What do F numbers actually mean?

I went to the Lion King a few weekends ago and there were some magical sights! There were glorious creations of puppetry - wild cats in the mocked up Serengeti and it made me think about how Instagram Tik Tok and some celebrities are promoting these cats living in homes – unnatural for them .. remember what you see on social media is only a snippet of the real story.

Savannah cats are part wild cat and the F number stand for filial generations. They relate to how many generations a hybrid cat is removed from it’s wild ancestor. This is key to know. There are SO many cats that end up in rescue or rehomed because their behaviour cannot be handled in a small home. 

A savannah cat is a mix of a domestic cat with a wild exotic Serval. A Serval is native to Africa and wild. They have long legs and large pointed ears. They roam the savannah and hunt prey – this can cause huge issues living outside with other cats and animals that are close by. Their diet can be incredibly hard to mimic  - it is advised they are fed raw which can have health concerns such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. So many of these cats are relinquished as their owners cannot handle them. To own a F1 Savannah cat you need a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence – it is illegal otherwise. The bigger the number relates to how detached a cat is from its wild ancestor.

It is reported that Justin and Hailey Beiber had to rehome their Savannah Cats Sushi and Tuna. A wild cat who has a huge prey drive mental wellbeing will be severely compromised. It is so important to consider how a cat will fit in with your life and home before getting one – can you provide the space, mental stimulation and meet all their needs.

The Cat Group’s position statement on Hybrid cats cites serious welfare concerns with the keeping of hybrid and breeding of hybrids. Just like you would not date someone based on looks along, I urge you not to get cat based on looks alone.. think about what you can offer them and if you can meet their needs. 

You can read more on Defra and International Cat Care.