The serval is a medium-sized African wild cat native to the savannas and wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Distinguished by its spotted coat and remarkable agility, this feline is a highly specialized predator. The serval’s appearance often surprises people due to its unusual proportions, which make it seem much larger than its actual mass.
Core Physical Dimensions
The serval possesses a notably slender build, placing it firmly in the medium wild cat category. Adult servals stand approximately 21 to 26 inches (54 to 66 centimeters) at the shoulder. This shoulder height is a defining characteristic of their size.
The body length, measured from the head to the base of the tail, typically ranges from 26 to 39 inches (67 to 100 centimeters). Their weight is relatively light, reflecting their lean and athletic frame. Servals generally weigh between 18 and 40 pounds (8 to 18 kilograms).
Sexual dimorphism is noticeable in the species, as males tend to be larger and heavier than females. Male servals commonly reach 20 to 40 pounds (9 to 18 kilograms), while females are generally lighter, weighing 15 to 26 pounds (7 to 12 kilograms).
Distinctive Features That Amplify Size
The serval’s height is significantly influenced by its unique morphological features. The species holds the distinction of having the longest legs of any cat globally, relative to its body size. This extended leg length is primarily a result of elongated metatarsal bones in the feet, giving the serval a stilt-like appearance.
This disproportionate limb length allows the serval to see over tall savanna grasses, which aids in locating prey, and contributes to its nickname, the “giraffe cat”. The long, strong legs enable the serval to perform vertical leaps, capable of jumping more than 6.5 feet (2 meters) into the air to catch birds in flight.
Another feature that contributes to the serval’s appearance is its enormous ears, which are the largest of any feline species. These large, oval ears are set close together on a small head, emphasizing their prominence. They are primarily used for acute hearing to locate small prey moving underground.
Serval Size Compared to Domestic Cats
Placing the serval’s dimensions in context reveals a substantial difference from typical companion felines. The average domestic cat generally weighs between 8 and 12 pounds, making even the smallest female serval nearly twice the weight of a standard house cat. A large domestic breed, such as the Maine Coon, weighs up to 20 or 25 pounds.
The Maine Coon’s shoulder height of roughly 10 to 16 inches is significantly shorter than the serval’s minimum of 21 inches. This demonstrates a massive difference in vertical stature compared to even the largest domestic cat breeds.
The size difference is also evident in the Savannah cat, a hybrid breed created by crossing the serval with a domestic cat. First-generation (F1) Savannah cats, which are closest to the serval genetically, are notably large, with males often weighing up to 30 pounds and standing 16 to 18 inches at the shoulder. While later generations of Savannahs may be comparable in weight to a Maine Coon, the initial hybrid generation illustrates the serval’s contribution to a much larger frame.