black spots, cream, Tawny
Coat:
Hairless
Short
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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