Understanding your cat:
Serval cats are very “talkative” always trying hard to help you understand what they want. They are also very intelligent. If you don’t catch on they will end up teaching you instead of the other way around!
Headbutts:
Serval cats are well know for rock solid headbutts. They love to give their special human a few headbutts in the morning. Its their way of saying hello and I love you. It’s much like a dog licking you to show affection.
Chirping:
People who have never hear of a cat chirping are always taken back that my cats chirp like little birds. Chirping usually happens when a Serval cat is happy and wants you know or simply a way of communication. Chirping also happens if there is some thing a Serval cat wants (That something is usually food).
Hissing:
Unlike domestic cats exotic cats do not always hiss because they are mad or upset. Serval hiss to communicate. It does take a while to understand different hisses and what they mean. There are hisses for being upset, happy, sad, confused and just plain throwing a hissy fit like a child.
The Serval “Grumble”
The grumble is something that is hard to explain to some one never owning a hybrid or exotic. Many hybrids and exotic cats make this noise. It’s similar to a baby trying to talk. You can not make out the words but you have an idea of what they are saying. This is what owners mean when they say there Serval cat “talks” to them.
Why Servals end up attacking new cats or domestics
It still amazes me how people label a cat as unsafe over cat behaviour such as hissing with out thinking about why the cat is hissing. Many domestic cats get attacked due to there owner’s ignorance not because the Serval actually wants to hurt the cat.
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1.
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You should not play rough with a Serval cat. Far too many new owners rough house with Serval cat kitten which results in poor or no boundaries being set for the cat. This will and has resulted in hard to handle cats due to the owner not teaching the cat boundaries and limitations!
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2.
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A Serval cat needs at least one month of being next to a new cat or other animal before even attempting an introduction.
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You always need to watch your cat’s individual behaviour towards each other!
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4.
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NEVER attempt to introduce a new cat or familiar cat if it is clear from having them separated by a fence that they do not like each other. The same thing goes for other animals.
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5.
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NEVER keep a Serval in a small 10 x 5 kennel an expect it to be nice to other cats. It’s absolutely absurd to even think a Serval cat can be kept in such a small area.
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