Serval << SUR vuhl >> is an African wild cat with a small head and large ears. Servals are strong, skilled hunters. They are also expert climbers and swimmers.
Servals have brownish-yellow fur patterned with black spots and bars. The animals have a slender body and long legs. Adult servals measure from 3 to 4 feet (91 to 120 centimeters) long, including the tail, and stand 18 to 23 inches (46 to 58 centimeters) tall at the shoulder. The females weigh 20 to 26 pounds (9 to 12 kilograms). The males may weigh up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms).
Servals are found from South Africa north to Senegal and Sudan. They live in savannas along rivers. Servals hunt by ambushing their prey. They lie hidden in the tall grass of the savanna until they hear a prey animal approaching. Servals eat birds, rodents, and other creatures up to the size of small antelope. They can leap more than 9 feet (2.7 meters) straight upward to catch birds from the air. Servals are hunted by hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs. People also hunt servals for sport and for their fur.
Female servals usually give birth to three kittens at a time, though litters can have one to five kittens. Kittens weigh 8 to 9 ounces (227 to 255 grams) at birth. Young servals begin to hunt for themselves when they are 6 to 7 months old. They become mature at 1 to 2 years of age.
Servals are sometimes kept as pets because people find their size and beauty appealing. But servals are wild animals. They are much more difficult to care for than domestic cats. Servals are much stronger than domestic cats and can seriously injure people with their claws. They are also skilled at escaping enclosures, and they spray (mark territory with urine) frequently, which can create unsanitary conditions. Some people keep pet savannah cats, which are a hybrid (cross) between servals and domestic cats. Regulations in Australia and in some U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohibit people from keeping servals or savannah cats as pets.
