Is it legal to own a serval in Mississippi?
The short answer
Yes. Mississippi's inherently-dangerous-animal list covers lions, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, and cougars, but not the serval. With no state ban or permit requirement, servals are legal to own.
What Mississippi law says
Miss. Code 49-8-5 enumerates the felids classified as inherently dangerous — all big Panthera cats plus cheetah and cougar — and the serval (Leptailurus serval) is absent, leaving it unregulated at the state level.
Which agency regulates servals in Mississippi
No state agency regulates serval (Leptailurus serval) possession in Mississippi — authority rests with local animal control. See the state wildlife agency for related rules.
Is there a permit for pet servals?
No permit is required at the state level.
Penalties and enforcement
None at the state level for servals; cruelty and public-safety laws still apply.
Local city and county rules
Cities and counties may ban exotic cats, so check local ordinances first.
Legal alternatives in Mississippi
- Fennec Fox in Mississippi — The world's smallest fox — and one of the few foxes legal to own in several U.S. states.
- Sugar Glider in Mississippi — A palm-sized gliding marsupial, legal in most states but banned in a handful of cities and states.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a serval in Mississippi?
No — servals are not on the inherently-dangerous list, so no state permit is required.
Sources
More animals in Mississippi
- Is it legal to own a raccoon in Mississippi?
- Is it legal to own a monkey in Mississippi?
- Is it legal to own a fennec fox in Mississippi?
See all animals on the exotic pet laws in Mississippi page, or compare every state on the pet serval laws by state page.
Last verified 2026-07-03 against the cited primary sources. This is a research directory, not legal advice — confirm current rules with your local animal-control authority before acquiring any animal.