[5] That first Savannah was bred with a Turkish Angora male and gave birth to viable F2 kittens in April 1989.

[6] In 1996, Patrick Kelley and Joyce Sroufe wrote the original version of the Savannah breed standard and presented it to the board of The International Cat Association (TICA).

[4] The Savannah's tall and slim build give them the appearance of greater size than their actual weight.

Early (F1 and F2) generations are usually the largest due to the stronger genetic influence of the African serval ancestor, usually weighing 4.5 to 11 kilograms (9.9 to 24.3 lb), although there is considerable financial incentive for breeders to produce F1 cats as large as possible; some are the size of dogs and can weigh 18 kilograms (40 lb) or more, and in the US can fetch very high prices.

[citation needed] Later-generation Savannahs are comparable in size to other large domestic cat breeds, weighing usually between 3.5 and 8.2 kilograms (7.7 and 18.1 lb).

These include the distinctive color markings, the large and erect ears, long body and legs, wide noses and hooded eyes.

The back of the ears have ocelli—a central light band bordered by black, dark grey or brown, giving an eye-like effect.

Ideally, black or dark "tear-streak" or "cheetah tear" markings run from the corner of the eyes down the sides of the nose to the whiskers.

[citation needed] The Savannah breed attained TICA championship status in 2012, which means domestic outcrosses are no longer permitted.

By 2012 most breeders were performing Savannah-to-Savannah pairings, since many fertile F5 Savannah males were by then available for stud, and outcrosses were considered unnecessary and undesirable.

[citation needed] Domestic outcrosses from the early days in the 1990s greatly impacted the breed's development in both desired and non-desired traits.

Outcrosses not permitted included the Bengal and Maine Coon, which brought many unwanted genetic influences.

The problem may also be compounded by the secondary nondomestic genes coming from the Asian leopard cat in the Bengal outcrosses that were used heavily in the foundation of the breed.

The reverse occurs in the F5–F7 generations, but to a lesser degree, with the males being held as breeding cats and females primarily offered as pets.

[13] Savannahs, particularly the earlier (F1-F2) generations, can sometimes exhibit undesirable wild or territorial behaviors, and in males, aggression and marking.

Some states have set more restrictive laws on hybrid cat ownership, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, Texas and Georgia.