Savannah Cat Laws in Europe
Housing Conditions According to the BMEL Mammal Assessment
Savannah Cat Laws – Laws and Regulations – According to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), F1–F4 hybrid cats are considered hybrids and require an outdoor enclosure of at least 25 to 50 m².
Note: From the 5th filial generation onward, any hybrid cat breed is no longer considered a hybrid! The restrictions and reporting obligations apply exclusively to F1–F4 hybrid cats.
From the 5th filial generation onward, they are recognized as a distinct breed, the “Savannah cat.” This also applies to Bengal cats, Chausie cats, and all other hybrid cat breeds.
Swiss
Savannah Cat Swiss
Swiss Confederation – Expert Information on Animal Protection – Restrictions on the Keeping and Breeding of Wild Animal Hybrids from Dogs and Cats
In Bengal and Savannah cats, the male hybrid offspring are infertile at least up to the fourth generation, as they are interspecies hybrids. Therefore, the hybrid offspring of the first generations are usually mated with domestic cats. Once no further backcrossing with wild cats is performed, these breed cats can already be kept like domestic cats from the third generation onward.
Austria
Savannah Cat Austria
Prohibition on Keeping Hybrid Cats
Hybrid cats are the offspring of crossings between wild cats and domestic cats. They are not considered domestic animals until the 5th generation of offspring, and therefore may only be kept from that generation onward. … The keeping of Savannah, Caracat, and Bengal cats up to the 4th generation of offspring is prohibited in Austria.
France
Savannah Cat France
According to French Savannah cat breeders, servals may only be kept with expertise and proper permits. There are no legal regulations for Savannah cats.
Netherlands
Savannah Cat Netherlands
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
Belgium
Savannah Cat Belgium
A wildcat license is required to keep F1 Savannah cats in Belgium.
Denmark
Savannah Cat Denmark
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
Czech Republic
Savannah Cat Czech Republic
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
Polen
Savannah Cat Polen
No legal regulations apply from F2 hybrid cats onward.
Hybridization requires a permit.
Sweden
Savannah Cat Sweden
Sweden prohibits generations F1 to F4. The F5 generation and later generations are allowed (considered “domesticated”).
Norway
Savannah Cat Norway
Norway prohibits generations F1 to F4. The F5 generation and later generations are allowed (considered “domesticated”).
Italy
Savannah Cat Italy
F1–F4 generations (e.g., serval hybrids) are prohibited in Italy, while the F5 generation and later generations are allowed (considered “domesticated”).
Finland
Savannah Cat Finland
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
Spain
Savannah Cat Spain
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
Lithuania
Savannah Cat Lithuania
No legal regulations for hybrid cats.
