Thai vs African Serval - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The African Serval is a wild cat that hails from Africa. You’ll see them on Africa’s savannas where there is tall grass and reeds, preferably near water.

If you want to own a serval cat, you have to check whether you require licenses and permits as they are particularly difficult to rehome once you have owned one. Humans have kept them since ancient times, but they are not domesticated cats as such.

Breeding servals arrived in the United States many decades ago. Breeders have also crossed serval cats with domestic cats to produce hybrids, one of which is the Savannah cat.

The Thai cat is also referred to as the Wichien Maat. It is an old cat breed descended from the cats of Thailand.

The Wichienmaat is a cat that was spoken of already centuries ago in a book. Over the years, the cat has remained much the same as its original breeding. Today this cat is popular in Thailand.

It was in the late 1800s that the Wichienmaat was imported to the West by British cat breeders, and the cats became known as ‘Siamese’.

Western breeders wanted to add in some other qualities to the cat and through selective breeding, they developed a finer-boned type of Siamese cat. Today some people refer to these cats as Old-Style Siamese, while others refer to them as Thais, but they are one and the same.

The Serval is a medium to large-sized cat that stands at between 54–62 cm in height and weighs in the region of 9–18 kg.

Some people think its a cat that looks similar to a Cheetah and this is because it also has a small head. It is known for its large ears which are black at the back with a large white dot. The attractively patterned coat is both spotted and striped with black against a golden/tawny shade.

These wild cats make a number of different noises - high pitched cries to growls, spitting sounds and purring. Another well-known feature with the cat is its particularly long legs. The tail has some black rings and it is black-tipped. The eyes of the Serval are a brown/greeny color.

The Serval cats will only come together for mating and then they resume their solitary lives. Gestation lasts for roughly 73 days after which up to 6 kittens can be born. In captivity, a Serval can live to be about 20 years of age.

Temperament:

The Serval is an active cat night and day. They are solitary animals not known for strong social interactions with humans but they can be playful with the few humans he gets to know.

People need to always know that owning a wild pet like this comes with risks. Not only that, a Serval wants to mark its territory and while you may provide a litter box, it's not to say he will use it.

They are able to bond with humans to some extent, more so if they were hand-fed from early on. They bond with one person and can form an affectionate relationship with that one person.

The Thai is a short-haired, glossy cat and comes in a variety of colors but no white.

The soft, silky fur is a warm cream shade, much like the Siamese, with dark brown, black, smoky colored extremities.

The Thai is considered to be a medium-sized cat and he will weigh between 3 an 6kg. The body is lean, slender and muscular, the ears medium size with rounded tips and set wide apart. The eyes are are beautiful blue, large and slightly slanted.

Temperament

Thai cats are curious, active, and intelligent. They are also social and vocal and are able to communicate to their human owners what they want.

They thrive on getting lots of attention from their humans and will even follow them around the house. They do well with children in the home when the children have been taught to be kind and respectful to animals.

The African Serval is a wild animal and should be left in the wild.

However, if you do decide to bring one into your home as a pet, they aren’t recommended for homes with young children or for a first-time pet owner.

Their play is rough and they like to use their teeth and claws during play. If the child gets hurt, then in typical unfair human fashion, the Serval is the one who suffers. They are capable of making good pets though but it is not recommended.

The Thai cat is social and friendly and enjoys time spent with his human family. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time and it just might be a good idea to have a feline friend for this cat.

He is also a vocal cat and lets you know his feelings and certainly when he wants his food. The Thai wants to be your friend and companion and he will thrive in any kind of home when he is made to feel important and loved.

Make sure that before you take in a Serval as a pet you have access to a good veterinarian who is experienced in helping exotic pets.

Also, the African Serval, when domesticated, will need the same cat vaccines that you would give your regular kitten.

These cats are known for their good health. Just because he is considered healthy, you can't ignore looking out for signs that he may be in distress.

There are actually a whole lot of common cat illnesses your cat could succumb to, so you want to be sure you recognize some of the signs such a vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and battling to urinate. Make sure that the eyes are always bright and clear and that he is his active self.

Have your Thai cat vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases that there are. You will also need to have your cat dewormed. Speak to your vet about the best way to prevent fleas.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens.

Diet:

The Serval is a wild cat so in the wilds it eats prey such as frogs, birds and reptiles. They are known for leaping high into the air to catch prey but they will also burrow into holes to get prey out.

You should try to provide your Serval pet with some whole prey. Do research on the food of Servals because you will need to offer your wild pet a feline supplement. There are also formulated pelleted food, but this shouldn’t form the bulk of his food but rather be a supplement to his meats. Choose a variety of meats such as chicken, mice, turkey, beef, duck as well as rabbits and birds.

Space:

If you keep a serval, it is imperative that it has large outdoor areas to roam in. They’re nocturnal animals, so they become more active at night. They’re used to living near streams in the wild so some kind of pool will be required for him, possibly even a fish pond where he can catch his own fish.

You’ll see your Thai cat preening and grooming, but he will still need to have the silky coat brushed gently to keep it shiny and healthy.

The brushing will make him happy as he just loves the attention, and it is good for the cat’s fur – to remove dust and loose hairs.

Make sure to visit your vet if you suspect that your Thai cat is ill.

Your Thai cat is a scratcher just like any other cat, and if you don’t want to have your furniture scratch, invest in a scratching post.

Examine the inside of your cat’s ears to make sure they are clear of dirt and wax that could cause infection.

Some people say you should brush your cat’s teeth, but this can be too traumatic for your cat. Pets have always done well without their teeth being brushed. It can frighten your cat so much, he’ll want to scratch you.

Your Thai is an active, energetic cat, and you will want to provide him with a cat tree for climbing.

Provide your cat with feeding- and drinking bowls, litter box, warm, soft bed and toys to keep him occupied. It is always a good idea to put a collar on your pet and an ID disc in case he runs away.