Where are servals legal to own?
Servals are only allowed without a license in certain states! Make sure your state is one of them before purchasing one.
The states in which owning a serval is legal make up about half of the United States. There are no laws banning owning a pet serval - In Alabama , North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada , Wisconsin , Texas , Kentucky and Delaware. No permit is required in Louisana, Illinois, Washington, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana , Kansas. You must obtain a license to own a Serval in the following states Kentucky, Delaware, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Washington, Tennesee, West Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Kansas and Florida.
Owning a serval isnt like owning any other pet breed. Servals require much care and attention as they grow. The right diet is crucial to the servals upbringing and overall health. Serval cats are the most active cats. They require enough space to move around and to run. A Serval requires a huge and safe habitat outside the house. Serval cats must never be strictly house cats. Their habitats must be at minimum, 8 ft tall and 20 by 20 or 10 by 30, the bigger the better. The habitat mustn’t be too small because Servals will not give your grass time to grow because of the foot traffic. The flooring must be clean and do not use dirt because Serval cats are easily affected by parasites and cause infestation, so l recommend grass and pine shavings. The perimeter of the enclosure's interior is rimmed and have landscaping timber (around 18" from the fence). We always use pine shavings for flooring in this area as this is always the highest foot traffic area, avoid concreting the whole are if you want to pave with concrete. Make sure you have an alternative building for your cat to access heating and cooling (if your cat doesn’t have access to your house).
Rye is recommended in the South East region of the US in winter and Bermuda grass for summer, as you will have to cultivate the grass seed regularly as grass vary according to the region you are in. I recommend you to always create a section of pine shavings for bathroom use, as they will be attracted to the pine scent, which will keep them away from the house. I strongly recommend that you keep your Serval social and interactive to its human family by leaving a pet window which it will use to go in and outside the house to play, exercise etc. whenever you will be around to monitor it.
Sunlight & Vitamin D
Serval must always get enough direct sunshine, not through the window as this is the only natural source of Vitamin D. Most animals get Vitamin D. The sun strikes the animal's fur and activates oils which are rich in provitamin, then the animals licks the fur, most animals get their Vitamin D from grooming. Most animals that suffer from lesions, abscesses and ulcers lack Vitamin D however, too much of Vitamin D causes toxicosis and the symptoms include anorexia, diarrhoea, increased thirst, depression, and increased urination. Dairy products, Wild-caught fatty fish, egg yolks, liver, etc. are rich with Vitamin D, never use Vitamin D supplements unless prescribed by the vet (make sure to check your Serval's Vitamin D level occasionally).
Cats lack enzymes to break down vegetable matter thus they regorge when they eat grass because it acts as defacto laxative and helps move matter for digestion. However, it is also important for them to eat grass because it relieves sore throats and it contains folic acid, which is important for the production of haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen to the blood stream. Remember, most plants are poisonous as they may contain pesticides.
Tips:
Use a 9-gauge coated fencing and treated wood whenever possible, to avoid being eaten by the Serval's acidic urine.
Use plastic hinges on doors for easy reach when they want to spray.
Attach coated wire in and outside the enclosure and spray some clear Flex Seal on the attachment points.
Reinforce your wire by adding a high-quality lattice.
