Is Your Savannah Cat Legal?

The Savannah is a beautiful – and expensive – cat. A cross between the African Serval and domestic cat, its distintive markings made it desirable for those feline fanciers that love exotic looking cats. Savannahs have been bred in the US since 1986, with the breed standard being accepted by the TICA (The International Cat Association) in 2000. The cost of a Savannah can run into thousands of dollars.

Sharon Gratix of Alaska is the proud owner of Simon the Savannah. This past summer, Simon bolted out the door of Sharon’s home, and for the past six months, has been MIA. On November 7, the Alaska Fish and Game notified Sharon that Simon had been found and captured.

The Beautiful Savannah Cat

Simon was severely malnourished and had a broken tail. But after being returned by the Alaska Fish and Game, he has been cared for and getting better all the time.

BUT, after having her beloved cat returned to her by the state of Alaska, Sharon has received a letter telling her that her cat is illegal in Alaska, and must be moved out of the state in 30 days. Apparently there is a state law that prohibits hybrids of wild animals not native to Alaska and domestic animals. The worst part is that she had no idea that there was such a prohbition, and neither did the Fish and Game dept, since they returned Simon to her.

So what seemed like a happy ending to an unfortunate tale had morphed into a bittersweet calamity. Yes, Simon is safe and recovering, but he will soon be parted with his Mom.

There’s an unfortunate lesson for all of us to learn here – if you plan on acquiring an exotic pet, check the laws of your state before you do so. Failure to do your due diligence could put you in the same position as Sharon Gratix.

If you live in Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Georgia, or New York, and you have a Savannah, I strongly suggest you keep it hidden from the authorities.