Tips for Dealing with a New Savannah Kitten
Bringing home a kitten, whether the kitten is your first or an addition to your current pet family is always exciting. It is best not buy the first kitten you see. Look around and there is no shame in asking other people and breeders about the person you’re interested in getting a kitten from.
There are things a person should know prior to getting their first Savannah Kitten. The kitten will be completely reliant on you to help ease the transition to their new home. A well-socialized savannah kitten should settle in fairly quick. Some will, of course, have a harder time. These tips should help in either case.
Before you buy:
There are steps to take before buying your first Savannah. You need to consider the cost of purchase, will the kitten have to be shipped, qualifying a breeder, cost of care and does the kitten look healthy for starters.
Pay attention and look for some or all of these different things below.
- Make sure that the kitten has clear, bright eyes (eyes should not run, be swollen, squint or twitch)
- Look to see if the ears and nose are clean and free of gunk and nose not runny
- Watch for coughing or sneezing. (These may indicate a respiratory infection that’s treatable, but contagious to others or could be indicative of a more serious issue)
- Look for a thick and shiny coat
- Check for a dirty rear end (that may indicate diarrhea)
- Look and feel skin for fleas, scabby patches, or any types of bumps
- Open the mouth of the kitten and look for firm, pink gums
- Look to see if the kitten is playful and confident especially if you have young children. (A timid kitten will not feel comfortable in a home where boisterous young children are playing)
- Pick up the kitten (If it acts fearful or hisses, it may not be well socialized)
If you are buying a kitten and are not able to see the kitten in person, make sure you get recent videos of them interacting and holding the kitten. If they have to scruff the kitten or it is hissing while being held, it then it may not be well socialized. Socialization is everything for a good transition to your home. These tips will help you find a healthy kitten. Due diligence is very important in making sure you find the right kitten for your home.
During the process of picking a kitten, you should be asking the breeder many questions. A reputable breeder will be very happy to answer all your questions. If a breeder is snappy and gets irritated about asking questions, then they may not be the correct breeder for you to buy from.
A few good questions to ask are:
- What vaccinations has the kitten had?
- When was it born?
- Has the kitten been dewormed?
- Has flea medicine been applied? (if so, when and what kind)
- Ask about diet and nutrition requirements?
- Have them provide you with the Veterinarians name, number, and address
- Does breeder have references? (this is an important one)
- Does breeder have a written contract with a health guarantee included? (if not, that is a warning sign)
- Is the kitten registered? (most breeders have a spay/neuter clause in the contract their says you get papers once altered)
- Has the kitten been checked by a vet? (ask to see records if possible)
- How long have they been breeding cats? (length of time shows commitment to the breed but not necessarily a great breeder)
- Will the kitten be spayed/neutered before they go? (some breeders do not believe in early spay/neuter. They will instead have a clause in contract that they will hold the papers until the cat is altered)
- When can I bring the kitten home? (10 weeks should be the absolute youngest for picking up in person and 12 weeks when shipping the kitten)
- Does the breeder offer support after the sale of a kitten? (if they don’t that is a warning sign)
- Do you offer testing on kittens or parents? (if they do, ask to see the records)
Bringing your new kitten home:
There is always training to do with any new animal that is brought into the home. Patience is the key to any type of training. Because Savannah kittens are high energy cats and are very curious, you will have to keep a close eye on them for quite some time. Savannah kittens can be charming and lovable but also exhausting. They will require a lot of your energy and time as well. Socializing with playtime and affection is important as well as keeping them out of trouble.
- If you have other animals, you “must” quarantine your new kitten for at least 2 weeks. Most breeders will require this. The quarantine will help in the bonding process with the kitten and new parent. If the new kitten has an upper respiratory infection. It will be contagious if it does. (kittens will sometimes have issues due to the stress of the move. The stress lowers the immune system therefore making a URI possible)
- A bathroom is one of the best places to keep a kitten when you first get them. They will have no place to hide and spending time bonding with them will be easier. The bathroom serves as a safe place until you get to know each other
- Make sure quarantine room is set up “before” you get them, not after.
- Spend time playing with toys, petting, talking to and holding them if they allow. DO NOT force them to let you hold them. That will create fear. Picking them up will come in a short time.
- When you feed, talk to and pet them. Speak softly and move slowly.
- When you put the carrier in the quarantine area, let the kitten come out on their own. Do not force them to come out. That will only make them fearful.
- Sit on the floor and talk to them (you won’t look so big and scary on the floor)
- If they come to you for love, great! If not, just wait. It will happen.
- If they are scared, put food the breeder was feeding and some water out and leave the room for at least an hour (I know how hard this will be, but it is important). This will give them a bit of time to check out the room and become more comfortable with it.
All kittens have individual personalities and will react differently. Some may get to your home and act like they have lived there forever, some will take a few days to settle in and other may take weeks. The key is to be patient. Let the kitten make the advances to you and don’t force anything.
Article written by Gary Fulgham owner of Jungletouch Savannahs and may NOT be copied or reproduced without prior written consent