As an animal lover, if you’ve ever wanted the right balance between a dog and a cat, the savannah cat is just that. A little bigger than the cat and a little smaller than the average dog, the savannah cat is a cross between a domestic cat and the African wild cat. The first savannah cat was bred in 1986, with the breed becoming popular in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Activists fought hard for the savannah to be recognized as a new breed, and in 2001, the International Cat Association bowed to pressure. Later in 2012, the savannah was also allowed to participate in cat tournaments.