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UK could restrict breeding of Savannah and Bengal cats

By Justine Seraphin Country Manager

Published on the Updated on the

Savannahs and Bengals are beautiful cats, but they’re not the easiest nor the most ethical cats to own. That’s why the UK wants to clamp down on their breeding.

The government has planned to review the Animal Welfare Regulations of 2018.

In this review, the government will consider whether there is a need to introduce licensing arrangements for cat breeders, including restrictions on breeding certain types of cats.

Hybrid cats in the UK

This refers to the Savannah cat in particular, which is a hybrid between an African Serval and a domestic cat. F1 generation Savannahs (where one parent is a serval and the other a cat) are illegal to own in the UK without a Dangerous Animal License. F2, F3, and F4 generation Savannahs, however, are legal and available to purchase from reputable breeders.

This poses a problem for animal welfare and wildlife protection groups. Indeed, Savannahs are not like typical domestic cats. They are high energy, have a strong prey drive, and are very large in size. Often, they end up in rescue centres because they are too much for the owners to handle.

A problem for wildlife

In addition, the breeding of these cats fuels the illegal wildlife trade, since there’s a need for African Servals to produce the cats. 

Much like French or English Bulldogs, it seems that people who purchase these cats are more concerned with their looks than with the welfare issues linked to their breeding.

We trust the government will work hand-in-hand with welfare and wildlife groups to make the right choices for these cats.

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