HEALTH AND CARE OF YOUR NEW SAVANNAH CAT – TICA’s Official Savannah Breed Section

What is PK Def? Should my Savannah Cat be Tested for PK Def?

PK Def stands for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Def). Pyruvate kinase deficiency is an inherited lack of the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which is used by red blood cells. Without this enzyme, red blood cells break down too easily, resulting in a low level of these cells (hemolytic anemia). There are three outcomes of PK Def testing and every responsible savannah breeder should test their breeding cats for this genetic mutation.

N/K does not affect pet kittens at all, but breeders should try to stop using carriers (n/k) as soon as they possibly can, to avoid continuing to produce carriers that affect the breed.

N/N = Normal – the cat does not have the genetic mutation causing pyruvate kinase deficiency.

N/K = Carrier – the cat has one copy of the mutation. The cat will not have pyruvate kinase deficiency, but may pass the mutation to their offspring. A carrier is unaffected by the disease.

K/K = Affected or Positive – the cat has two copies of the mutation. The cat will have pyruvate kinase deficiency.

A cat or kitten that is positive for PK Def (K/K), can live a normal life for the most part. However, in some cases, the cat or kitten develops anemia and/or lethargy and can become quite ill. The cat can be treated and recover, but be sure to see your vet if any of these symptoms develop.

Most responsible, ethical savannah breeders test their breeding cats for this gene. Please be sure to ask your breeder if testing was done and for the written results. Testing is paramount for the welfare of ALL savannah breeding cats and ALL savannah cat buyers and owners should always request results.

What does PRA Stand For? Should My Savannah Cat be Tested for PRA?

PRA stands for Progressive Retinal Atrophy and has been discovered in Savannah cats, which affects vision. Since the Savannah breed, especially in the early years, used Bengals, Oriental Shorthairs, Ocicats and Siamese as outcrosses, some of those lines are affected with PRA. As a matter-of-fact, the first cat within the breed was a siamese mated to a serval for the first F1’s. Also, many cats in savannah pedigrees, are registered as DSH (domestic shorthair) when they are in fact other breeds, so we have no real knowledge of the actual outcross used. This practice was common years ago when the breed was developing and outcrosses banned.

Breeds known to be currently affected by PRA are as follows:
* Abyssinian
* American Curl
* American Wirehair
* Balinese
* Bengal
* Colourpoint Shorthair
* Cornish Rex
* Javanese
* Ocicat
* Oriental Shorthair
* Siamese
* Singapura
* Somali
* Tonkinese

The genes responsible for the disease are PRA and PRA-B, scientifically known as rdAc. Simply put, a Savannah either does not have this defective gene, is a carrier (rdAc/Normal) or is affected and will develop blindness later in life (rdAc/rdAc). A carrier will not develop the disease, but an affected cat will.

If Males Up Until F5 (Fifth Generation Away from the Serval) are Sterile, Why Would I Need to Neuter a Male Kitten?

Although males may not make viable sperm, they still produce the male hormones and will exhibit male (tomcat) behavior that makes them undesirable as pets in the intact state. For example, they will still spray and mark their territory and be continually searching for an available female to mate to.

Do Savannah Cats Spray? Do They Use a Litterbox Faithfully?

Intact breeding cats often spray. When neutered/ spayed at an appropriate age (5 months or earlier as recommended by your vet is optimum) Savannahs are not known to spray.

A well socialized, happily acclimated Savannah will use its litter box religiously! Like most cats, some Savannahs can absolutely require their boxes be extremely clean, and you must make sure there are plenty of litter boxes for the number of cats in your house. The general rule is one litter box per cat and one extra. Additionally, Savannahs can grow to larger-than-normal sizes, so you may need the jumbo-sized litter pans. Some people find that plastic tote boxes make excellent litter boxes, especially with those cats that like to dig and fling litter about.

Any cat litter is acceptable.

Does My Savannah Need Vaccinations Like Domestic Cats?

Yes, Savannahs should receive routine kitten vaccinations just like domestic cats. The type and number of vaccinations is sometimes debatable, but it is generally accepted that they should have at least two initial vaccinations as a kitten (most veterinarians recommend three), with one being after they are 12 weeks old, and then a booster at a year of age and then every one to three years thereafter. Many breeders recommend killed virus vaccinations only because exotic cats have been known to have serious reactions to the modified live viruses. However, killed virus vaccinations have been associated with sarcomas at the injection site. Modified live viruses do not have this same concern so more breeders are beginning to use the modified live virus vaccinations. You may find your breeder will be very specific and require you to use only a certain type of vaccination, another breeder will allow you to choose your personal preference.

What Health Problems are Common in Savannahs?

The Savannah Cat is a hardy breed but is still susceptible to the same diseases that other domestic cats are prone to so require routine veterinary care and health maintenance.

N/N = Normal – the cat does not have the genetic mutation causing pyruvate kinase deficiency.

N/K = Carrier – the cat has one copy of the mutation. The cat will not have pyruvate kinase deficiency, but may pass the mutation to their offspring.

K/K = Affected or Positive – the cat has two copies of the mutation. The cat will have pyruvate kinase deficiency.

PRA stands for Progressive Retinal Atrophy and is a disease recently discovered in Savannah cats, which affects vision. Since the Savannah breed, especially in the early years, used Bengals, Oriental Shorthairs, Ocicats and Siamese as outcrosses, some of those lines are affected with PRA. As a matter-of-fact, the first cat within the breed was a siamese mated to a serval for the first F1’s. Also, many cats in savannah pedigrees, are registered as DSH (domestic shorthair) when they are in fact other breeds, so we have no real knowledge of the actual outcross used. This practice was common years ago when the breed was developing and outcrosses banned.

What Food Do Savannahs Eat? Will They Eat “Normal” Cat Food?

Savannahs eat commercial cat food like any other domestic cat would, but are usually also very receptive to a raw diet. We recommend a high-quality cat food brand be used, especially as Savannahs grow fast in the first years of their life, so will need good nutrition.

Raw vs. Kibble: Premium cat food, whether raw, canned or kibble is recommended and your Savannah will be happy and healthy on premium foods. If you choose to feed raw food, please research dietary requirements for cats prior to preparing a raw diet. You can find many nutritious recipes by researching BARF diets online.