How to Sell Savannah Kittens in the United States
To sell Savannah kittens in the United States, state each kitten's generation and TICA registration honestly, sell only to buyers who can legally keep that generation where they live, show the parents' heart scans and DNA results, and hand kittens over in person with a contract and a cleared payment. This guide is for breeders and owners who already have a litter; it does not cover producing early generations from servals, wild cats that many states and cities bar as pets.
Savannahs attract eager buyers, high prices and scammers who copy breeders' photos. A clear, documented ad and careful screening protect the kittens, the buyers and you.
Key points
- Hybrid-cat rules are state and local and often depend on generation, so ask every buyer where the cat will live before you take a deposit.
- Show both parents' echocardiograms and PK-deficiency and PRA DNA results, and never breed a cat with HCM or an untested cat.
- Price within the ranges buyers see: WebMD puts F1s at up to $20,000, and Petful says F3 and later kittens typically cost in the low thousands.
- Sell pet kittens with a spay or neuter contract and a promise to take the cat back at any age.
- Take cash or a payment that has cleared at an in-person handover; never refund an overpaid check.
Is it legal to sell Savannah kittens in the US?
In many places, yes, but the rules sit at several levels and depend on where you and the buyer live.
- Federal: the USDA's Animal Welfare Act rules exempt people with four or fewer breeding females. Above that, selling kittens that buyers do not see in person before buying generally needs a USDA license; face-to-face sales fall under the retail exemption.
- State: some states set a minimum sale age. Massachusetts, for example, bars selling or transferring a cat under 8 weeks old.
- City or county: some require a breeding permit; the City of Los Angeles, for example, requires one for cats bred in the city.
- Hybrid rules: New York City's Health Code bans "any hybrid or cross-breed offspring of a wild cat and domesticated or other cat", and Hawaii treats wild-cat hybrids as prohibited animals. WebMD notes that some states ban all Savannahs and others allow only F4 and later.
TICA itself notes that the breed is still illegal in some states and countries. Ask every buyer for their city and state, check the rules there, and do not sell a kitten into a place where it cannot legally be kept.
Which health tests should Savannah parents have?
WebMD says Savannahs should be screened for PRA and PK deficiency and are more likely than other domestic cats to develop HCM. Keep copies of every report with each cat's registered name or microchip number.
| Condition | Test | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| HCM | Echocardiogram, repeated at intervals | The most common feline heart disease; often silent early on (PetMD) |
| PK deficiency | DNA test (cheek swab) | Recessive inherited anemia; two carriers produce about 25% affected kittens |
| PRA | DNA test | Inherited blindness; early-onset forms appear at 2 to 3 months, late-onset at 2 to 5 years (PetMD) |
| FeLV and FIV | Blood test | Infectious; the AAFP advises knowing every cat's status |
Never pair two carriers of the same condition, and do not breed a cat with HCM or one that has not been tested. Buyers who have done their homework will ask to see the reports.
How do you prepare Savannah kittens for their new homes?
- Age: never before 8 weeks; International Cat Care notes pedigree kittens often go home at about 13 weeks, after their first vaccines.
- Vet work: first vaccines, deworming, a vet exam and a microchip registered to you until the sale.
- Handling: Savannahs are active, vocal and strong, so handle kittens daily and get them used to a carrier, a harness, nail trims and tooth brushing.
- Paperwork: the TICA registration application showing the exact generation, the vet record, both parents' test reports and a care sheet covering play, climbing and diet.
How should you price Savannah kittens?
| Generation | WebMD (2024) | Petful (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Up to $20,000 | $10,000 to $20,000 or more |
| F2 | Up to $11,000 | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| F3 and later | Not given | Low thousands |
Where your kittens fall depends on generation, whether they are sold as pets with a spay or neuter contract, what vet work is included, the parents' results and local demand. Look at current Savannah kittens for sale near you before you set a price.
Do not price far below the market. The Federal Trade Commission warns that a price much lower than usual can be a red flag, so a cheap Savannah makes careful buyers suspicious.
How do you write a Savannah kitten ad that attracts good buyers?
- Generation and registration: the exact F number and TICA status. Never call an early-generation kitten SBT.
- Health: each parent's tests and results, and the date of the last heart scan.
- Kitten details: sex, date of birth, go-home date, color, and what the price includes.
- Honest temperament: an athletic, vocal cat that jumps high, needs daily play and has a strong prey drive, not a quiet lap cat.
- Legal line: ask buyers to confirm that this generation is allowed where they live.
- Media: clear recent photos and a short video of the kitten playing, with its mother if possible.
When you post your Savannah kitten ad on PetzLover, describe the kittens as they are and let buyers message you through the listing. Keep your phone number and home address out of the ad text.
How do you vet buyers and hand over a Savannah kitten safely?
- Ask about the home: who lives there, other pets, landlord permission, climbing space and time for play.
- Confirm the buyer's city and state and that the kitten's generation is legal there.
- Invite a visit or a live video call before taking a deposit, and give a written receipt for any deposit.
- Sign a contract covering the price, health guarantee, spay or neuter terms, no declawing, registration papers and a promise to return the cat to you if the buyer cannot keep it.
- Take cash or a payment you have confirmed has cleared. A check for more than the price, with a request to send back the difference, is what the FTC calls a fake check scam.
- Hand over the records, food and care sheet, and transfer the microchip the same day.
Be cautious of buyers who will not meet, want a courier to collect or ask only about breeding. Buyers may read how to buy a Savannah kitten, so meeting its standards helps. If you are placing a retired adult, read how to rehome your Savannah responsibly or how to give away a Savannah for free without risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I sell a Savannah kitten for?
It depends mainly on generation. WebMD puts F1s at up to $20,000 and F2s at up to $11,000, and Petful says F3 and later kittens typically cost in the low thousands. Check current local listings before you set a price.
Do I need a license to sell Savannah kittens?
Federally, breeders with four or fewer breeding females are exempt from USDA licensing, and face-to-face sales fall under the retail exemption. Some states and cities have their own permits, such as the City of Los Angeles breeding permit, so check with your state agriculture department and your city.
Can I sell an F1 or F2 Savannah to any buyer?
No. Early generations are the most often restricted, New York City bans hybrids of wild and domestic cats and Hawaii treats them as prohibited. State the generation honestly and check the buyer's state and city rules before you agree a sale.
What age can Savannah kittens go to new homes?
Never before 8 weeks, which is also the legal minimum in some states such as Massachusetts. Many pedigree breeders keep kittens until about 13 weeks so the first vaccines are done and the kittens are well socialized.
Should I sell Savannah kittens with breeding rights?
Most pet homes do not need them, and a spay or neuter contract prevents unplanned litters. Early-generation males are usually sterile anyway. If you do sell an intact cat, sell only to a breeder who health-tests and registers with TICA.
What payment is safe when selling a kitten?
Cash at handover or a payment you have confirmed has cleared. Never accept a check for more than the price and refund the difference. Give a written receipt for any deposit.
Helpful guides
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Savannah Kitten in the United StatesBefore you buy a Savannah kitten in the US, check that its generation is legal where you live, choose a TICA-registered breeder you can visit, ask for the parents' heart scans and DNA results, and never pay for a kitten you have not seen live.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Savannah Cat Safely in the United StatesA free Savannah kitten from someone you cannot meet is a strong scam signal. Genuine free Savannahs are usually adults: meet the cat and owner, learn its generation and history, check local hybrid rules and never pay shipping up front.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Savannah Cat for Free Without Risk in the United StatesTo give away a Savannah safely, contact your breeder, spay or neuter the cat, write an honest ad that states its generation and habits, screen applicants in person, confirm the cat is legal where they live and never release it outdoors.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Savannah Cat in the United StatesBefore you take in a rehomed Savannah, confirm its generation is legal where you live, learn exactly why it is being rehomed, check its health and records, and give it a quiet room, tall perches and daily play while it settles.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Savannah Cat Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your Savannah responsibly: rule out fixable problems, contact your breeder, disclose generation, behavior and health honestly, look for an experienced home where the cat is legal, and never release it outdoors.