Savannah vs Munchkin - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Savannah vs Munchkin - Breed ComparisonBoth Munchkin and Savannah are originated from United States. Both Munchkin and Savannah are having almost same weight. Munchkin may live 5 years less than Savannah. Both Munchkin and Savannah has same litter size. Both Munchkin and Savannah requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
3 - 8 kg
6 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
14 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Sausage cat
None
Colors Available:
All colors and patterns
grey with black spots, cream, Tawny
Coat:
Short and long haired
Short
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

munchkinInformation about the short-legged Munchkin cat has been around since the 1940s. A British veterinary report in 1944 noted these short-legged cats.

During the 2nd World War, the cats disappeared but other short-legged cats were seen in Russia during 1956 and then the United States in the 1970s.

The cat was introduced to the general public in 1991 but for many years it wasn't accepted in cat competitions. Eventually, the Munchkin was proposed as a new breed by foundation breeders and accepted by TICA into its New Breed development program in 1994. The Munchkin breed achieved TICA Championship status in May 2003. The Cat Fanciers Association doesn’t recognize the Munchkin.

savannahSavannah cats have been bred to look like a Serval but it is essentially a domestic cat. The first Savannah cat was born in the United States in April 1986. The person who was successful in making this happen was Judee Frank.

She bred a Serval wild cat and a Siamese cat and they produced a female kitten with the name of Savannah – named after the African savannas from where the serval cat comes from.

It will take your Savannah kitten about 3 years to reach his adult size. The Savannah will give birth to up to 6 kittens. The cat was recognized by TICA in 2001.

Today when you’re looking to buy a Savannah kitten, you’ll notice the cats are always described with a filial number, for example, F1, F2, F3, F4, and so on. The filial number describes the generation a cat comes from.

Because this cat belongs to a hybrid group, the feline is banned in a number of states and cities in the United States of America.

Description

munchkin kitten - descriptionThe Munchkin is a small to medium-sized, muscular cat with a thick coat that comes in all colors and patterns. In fact, color, pattern, and coat length will vary.

There is also a long-haired variety. It usually weighs between 3 and 4kg. It has short, stubby little legs and a torso that hangs fairly low to the ground. The cat’s back legs are somewhat longer than the front legs. The legs of these cats can be slightly bowed. The eyes can be any color.

Temperament:

The Munchkin is such a social, outgoing cat that just loves being petted and pampered by his human family. He is sociable and friendly as well as intelligent and is easy to train. While he is an amicable cat and can get on well with everyone in the family, it isn’t a good idea to have such a cat as a playmate for children as they can become injured.

An interesting feature with this cat is the way he doesn’t really sit like other cats but has a way of sitting up on his legs, much like a rabbit.

savannah kitten - descriptionThe Savannah Cat is a fairly large cat that weighs anything from 3 to 8 kg. It is a cross between a domestic cat and one of Africa’s smaller wild cats, the Serval.

Because of the Serval in the mix, the Savannah cat is able to leap into the air too because of his long legs. The cat has a short tail, and similar to the Cheetah has tear markings running from the corner of the eyes down to the whiskers.

A striking feature of this cat is his hooded eyes and the large ears. The Savannah cat has exotic looks and is regarded as a low maintenance cat with its short fur. The coat is tawny-colored with black spots but it comes in 4 background colors – smoke, silver, brown, and black.

Temperament:

An interesting aspect with the Savannah Cat is that they are sometimes compared to dogs. They become loyal pets and companions and will follow their owners around and can even be trained to walk on a leash.

The Savannah is an intelligent cat and can be taught a trick or two. Because the Savannah cat is a hybrid, they aren’t predictable in nature. Some are friendly and social while others are more wild and hostile. Some of them don’t like meeting strangers and will growl and hiss with uncertainty.

They enjoy playing in water and it will be a good idea to invest in a paddling pool for this cat’s outdoor enclosure. It’s an active cat and will require daily exercise. It is better suited to homes where there are older children.

Characteristics

munchkin cat - characteristicsThe Munchkin may be short and stock but he is just as active and playful as any other cat. When you have him in your home, you'll discover that his short little legs don't stop him from trying out everything other cats do.

He is ready to show you what he's made of. He is a confident, social cat and is friendly, intelligent, and loving towards his human family. He makes a devoted companion and he will get along with other cats in the family as well as dogs.

He may be a bit odd to look at but if you want an excellent companion, the Munchkin is well worth your consideration.

savannah cat - characteristicsThe Savannah cat's temperament is exceptional, and when you’ve got a Savannah in your home, you’ve got a true companion.

Cat lovers who have owned one of these cats will tell you that this cat is similar to a dog in many ways. The intelligent cat will follow his owners around and be a friendly, loyal, and devoted companion.

With so much intelligence, beauty, and energy, this cat has all the qualities of a splendid feline companion.

The Savannah will form a particularly strong bond with the human family member who grooms and feeds him.

Everybody who has known the social, affectionate, loyal cat has nothing but good words to say and he may just be the cat companion you want.

Health Problems

munchkin kittens - health problemsBecause this is a fairly new breed, it's still not too clear about its health. It was once thought that the Munchkin cat could develop spinal problems because of its short legs.

It was in 1995 that some breeders had some of their older Munchkins x-rayed to see if there were any signs of joint or bone problems, but none were found.

The Munchkin cat should also be vaccinated as a kitten and be treated for parasites. To ensure the good health of your sweet little Munchkin cat, give him the best diet possible.

In fact, if you take good care of your Munchkin and you make sure to get all the necessary vaccines for him and get him to the vet when he shows signs of illness, your munchkin can reach 12 to 15 years of age.

savannah kittens - health problemsThe Savannah is generally a healthy cat. The cat can also fall prey to some of the typical cat illnesses there are -

Allergies:

Allergies happen with cats when their immune systems become sensitive to certain things. Cat allergies can be environmental, from fleas or from food allergies.

While some allergies may come and go, others will require an examination by the vet as they can include itchy skin problems. Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing and coughing, runny eyes, diarrhea and vomiting.

Irritable bowel disease:

This is a gastrointestinal disorder. Cats of any age are affected but it is found more in older cats. Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can come about because of a food allergy for instance or parasitic or bacterial infection. Your Savannah cat will be vomiting and lethargic and have diarrhea and weight loss.

Hookworms:

These are parasites that invade the small intestines of a cat. It can cause anemia and inflammation of the small intestine. Hookworms can produce symptoms such as weight loss, coughing, and diarrhea as well as skin irritations.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:

This condition causes thickening of the muscular walls of a cat’s heart. The heart’s left ventricle is thickened. The heart can beat rapidly and this results in more oxygen usage. It can also lead to oxygen starvation which causes heart cells to die off. A condition known as arrhythmia develops where the heart beats irregularly.

Caring The Pet

munchkin cats - caringEvery cat is unique and the Munchkin is a unique cat, This little cat is a carnivore just like any other cat and his diet must be made up mostly of protein.

Speak to your vet about the best food for your Munchkin because a kitten will require a different diet to a senior Munchkin. Also, you don’t want your Munchkin to put on too much weight as this can be detrimental to his joints.

Not only that, being overweight comes with all kinds of health issues. The manufacturers of commercially manufactured cat foods have made sure that they have brought out foods for every stage of a cat's life and age.

Munchkin cats will need to have their fur brushed at least once a week. Trim the claws at the same time.

Provide your sweet little Munchkin with a litter box and keep the litter box immaculately clean, removing the feces every single day.

savannah cats - caringThe Savannah cat's diet needs to be a high-quality type of food with efficient levels of protein and taurine. The reason for this is that all cats are carnivores. A properly balanced raw diet will be the best nutritionally balanced food you can provide.

The Savannah has a short coat, which makes him low maintenance. He will still need to be brushed once a week. This will ensure a healthy sheen, and it will remove loose hairs and dust.

Provide for this intelligent cat’s physical and mental stimulation. He will need a variety of interactive toys. You yourself, need to become involved with your feline friend and give him a game too.

Make sure your Savannah is up-to-date with all his vaccinations. If you’re in any doubt about your pet’s health and wellbeing, get him to the vet who can provide you with valuable information on his health and his diet to ensure optimal health for your feline friend.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Savannah vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Savannah vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Savannah vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Savannah vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Savannah vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Savannah vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Savannah vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Savannah vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Savannah vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Savannah vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Savannah vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Savannah vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Savannah vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Savannah vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Savannah vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Savannah vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Savannah vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Savannah vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Savannah vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Savannah vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Savannah vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Savannah vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Savannah vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Savannah vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Savannah vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Munchkin vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Munchkin vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Munchkin vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Munchkin vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Munchkin vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Munchkin vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Munchkin vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Munchkin vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Munchkin vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Munchkin vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Munchkin vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Munchkin vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Munchkin vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Munchkin vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Munchkin vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Munchkin vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Munchkin vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Munchkin vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Munchkin vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Munchkin vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Munchkin vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Munchkin vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Munchkin vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Munchkin vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Munchkin vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison