One of my favorite sightings on our Kenya trip two years ago was this serval cat. It was our last night of a two week safari and we were on our way back to camp for the last time, quite satisfied with all that we had seen. We had already photographed the big five, including many rhino and a few leopards. This was icing on the cake and we almost missed it as we were packing up my camera gear for the night. Servals are a medium sized cat, but with long legs, and an unusually small head a top a long neck. This one had been crouching in the grass and was just getting up — most likely to go hunting. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70_200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/80th of a second
“medium sized cat” in the house cat sizes, or medium as compared to a lion or leopard? Hard to tell from this shot, but I love the face. Very pretty kitty!
Hey Michael, I know that some people do have them as pets, but I don’t think they would necessarily make a good pet. They are mostly nocturnal, for one, so they will sleep during the day and be active at night. And as an exotic cat, they are illegal to own as pets in most places.
I didn’t think they were anywhere near the size ‘between a house cat & a Leopard’.
Surely they are much smaller than that? Their elongated Legs & Necks make them appear tall but I would have thought closer to a Collie Dog but not as heavy.
Lovely shot &very unusual pose, it’s rare that you don’t see any cat in a pose that looks awkward like this one.
Hey Con, thanks for the comment, it got me researching. Servals actually do fall fairly squarely between the size of a typical house cat and a leopard, albeit a bit closer to the house cat size. And leopards can vary widely in size depending on region of the world. These are the average sizes according to Wikipedia.
House Cat — 18 inches head/body length, 10 inches at the shoulder
Serval — 36 inch head/body length, 26 inches at the shoulder
Leopard — 65 inch head/body length, 31 inches at the shoulder
Now weight is another issue. House cat — 11 pounds, Serval — 40 pounds, Leopard — 130 pounds for the largest females/201 for the largest males.
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Such a very Beautiful feline and a gorgeous image!
“medium sized cat” in the house cat sizes, or medium as compared to a lion or leopard? Hard to tell from this shot, but I love the face. Very pretty kitty!
In between the size of a house cat and a leopard.
So alien,so intense—no cute kitten here.Good sighting!
Thanks Peter. Odd looking cat, but still a fine looking creature.
Interesting animal!
<3
This kind of looks like Lola?
A French bulldog?
do you think this could make a good pet if train right. great pic.
Hey Michael, I know that some people do have them as pets, but I don’t think they would necessarily make a good pet. They are mostly nocturnal, for one, so they will sleep during the day and be active at night. And as an exotic cat, they are illegal to own as pets in most places.
I didn’t think they were anywhere near the size ‘between a house cat & a Leopard’.
Surely they are much smaller than that? Their elongated Legs & Necks make them appear tall but I would have thought closer to a Collie Dog but not as heavy.
Lovely shot &very unusual pose, it’s rare that you don’t see any cat in a pose that looks awkward like this one.
Keep the Photos coming, always a pleasure.
Regards
Hey Con, thanks for the comment, it got me researching. Servals actually do fall fairly squarely between the size of a typical house cat and a leopard, albeit a bit closer to the house cat size. And leopards can vary widely in size depending on region of the world. These are the average sizes according to Wikipedia.
House Cat — 18 inches head/body length, 10 inches at the shoulder
Serval — 36 inch head/body length, 26 inches at the shoulder
Leopard — 65 inch head/body length, 31 inches at the shoulder
Now weight is another issue. House cat — 11 pounds, Serval — 40 pounds, Leopard — 130 pounds for the largest females/201 for the largest males.