Which breeder developed the Serengeti cat breed in California in 1994?

Karen Sausman developed the Serengeti cat breed in California in 1994.

Sausman, a conservation biologist and breeder, created the Serengeti to produce a domestic cat with a serval-like appearance without using servals or other wild cats in the breeding program. The early crosses used Bengal and Oriental Shorthair cats, combining a spotted coat and athletic outline with long legs and large ears.

The breed’s name refers to Tanzania’s Serengeti ecosystem, whose wildlife inspired its visual design. Despite that name, the Serengeti is not an African wild-cat hybrid. This distinction separates it from breeds such as the Savannah, which has serval ancestry.

Serengeti cats typically have bold spots, long legs, large rounded ears, and an active temperament. They remain relatively uncommon, and different registries may use different recognition categories or standards. The breed’s documented starting point in 1994 is therefore especially useful for distinguishing it from older spotted breeds.