Ojos Azules 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.

This is a fairly new cat breed that was discovered in New Mexico and its a rare cat. It was in 1984 that the cat was identified.

There was a feral colony of cats and one particular, a tortoise-shell female was selected to be mated with male cats of no particular description. Her kittens were born with deep-blue eyes, showing that the gene was dominant.

The unusual cat breed was named Ojos Azules which means ‘Blue Eyes’ in Spanish.

The Ojos Azules comes with both short and long hair. The cat was accepted for registration by TICA in 1991.

Only cats with the recognizable deep blue eye gene have been called Ojos Azules.

There was a time when it was discovered that cranial defects could be linked to the gene, and while breeding was temporarily suspended, it is back on track.

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 beautiful Ojos Azules is a medium-sized cat and weighs in at between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s most amazing round blue eyes are one of its most extraordinary features.

The gene in this cat isn’t linked to any particular fur color or pattern, so that means some of these cats will have a black coat but still have the blue eyes. The coat of the cat comes in many colors and is short and silky. Sometimes you’ll find some white markings on the paws and tail.

Temperament:

Not much is known of this cat breed because it is such a rare cat. Very few have owned this cat, but it seems as if, according to the people who have owned them, they are loving, friendly cats.

The small number that have been owned as domestic pets are said to have had balanced, loving temperaments, with the ability to show affection for their human owners.

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 Ojos Azules cat, apart from its amazing eyes, is a regular cat that requires the same devotion from his human family that other cats enjoy.

Because this cat is so rare it is unlikely that you have one, but whatever furry feline friend you have, treat it with love and attention. The worst thing humans can do is to buy a pet, become bored with it, and then discard it.

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.

There don’t seem to be too many breed-specific health conditions associated with the Ojos Azules.

Having your cat spayed or neutered is beneficial to the cat long-term. Not only that, but it prevents unwanted pregnancies. Thousands of unwanted cats land up in animal shelters or are euthanized every year.

When you bring a new Ojos Azules kitten into the home, you will need to ensure the kitten is vaccinated, but also ensure he is tested for- and free of parasites.

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.

There are no particular requirements when caring for the Ojos Azules. Like other cat breeds, this cat also needs to be loved and well looked after.

Contrary to what many people think, a cat isn’t a non-maintenance creature that can look after itself. There are many cat breeds that crave the companionship of their human owners and they need to be looked after carefully.

Ensure the best quality cat foods there are. There are many commercial cat foods and you want the high-quality ones with meat listed as the top ingredient.

A cat is a carnivore and meat is imperative for your cat to be healthy. If you feed your cat one of the commercially manufactured cat foods there are, you’ll find the food comes as dry, semi-moist, and canned.

The food you choose will come down to you and your cat’s preferences. If in any kind of doubt, speak to your local vet for recommendations. Remember, that an old cat, a pregnant cat or an ill cat will require a certain type of food.

You’ll need to coax your cat to use a litter box. The litter box should be in a quiet place where he can do his business in peace. Make sure you have the tools to scoop out your cat’s feces every single day. Cats like a clean litter box.

Provide the cat with a scratching post. If you have a cat as a pet, you must know it will scratch. You can’t change your cat’s behavior but you can do something about it to deter your cat scratching your furniture. You can buy him a scratching post so that he can scratch the way all cats do.