A serval is a wild cat native to Africa that is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. They are solitary carnivores and active both by day and at night, preying on rodents, particularly vlei rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using their sense of hearing to locate prey. They leap over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on their forefeet, and finally kill it with a bite on the neck or the head. Both sexes establish highly overlapping home ranges of 10 to 32 km2 (4 to 12 sq mi), and mark them with feces and saliva.

Some key characteristics of servals include:

• Appearance: Servals have extra-long legs, a stretched-out neck, and huge ears, which make them successful hunters. They have a tan or golden brown fur with black markings, both spots and stripes, that help them camouflage in the tall grasses of the savannah while they hunt.

• Diet: Servals are carnivores that prey on rodents, particularly vlei rats, small birds, hares, frogs, insects, and reptiles, and also feed on grass that can facilitate digestion or act as an emetic. Up to 90% of the preyed animals weigh less than 200 g (7.1 oz); occasionally, they also hunt larger prey such as duikers, hares, flamingoes, and young antelopes. The percentage of rodents in the diet has been estimated at 80–97% .

• Behavior: Servals are highly intelligent cats who appreciate games or puzzles that make meals, and their daily routines, more rewarding. They rely on their sight and hearing more than their sense of smell to find their prey. They often play with their food before eating it. Servals are highly efficient hunters, catching their prey in over half of their attempts, making them one of the best hunters in the wild cat kingdom.

• Ownership: Servals are wild animals and are not good family pets. They have specific needs, such as vast living space, warm climate, and a live prey diet, that are difficult to provide in captivity. They are not easily house-trained and will frequently mark their territory with urine. It is extremely challenging to provide for the nutritional and veterinary needs of a wild cat like a serval in captivity. Without their needs met, they experience poor welfare. Servals are illegal in many states, and others require you to have some sort of permit or license to own one. Unless you are a trained professional who runs a rescue center or zoo, having a serval as a pet is not a good idea.

In summary, a serval is a wild cat native to Africa that is a solitary carnivore and active both by day and at night. They prey on rodents, particularly vlei rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using their sense of hearing to locate prey. Servals have extra-long legs, a stretched-out neck, and huge ears, which make them successful hunters. They are not good family pets and are illegal in many states, and others require you to have some sort of permit or license to own one.