Serengeti (cat)

The creation of the Serengeti breed dates back to the 1990s. A conservator and biologist, Karen Sausman, is credited with its origin. She wanted a domestic cat breed resembling the Serval as closely as possible without resorting to hybridization, and she crossed a Bengal father (hybrid between a cat and a Bengal Leopard cat) and an Oriental mother. The Serengeti breed is recognized in 2001 by TICA, as well as by the LOOF as a "new breed". Since 2013, TICA classifies the Serengeti breed as a "new advanced breed".

The Serengeti is described as a good hunter, like its leopard ancestors. It makes a sound (growl and sigh) that distinguishes it from other cats when in a hunting position. It is not wild but its temperament is close to that of the Oriental cat breed. This cat breed is recognized for being intelligent and learning quickly, making it a good interactive companion. It is affectionate with humans and meows a lot with a very powerful voice. These character traits remain perfectly individual and are above all a function of each cat's history.

The Serengeti is a medium-sized cat with a long and muscular body. It is between 30 and 35 cm with a weight between 5 and 7 kg for males and between 4.5 and 6 kg for females. The back is straight and it is a cat high on its legs. They are long but solid, both in musculature and bone structure. The paws are round and medium-sized. When the cat walks, you can see its shoulder blades move. The tail is quite thick, medium-sized, although proportionally to the body it appears short. The head may appear small compared to the rest of the body. It forms a rounded triangle. The profile of the Serengeti shows no curves; the forehead and nose are straight. To maintain the "wild" appearance, the nose is thick and brick-colored surrounded by black. The eyes are large and round, in a color between yellow and copper, but preferably golden. Green is tolerated. The ears are very large and conical in shape with a rounded tip and a wide, open base. They are close on the head and are an important point of the Serengeti's appearance. Between the ears on the top of the head, it is very important to distinguish the shape of a beetle, unlike the Bengal which forms a kind of large M. Its life expectancy is between ten and twelve years. The fur is short, soft and thick. The spotted tabby Serengeti coat is pale gray or beige, spotted with black or dark brown points. The only accepted coat is spotted tabby, without ticking. The authorized colors are black and brown. There are also silver or smoked Serengetis. Silver subjects then have light-colored hair, which makes the spots stand out even more.