American Curl vs African Serval - Breed Comparison

American Curl vs African Serval - Breed ComparisonAfrican Serval is originated from South Africa but American Curl is originated from United States. African Serval may weigh 13 kg / 29 pounds more than American Curl. African Serval may live 5 years more than American Curl. Both African Serval and American Curl has same litter size. African Serval requires Low Maintenance. But American Curl requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

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South Africa
United States
Weight Male:
9 - 18 kg
19 - 40 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 18 kg
19 - 40 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 20 Years
9 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
None
Colors Available:
Spotted and striped with black against a golden/tawny shade
apricot, black - many patterns or solid coat, Grey, white
Coat:
short
Long- and short hair, silky flat-lying coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

african servalThe 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.

american curlThe American Curl is well known for its unusual shaped ears and for being one of the youngest cat breeds.

It developed in California. The first of these cats appeared to have been strays that arrived in California in 1981. The black female’s name was Shulamith, and she gave birth to a litter with the same curled ears, and was the ancestor of the American Curls of today.

Appearing in a cat show in 1992 for the first time, the longhaired American Curl was then given championship status by TICA and it was also admitted to the Cat Fanciers Association’s championship class in the long- and shorthaired divisions.

Description

african serval kitten - descriptionThe 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.

american curl kitten - descriptionThe American Curl is a medium-sized cat weighing roughly 2.3–4.5kg. Its a cat that stands between 21 and 27cm in height.

It’s also a cat that takes a fairly long time to mature, reaching maturity about 2 or 3 years of age. The most distinctive feature of this cat is its unusual ears that curl backward as opposed to standing up like most other cats. At birth the ears are straight but they gradually start curling back, staying in a tight bud position.

The American Curl's coat is soft and silky and doesn’t require too much grooming. The fur comes in colors such as grey, white, apricot, black, and the coat can be a solid color or in a host of different patterns such as bi-color, triple-color, tabby, ticking and others.

The head is round, the eyes of the cat are large, giving the cat an alert, friendly look. The eyes can be many different colors from blue to green, amber, copper, hazel, and yellow.

Temperament:

The American Curl Cat loves his human family and gets on well with children too. He is an adaptable cat, settling into different lifestyles. You’ve got to watch him around small children who might manhandle him and pull his sensitive ears.

Nonetheless, he is sociable and loving. He is an intelligent cat, being active and alert and will even follow you around to see what you’re doing that he can be involved in too. He isn’t a particularly talkative breed but he loves to play and can even learn to fetch a smallish ball.

Characteristics

african serval cat - characteristicsThe 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.

american curl cat - characteristicsYou’ll find your American Curl to be a friendly, loving cat that will easily bond with his human family. They’re adaptable cats and will happily adjust to your lifestyle.

Despite their affection, however, American Curls aren't the type of cats to want to be pampered and petted - they are quite happy just to sit next to their owner and relax, or play with their toys.

Because American Curls are highly adaptable, they're suitable for a number of different home types, and homes with other pets or children, making you a splendid feline pet and companion.

Health Problems

african serval kittens - health problemsMake 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.

american curl kittens - health problemsThis is a healthy breed of cat that with good care can reach 9 – 15 years of age.

You need to be careful with their ears – perhaps damaging the cartilage if you brush him too hard.

Like many cats, the Curl is susceptible to ear issues so always be sure to check and clean your cat’s ears weekly.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

african serval cats - caringThe 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.

american curl cats - caringThe Curl’s coat can be either short or long, but with a gentle brushing, the coat can be well maintained. The shorthaired variety sheds a bit more during the year than the longhaired variety and this is why grooming and brushing becomes necessary.

You can brush your cat’s teeth to avoid periodontal disease.

Trim your cat’s nails every other week if they don’t wear down naturally.

Check inside- and outside the cat’s ears for parasites and dirt. The cat’s ears have a unique shape and they may well be born with narrowed ear canals that can trap dirt and wax and this results in ear infections.

Like all cats breeds, your lean, muscular American Curl can be susceptible to obesity and heart disease. Speak to your vet about a special cat food for your feline friend as cat food is specially formulated to deliver the exact level of natural vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants needed. Understand the amount of food your Curl requires by checking out the feeding instructions on the food labels. Always talk to your vet if you're not sure how much and what you should feed your cat.

Remember, that if you don’t want to do these grooming routines for your cat for fear of hurting him or not doing it properly, the vet or your local pet groomer will do it for you.

Make sure to provide your intelligent American Curl with toys and exercise. You can buy toys and games that will challenge his mental and physical abilities.

Comparison with other breeds

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