Accidental Savannahs?

[WitchyWoman]

In the end, it doesn't matter if I ever have proof because I know what they are: beautiful.

If you indeed have part savannahs from Eagle Point Oregon you kind of hit the jackpot. I live in Medford and savannahs are rare in my area. I often hear of "breeders" in the area from people who stop me when I'm walking my cats and ask about them, but the only ones I've met accidentally (such as at the weekly Farmer's Market) are backyard breeders with no particular interest in their cats other than selling them. When I've asked them hard questions about their motives, where they acquired their breeders, what they know about savannahs, they get very uncomfortable and obviously can't wait for me to go away.

 

[Moggieslegacy]

If anyone wants to read some very detailed discussions and see lots of pictures of tabby cats with spots or spots and stripes, and hear thoughts about what that may indicate about a cats ancestry, using google to search thecatsite and "spotted tabby" will bring up some really interesting results. This also works to bring up discussions and examples of other traits like a long neck, body, legs, big ears or whatever, and the breeds the more extreme version of these features may originate from.

 

[Moggieslegacy]

Witchy, I am looking at a website and facebook page for a TICA registered higher generation Savannah breeder just 5 miles from you... I am not sure how long they have been in the area or if they even have feritile males, so it is anyones guess whether any of their studs could have ever escaped or would have been capable of fathering viable feral kittens, but to my uneducated eyes they do look like a legit breeder. (I do not wantbto publicly link to their website or subject anyone to a bunch of doubtful speculation)

 

[WitchyWoman]

I am looking at a website and facebook page for a TICA registered higher generation Savannah breeder just 5 miles from you...

I'm aware of Ekexotics. Any cat who escaped that facility would not make it out of that area alive unless it was transported by someone who found it. Even though we have a breeder down here, there are not many people who own savannahs in this area.

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

If you indeed have part savannahs from Eagle Point Oregon you kind of hit the jackpot

Ha! You said it - funny thing is, we had been looking into the SV breed, but decided to wait until we were more settled before adding one to the family. Guess the universe had other plans!

There are many reasons I feel like this woman is one of those backyard breeders - the biggest things that stick out was the weirdness about money (both in her ad and in person, someone may have reported her for scamming, perhaps) and the story she gave included "all these feral cats in a barn nearby", but we saw no barn as we drove away... hmm.

They are 17 wks now and their coats are changing - less fuzzy, and the spotting is more clear. Back to the vet for booster shots tomorrow. Is there anything we should have them tested for beyond the standard housecat norms?

Thanks again for the responses!

 

[WitchyWoman]

Is there anything we should have them tested for beyond the standard housecat norms?

Since they required a lot of care already, your vet probably checked for coccidia when treating for worms and other parasites. I can't think of anything else other than a full PCR blood and fecal panel which will detect some issues that are asymptomatic. The blood panel also establishes a baseline for the vet to use as the kittens mature.

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

Thanks so much, I will ask the vet about those tests today, and confirm that they did the coccidia test.

 

[Ninja-n-Bear]

After months of writing letters to the address (gotta love gps) we got our boys from, I finally received a terse response. It WAS her cat, not a feral, and she is a Savannah. Supposedly now spayed, fingers crossed that's actually true.

I think the only reason I got a response at all was that I finally brought up contacting animal control in case she felt that catching the obviously valuable feral mother was beyond her means or ability.

So, jackpot hit - at least half Savannah.