Graceful killer ready to pounce

Servals cost £750 to £12,000 depending on purity of the specimen

Native to the area south of the Sahara, their tan coats help them blend in while hunting

Servals don’t chase prey but wait for a victim to come close and then pounce with a fatal bite to the neck

Their 50 per cent kill rate is the best of all cats

Ancient Egyptians worshiped servals for their grace and power

They are rare in the UK but savannah cats – a mix of domestic and serval – are more common