Tempered Savannah Cat

[admin]

Oh gosh, here I go with my story again. For those of you who've heard it before, look away lest you be bored to pieces.

Stacie, my 2nd F2 was the same way. He is very cat oriented but not very people oriented. I had to work very very hard to get him to accept me. I first had him quarantined in our master bathroom and I slept in the bath tub for a few weeks. Then I moved him into the office and slept on the floor for another few weeks. I was treating him for giardia and coccidia and he hated being given the meds. Our first 6 months together were very rocky and I was covered in spit from all the hissing. If looks could kill I'd be long dead because he was (and still is) the master of giving me the stink eye.

To get him used to being touched, I would play with him with a feather wand which he loves and I'd run the wand over his back and sides and from time to time I'd sneak in a pet or two. He started associating me with fun and things gradually got easier.

Also, I hand fed him a lot when he was a kitten as another bonding trick. I'd sit quietly on the floor with the food in my hand. After a week of this, I started gently petting him while he was eating. Another association with something positive.

One thing that I'm sure hampered our progress was my attitude. I was afraid of him because he bit and scratched me pretty badly the first night he was here. I know he felt my nervousness and fear and that put us both into a bad cycle. Then after a while I got mad because it seemed he hated me so much and I was trying so hard to at the very least put us on a level of mutual respect. Well, he picked up on the anger and away we went into another frustrating cycle.

So I had a long talk with myself, calmed down, and basically accepted that he would never be as big a part of the human family as our other savannahs. And that's when he decided that maybe I was ok after all. As long as I respect his boundaries and pet him when he's in an accepting state all is well. He has started giving me love eyes which surprised me so much I cried. He will follow me around the house and supervise everything I do and I had to learn that this was one of his ways of showing me that he thinks I'm ok.

One other thing, from your avatar I'd guess that he gets along with your other cat. But, there may be subtle territory issues going on there that could be a factor in his behavior. If your vet has given him a clean bill of health, perhaps he just isn't feeling secure in his environment and the challenge will be to identify what is making him feel that way.

Don't give up. If your guy turns out to be the independent sort, it doesn't mean he hates you, it just means he's independent. My guy is 2 yrs old and he is still making progress so I have high hopes that our relationship will continue to improve.

I always love your stories, Deborah!

 

[AmyAndSimba]

Aren't you the one getting a kitten at a really young age? Wasn't it 6 weeks or something?
Some kits are shy with strangers but it is a bad thing if they run an hide. You have to spend a bit of time with them and use your good judgemens.

He will be coming home at 8 weeks. My breeder initially said 7-8, so I thought it first it would be around 7.5... but she said 8 is fine. Yes I know it is still early but better than 7...

 

[admin]

I think your kitten will probably be fine, Amy. You just need to socialize him properly, since he will miss out on the social type behavior he is usually taught by his mom.

 

[Trish Allearz]

Well, I'm going to be honest here. Amy- I can't remember, but isn't your kitten coming from a breeder who is moving? IF I was YOU and if the breeder had the capability, I would ask the breeder to keep my kitten until 12 weeks of age and two sets of shots. Of course, it might not be feasible and I'm sure it'd drive you crazy waiting- but trust me, we've all been there. The fact is- your breeder is responsible for setting up this kitten for the rest of its life with you. Those early formative weeks are so important.

Just my opinion.

 

[AmyAndSimba]

Unfortunately it isn't really feasible...he was a low-priced kitty and the fact that she can't keep him for that long probably had to do with that. I almost feel like I am rescuing him...Whether she is being irresponsible or not isn't for me to make that judgement call.

But I am happy to know that he will be going to a loving home!

 

[Trish Allearz]

Yeah- I was figuring that would be the case, but I know on occasion, new(er) breeders simply don't realize that it's better for babies to stay with Momma that little bit extra amount of time!

As is, at the younger age, you just will need to spend a lot of time spoiling and pampering him and I'm sure he will come around pretty quickly to your family. Hissing/nervousness in a brand new kitten isn't abnormal. I would just spend that extra time socializing him, playing with him, and sitting around him reading a book and minding my own business That tends to work the best with little ones- they end up jumping and playing all over and on you and then they realize you are pretty cool too!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I'm going to go off of a bit of a tangent... This would be a question mainly for breeders. I am going to pick up my kitten in a couple of weeks, I am wondering if he exhibits aggressive behavior like hissing and growling, would he potentially be a no-go, or is it common for some kittens to act this way when meeting someone new?

I'll be honest, I love cats, but if I had to deal with an aggressive and unaffectionate cat for the rest of its life I know I will lose my patience very, very easily...

I don't think that immediate hissing is a problem, but hope to be able to sit down with the kitten in a room for a bit. Most kittens will get over the "stranger" thing within about five minutes if you ignore them and just quietly chat and maybe swish around a toy.Then their natural curiosity takes over and before you know it they are climbing over you to get to the feather. Of course, that is assuming they are used to climbing over human legs to get to toys! That's how I raise my babies.

This would have been part of your research in terms of selecting the right breeder. Better to decide on the breeder you trust and then wait for a kitten from them than select a kitten and just assume the breeder will do the right thing. Some breeders will prioritize temperament (and health) and imho for a pet that is way more important than flashy big spots or whatever attracts you momentarily. If you are more interested in a loving pet than a beautiful ornament then your questions to a breeder would likely be different in scope...

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Unfortunately it isn't really feasible...he was a low-priced kitty and the fact that she can't keep him for that long probably had to do with that. I almost feel like I am rescuing him...Whether she is being irresponsible or not isn't for me to make that judgement call.

But I am happy to know that he will be going to a loving home!

This will be my Rescue Rant...it is NOT "rescuing" to buy a kitten from a bad breeder. So many times we get told, "Oh I rescued the kitten" and it turns out that they thought the breeder was not great and thought they were doing the kitten a favor by purchasing it even if they knew the health or socialization were not good. This is NOT Rescue. You are perpetuating the cycle of those kind of breeders, as long as people take pity on those kittens and buy them "to save them" those breeders will stay in business.

So saying that, I am not saying that the kitten from the breeder going out of business is bad or unsocialized or anything, just pointing out that it is not rescue and not the best-case scenario either.

 

[The Cat Coach]

Hi Stacie,
The Cat Coach here...
Ajani is not a mean or a bad cat... he may not have been socialized as well as he could have been at the breeder. Brigitte is right, don't corner him or force him to be petted. Instead influence him to trust you. Every time you are around him good things happen. Also, when he's hissing and his body language is indicating he's hunkered down and ears back, don't talk to him or interact with him... talk to him, throw him treats when his body posture is neutral or happy. Yes, I can help you socialize him through a consultation.
Marilyn

 

[Per Lausund]

He will be coming home at 8 weeks. My breeder initially said 7-8, so I thought it first it would be around 7.5... but she said 8 is fine. Yes I know it is still early but better than 7...

Why so early? And hissing and showing signs of unease at that age is normal, part of the protective response cats have: nothing can scratch as thoroughly as a six-week kitten you inadvertently pick up without it being aware of you! You are taking on a big socialisation commitment, though, and will be a very important factor in how it develops: lots of TLC, and you get that back. And also: remember you have to set limits for acceptable behaviour, the kittie doesn´t know. Good luck!