Watch the video: XXL cat goes viral on Tiktok – but animal rights activists advise against keeping savanna cats as pets.
An unusual cat from Ontario, Canada, Dexter is the size and weight of an adult bobcat.
Dexter is a savannah cat descended from a serval, a wild cat species native to Africa.
More than 300,000 people follow the big cat on Tiktok.
His owner, 34-year-old Laura Kay, had been looking for an exceptional cat and in 2016 paid more than €2,200 to a breeder to buy Dexter.
At seven years old, the tomcat weighs eleven kilos and measures an impressive 89 centimeters.
Due to its size, the house cat is dependent on dog toys and is fed with dog treats.
“I buy him dog toys because if I get him tiny cat toys he will just destroy them. All cat towers are way too small for him. Even though I bought the biggest one I could find, it’s still way too small for him.” – Laura Kay
Even standard litter boxes are too small for him, so he has to use a 110 liter storage bin to do his business.
“Cat treats are also too small for him. If the ingredients are the same, which they often are, I’ll use dog treats instead.” – Laura Kay
Dexter’s large size makes him an expensive pet. Laura spends around €100 a month on toys, food and vet bills.
The keeping of Savannah cats, which are descended from the serval, is controversial. Animal rights activists advise against it: A serval is a wild animal that does not belong in a private household.
The offspring from a cross between a serval and a domestic cat is also subject to approval in many countries.
Animal rights activists also complain about the breeding: a dainty cat can be seriously injured by a serval tomcat and the risk that the offspring will not be born viable is increased.
Cat lovers should think twice about whether it really needs to be a Serval crossbreed for the home, as is the case with Bengal, Caracat, or Savannah cats.