Hunted for it's beautiful striped and
spotted coat, the serval is now a threatened species. Some fall prey to natives
who also hunt the cat for its meat. As a predator itself, it's a great
hunter of rodents, fish, reptiles, and other animals. The very large ears
provide great hearing ability, and with a vertical leap of 10 feet, it's a great
pouncer.
Servals primarily hunt alone. In the
absence of suitable small prey they have been known to team up on larger
animals. While servals are well adapted for hunting by jumping and snaring
or pouncing, they seem very skilled at probing holes with their long forepaws.
Servals in captivity will frequently stick their paw in ones pocket to fish
around for interesting items.
Servals have been associated with man for centuries. It
is reported that the Egyptians kept them either as living idols or as protection
for the huge amounts of food
stored in granaries. The serval has been kept in Europe as a pet for
many centuries and has more recently gained popularity in the United States.
Servals are one of the few wildcats that make a good companion. They bond
very strongly with the caretakers. They do not become aggressive as they
mature. They are extremely affectionate. For cat lovers they are the
ultimate cat.
In the wild, servals eat a wide variety of foods
depending on habitat and availability. Small rodents such as mice, rats
and squirrels are commonly eaten. But they will also eat a variety of insects,
reptiles and amphibians. Studies have found that they also consume a
surprising amount of vegetable material and fruit. In captivity they will
consume many types of grass. Some are also fond of vegetables such as corn
on the cob and spinach.
When you accept the responsibility of caring for any animal like a Serval, you must realize that the animal depends on you not just for food, shelter and medical
care, but also depends on you for companionship and love. Each Serval has their individual personalities and quirks, so each is different. A
Serval may bond with you and never bond with another person for the rest of its life. This may make it hard for the Serval if you decide that you cannot
care for it anymore. Not many people want to spend decades caring for an animal that they can't have a relationship with. Bear this in mind and
realize that a Serval may live up to 20 years. The Serval will depend on you for that length of time. Some Servals may be able to bond with a new
owner but that is not guaranteed. Even at best, bonding with a new owner takes time. If for some reason you are unable to take care of the Serval, please
contact the breeder if you need help in finding a new home. Always have a back up plan, in case something happens to you like hospital stay or worse. Have a relative or a close friend become the
serval's playmate in case you are ill.