Within 24 hours, two servals escaped in Helmond and Lexmond in the Netherlands. These leopard cats are known for their shy nature, but they can become dangerous when they see people, dogs or cats and feel threatened. Remarkably, these servals escaped. This raises the question of whether it is allowed to keep servals as pets and what the regulations are in this regard in Spain.
The serval is a medium-sized cat with noticeably long legs, a short tail and a long neck. Its large ears and particularly spotted coat tempt many people to keep this animal of African origin as a pet. The serval has recently been placed on the list of banned pets in the Netherlands. A transitional arrangement is in place: owners who already own a serval before January 1, 2024, can keep the animal until it dies.
Servals are not recommended for keeping as pets. Although they have an attractive, cat-like appearance, this site explains that Servals have difficulty with the hierarchy imposed on them by humans. In addition, servals require specific food and are difficult to keep in captivity, although relatively small specimens are easy to domesticate.
In Spain, the serval from the African savannah is considered an exotic animal, which is why keeping a serval as a pet is only allowed in exceptional cases. For this reason, police in Spain have sometimes confiscated servals. Although they have become increasingly popular as pets, especially in the United States, they are not allowed in Spain.
