Serval

Servals are small, slender wild cats that can reach a maximum weight of 40 pounds.

Nicknamed the "giraffe cat," the Serval's pale yellow coat displays a beautiful combination of black spots and stripes. They have white bellies and black ears with a distinctive white spot on the back.

Relative to their bodies, Servals have the biggest ears and longest legs of any cat. They also have small heads, elongated necks, long slender bodies, and short tails.

Servals originated in Africa, which remains their only natural habitat. Though they once roamed the continent at large, they now primarily live in the savannas of central and southern Africa. Servals thrive in grassy areas near streams and rivers—where they have ample opportunity to show off their keen hunting skills.

The Serval's name comes from the Portuguese word meaning "deerlike wolf." They appeared in ancient Egyptian art and were given as exotic gifts by Egyptian rulers. These wild cats were also the symbol on the Italian Tomasi family coat of arms in the 1800s. Despite being widely translated as "The Leopard," author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's famous historical novel "Il Gattopardo"

Humans have long been fascinated by the prospect of keeping wild animals as pets. To create the "best of both worlds," breeder Suzi Wood began crossing Servals with Domestic cats in 1986. The resulting breed—the Savannah—has a spotted Serval appearance with a domestic cat's temperament.

In some places, people are allowed to own Servals. These cats may be many generations removed from African Servals but are still subject to restrictions regarding ownership of exotic animals.