Hi

[NikkiA]

We have three boys. I love them very much. D loves every human being, ever. He is our Therapy Cat who handles everything well- our Jaspurr. The other two need us a bit more.
Jarvis is like your Safari. He has a person he loves, and a second human who happens to be there. I'm human II to Jarvis.
He took about a year to warm up to me enough to stop scratching and biting. For a while, he was Michael's boy and only Michael's boy. He still loves Michael best, but I can now handle him at will, including carrying him around (he doesn't like it but he tolerates it), and he cuddles with me in bed every night. I wake up in the morning with his paws wrapped around my leg and his head against it, under the covers. Weird to some people, but pretty incredible for me given that for MONTHS I couldn't really touch him without being scratched or bitten.
For months, he hid under the bed upstairs whenever a stranger came in, and if they got between him and upstairs, they ended up getting scratched if they intercepted him, and if they picked him up, bitten. Hang in there. It will come. He is now willing to meet, hang out with, and be touched by strangers. Now if he is picked up, he doesn't panic, which is what he was doing before, he just gives me "HELP ME MOM" eyes and I go rescue him. Just an aside- he is now NEVER more than 10 feet from me. Ever. At any time except when he needs his litterbox. He is actually more attached than the other two, just naturally more nervous.

Mickey is a total love around Michael and me, but takes some time around strangers. He needs someone to be in the house for 24-48 continuous hours before he will make friends. If you pick him up and he doesn't know you, and you don't do it exactly right, you are going to get scratched. He isn't aggressive, he is just scared. Leave him be and offer him a treat and the 24-48 hour "friend" window becomes 2 hours.
It will come.

 

[Jason E]

It was their first Thanksgiving and meeting people, Jaspurr was a good sport but Safari hit and hissed at everyone and when my father in law tried to pick him up Safari bit him. Safari is very wild looking and he acts wild. I thought Savannah's were not aggressive?

Nikkia did a great job so I really won't touch on specifics too much. Savannahs are generally not any any more aggressive than other breeds of cat. Of course there are breeds that are known for being passive, but even with such breeds there are cats that aren't quick to open up to everyone.

 

[Patti]

Safari is not being aggressive unless he is going after people/animals without provocation. It sounds more like he is shy and letting people know he feels threatened when they try to get closer than he is comfortable with.

 

[NikkiA]

Safari is not being aggressive unless he is going after people/animals without provocation. It sounds more like he is shy and letting people know he feels threatened when they try to get closer than he is comfortable with.

I think Patti nailed it.

Our boys only engage in behavior that is interpreted as "aggressive" when they are scared out of their wits. They aren't being aggressive, they are terrified. Remove the source of terror (even if it is yourself- for my Jarvis for a time it was my behavior), and you will no longer see "aggressive" behavior.

 

[Becki]

I am so sorry you lost your kitties while being equally happy you have been possessed by 2 SVs! Though they will never replace the cats you have lost, I assure you they will each earn their own incredibly special place in your heart. There is never a dull moment with them around!

 

[KMcgown]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your babies.

I think comparing your savannah's to 2 year olds is perfect comparison.

 

[BigBoyz]

Happy Holidays to everyone. Wishing you all the best during this holiday season.

 

[MM3]

I have a question....Jaspurr doesn't have a mean bone in his body...purrs and is so sweet, hates to be held though. Now Safari on the hand is more on the aggressive side, hisses and slaps my husband especially when I am holding him and by the way he likes to be held like a baby. I won't be able to hold him this way too much longer, getting too big and heavy. Safari follows me EVERYWHERE. I can't move without him under my feet but my husband can only pet and hold him on his terms. Is this normal? How can they have the same dad and be so opposite? It was their first Thanksgiving and meeting people, Jaspurr was a good sport but Safari hit and hissed at everyone and when my father in law tried to pick him up Safari bit him. Safari is very wild looking and he acts wild. I thought Savannah's were not aggressive?

I'm new to the wonderful world of Savannah's and myself the proud mum of a 6 month old gentle tempered, loving, frisky, perfect natured little girl. I did extensive research to make sure the match was compatable before making a selection of a new family member. In addition read a few books on cats in general ( our first cat) and Naughty no more by Marilyn. After all this the savannah breed was the one we choose. I did learn an immense amount from reading and learning about cat behavior. I understood from reading that most cats when exhibiting bad behavior are not conducting this demeanor to make you angry but attempting to communicate with you. This is where your detective skills will be an asset. Figuring out the root of the bad behavior. The most important message I took away from reading is your new family member must have their own territory where they feel and know is their own space. And because they don't use actual words they convey the message.........sometimes acting up in a not so good method. Now it's your job to figure out why....... My husband will be the first to say I go to extremes but we see things differently. Different gender.....different view. So with that being said I designed my little girls upstairs penthouse and cat walk & my son did the install. She has and knows THAT IS HERS! She can retreat from us or company anytime she feels the need. She has 4 seperate areas for scratching throught the house and has always used them, not our furniture. She has a resting perch in my art studio, my goal was to give her a comfortable place to live and have harmony & compatibility with us. We waited and researched for 4 Years before we decided to add to our family of 2 and make it 3. And knowing it would be for many many many years we wanted it to be enjoyable on both sides. And she has been a perfect angel even despite the tradegy of her arrival being in such an ill state. We have had her almost 4 months she has been on RX's 3 1/2 of the 4. I take a stool sample in on the 30 th for her second PCR. And Inspite of all that she has been so well behaved and loving. YES SHE HAS THE RUN OF THE HOUSE and we are happy that she is getting well and she is happy too! I decided on a cat walk instead of a cat tree because they can NEVER NEVER BE HIGH ENOUGH !! RIGHT

 

[Patti]

Happy Holidays to everyone. Wishing you all the best during this holiday season.

Happy Holidays to you as well BigBoyz!

 

[Patti]

I'm new to the wonderful world of Savannah's and myself the proud mum of a 6 month old gentle tempered, loving, frisky, perfect natured little girl. I did extensive research to make sure the match was compatable before making a selection of a new family member. In addition read a few books on cats in general ( our first cat) and Naughty no more by Marilyn. After all this the savannah breed was the one we choose. I did learn an immense amount from reading and learning about cat behavior. I understood from reading that most cats when exhibiting bad behavior are not conducting this demeanor to make you angry but attempting to communicate with you. This is where your detective skills will be an asset. Figuring out the root of the bad behavior. The most important message I took away from reading is your new family member must have their own territory where they feel and know is their own space. And because they don't use actual words they convey the message.........sometimes acting up in a not so good method. Now it's your job to figure out why....... My husband will be the first to say I go to extremes but we see things differently. Different gender.....different view. So with that being said I designed my little girls upstairs penthouse and cat walk & my son did the install. She has and knows THAT IS HERS! She can retreat from us or company anytime she feels the need. She has 4 seperate areas for scratching throught the house and has always used them, not our furniture. She has a resting perch in my art studio, my goal was to give her a comfortable place to live and have harmony & compatibility with us. We waited and researched for 4 Years before we decided to add to our family of 2 and make it 3. And knowing it would be for many many many years we wanted it to be enjoyable on both sides. And she has been a perfect angel even despite the tradegy of her arrival being in such an ill state. We have had her almost 4 months she has been on RX's 3 1/2 of the 4. I take a stool sample in on the 30 th for her second PCR. And Inspite of all that she has been so well behaved and loving. YES SHE HAS THE RUN OF THE HOUSE and we are happy that she is getting well and she is happy too! I decided on a cat walk instead of a cat tree because they can NEVER NEVER BE HIGH ENOUGH !! RIGHT

Thank you for posting your knowledge and experience @MM3 - I think if everyone researched their pet of choice as you did there would be far fewer pets relinquished to shelters. It sounds like you have creaated a Savannah heaven for your baby! I know you have been here for a few months but I don't think you have ever posted pics of your precious little girl - I would love to see her, as well as the penthouse you have built for her!