State rankings
Serval Cats Legal States
Serval Cats Legal States: compare 51 US states on 2 metrics.
EnvironmentLaw51 states · 2 metricsUpdated May 29, 2025Original page
10 sources
- Where are servals legal to own? - Serval Kitten
- Are servals legal in Arizona? - POC
- Exotic serval cat spotted in Hollywood - abc7
- Idaho - Hybrid Law
- Animals in Captivity - Born Free
- Iowa - Hybrid Law
- Captive Wildlife Permit - Nebraska.gov
- How “exotic” can pets get in New Mexico? - KRQE
- Are Serval Cats Legal in New York? - Exotic Pet Wonderland
- Exotic Animal Laws by State - Find Law
Legality of Pet Serval Cats
5 values across 51 entries
Data
Click a column to sort.
51 states
 Alabama | Legal | - Some counties may require permit or implement other restrictions |
 Alaska | Not legal | — |
 Arizona | Not legal | — |
 Arkansas | Legal w/ ownership permit | — |
 California | Not legal | — |
 Colorado | Not legal | — |
 Connecticut | Not legal | — |
 Delaware | Not legal | — |
 District of Columbia | Not legal | — |
 Florida | Legal w/ ownership permit | - Annual Permit to Possess Class II Wildlife for Personal Use, - To obtain the Permit you must have 1,000 hours of logged experience working with servals and pass a facility/caging inspection. |
 Georgia | Not legal | — |
 Hawaii | Not legal | — |
 Idaho | Legal w/ ownership permit | - Deleterious Exotics Possession Permit from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, - For the Permit must prove you have significant knowledge of species health and handling and proof of appropriate containment facilities. |
 Illinois | Legal | - It is illegal to sell servals in Illinois |
 Indiana | Legal w/ ownership permit | - Annual Class II Wild Animal Possession permit, - In order to renew your permit for a pet servals in Indiana after the first year, you must provide proof your animal has been seen by a veterinarian, is properly vaccinated, and is being properly cared for at home. |
 Iowa | Legal | - F4 and later generation allowed |
 Kansas | Legal w/ import permit | — |
 Kentucky | Legal w/ import permit | — |
 Louisiana | Legal | - Some counties may require permit |
 Maine | Legal w/ ownership permit | — |
 Maryland | Not legal | — |
 Massachusetts | Not legal | — |
 Michigan | Legal | — |
 Minnesota | Not legal | — |
 Mississippi | Legal w/ import permit | - Cat must come from a USDA breeder |
 Missouri | Legal w/ import permit | - Cat must come from a USDA breeder |
 Montana | Legal | — |
 Nebraska | Not legal | — |
 Nevada | Legal w/ ownership and import permits | - Cat must come from a USDA breeder |
 New Hampshire | Not legal | — |
 New Jersey | Not legal | — |
 New Mexico | Not legal | — |
 New York | Not legal | — |
 North Carolina | Not legal | — |
 North Dakota | Legal w/ ownership permit | — |
 Ohio | Not legal | — |
 Oklahoma | Legal w/ ownership permit | Permit requirements: - A minimum of one hundred (100) hours of practical experience providing care for one or more felines from a Class III species., - A letter from a licensed sanctuary or individual owner of a serval recommending you for a permit.+1 |
 Oregon | Not legal | - Legal only for USDA licensed breeders to keep as part as hybrid breeding programs, but not for private ownership |
 Pennsylvania | Legal w/ ownership permit | — |
 Rhode Island | Not legal | — |
 South Carolina | Legal | — |
 South Dakota | Legal w/ ownership and import permits | - Must have appropriate facilities completed and inspected before submitting an application., - A license must be obtained prior to obtaining animals. |
 Tennessee | Legal | — |
 Texas | Legal w/ import permit | — |
 Utah | Not legal | — |
 Vermont | Not legal | — |
 Virginia | Not legal | — |
 Washington | Legal w/ import permit | - Cat must come from a USDA breeder |
 West Virginia | Legal | — |
 Wisconsin | Legal w/ import permit | - Cat must come from a USDA breeder |
 Wyoming | Legal w/ ownership permit | — |
Quick answers
- Where does this serval cats legal states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Where are servals legal to own? - Serval Kitten; Are servals legal in Arizona? - POC; Exotic serval cat spotted in Hollywood - abc7; Idaho - Hybrid Law.