Lone Serval Cat Takes on Four Grown Cheetahs And Wins

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Don’t let the adorable face of the serval cat fool you. These long-necked mammals are fierce protectors of their territory. And as we can see from the video attached above, this lone cat was even willing to go up against other members of the Felidae family. 

Cheetahs Gang Up on Serval Cat

The short YouTube video clip at the top of this blog post lasts a mere two minutes but is packed with the shocking strength of the serval cat. Four cheetahs were spotted ganging up on this cat in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The Nomad In Wilderness YouTube channel reposted this video. They regularly share footage of animals such as tigers, monkeys, cheetahs, and peacocks. 

Serval Cat Puts Up a Fight

Unlike the cheetah (​​Acinonyx jubatus) which is found in both Africa and Asia, the serval cat (Leptailurus serval) is native to Africa. And this is where this dramatic scene picks up. At the start of the video, we see a grand standoff happening between four cheetahs and a lone serval cat. 

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, serval cats “prefer areas of bush, tall grass, and dry reed beds near streams, but they are also found in high-altitude moorlands and bamboo thickets.” This serval cat is using its long neck to its advantage to spot the predators just up ahead. 

Slowly, one by one, the cheetahs get up and make their way over to the cat. They surround him from all sides. The serval cat takes a defensive position and lets them know he is ready to attack at any given moment. He strikes at one cheetah who gets too close. The others continue to circle him, trying to see if they can get really close. But, this serval cat puts up a fight and scares them off from bothering him any longer. 

Are Serval Cats Aggressive Towards Humans?

It can be difficult to look at a wild animal such as the serval cat and imagine that they might be aggressive creatures. However, we must remember that all wild animals have the potential to be aggressive. While their nature is not aggressive towards humans, they can show signs of aggression when they feel backed into a corner or put into situations where they feel uncomfortable.

A very common question is, “Do serval cats make good pets?” And the answer is emphatically “NO!” We like to make it simple for people asking this question about wild animals. Just because they are cute doesn’t mean they would make a good pet!