Advice needed on getting a Savannah...

[Irishcookies]

Hello! I have been following and reading some threads in this forum for a couple days. I have wanted a Savannah cat for quite some time am looking into seriously getting one now. So, I am now on that research train. I have decided on getting a F3 Savannah kitty.

I have read some really great things, and learned a lot, which I appreciate. However, I am still in need of some advice.

My current cat is about a year old and is a rescue. She has been the only pet in our home (with the exception of 2 coral reef tanks). She has her good days and bad (behaviorally speaking) just like any cat. She is not shy by any means when it comes to humans, and loves to play, but also loves lounging. She has never been around any other animals with the exception of her liter. As well, I currently live in a 1100 square foot apartment.

(Here comes that advice part)
My concerns for getting a Savannah cat are as follows:
1. What is an acceptable amount of room to house a F3 Savannah? Is my apartment too small?
2. I have not seen a lot of stories about standard domesticated kitties getting along with Savannah cats. I want to ensure both kitties will get along or I have enough room to allow them to do their own thing.
3. I have heard that normal vets won't treat Savannah cats. Has anyone ran into this issue?
4. I am gone for work for about 10 hours a day. I know Savannah cats need a lot of attention and love, I am worried that will be too long for me to be gone. Thoughts/advice?
5. My current kitty has her claws capped for various reasons, is this a good option for Savannah kitties?
6. I am worried about getting her/him spayed/neutered...I have not heard a lot of instances of people doing this...is there a reason besides breeding?

For now, think those are all of my concerns....I'm sure I will come up with more. Any help, advice, and stories are appreciated.

Thank you,
Corri

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[WitchyWoman]

My concerns for getting a Savannah cat are as follows:
1. What is an acceptable amount of room to house a F3 Savannah? Is my apartment too small?
Your apartment has enough space for 2 cats but you should make sure you have 1 or cat trees or shelves or other vertical space for the cats to climb and stake out as territory.

2. I have not seen a lot of stories about standard domesticated kitties getting along with Savannah cats. I want to ensure both kitties will get along or I have enough room to allow them to do their own thing.
Proper quarantine of the new cat and a slow introduction are key to helping them get off on the right foot. Adult cats usually accept a kitten easier than another adult cat. Male/female pairings tend to go easier than two females. The personality of the cats is important also. If one is overly dominant and one is overly submissive, there may be compatibility issues. Discuss personality with the breeders you are considering to increase your changes of getting a personality compatible with your current cat keeping in mind that personalities can change as a kitten matures. You'll find good info here on how to introduce a new cat https://www.savannahcatchat.com/forums/savannah-cat-questions-need-savannah-cat-advice.20/

3. I have heard that normal vets won't treat Savannah cats. Has anyone ran into this issue?
You might find some who don't like to or don't want to. Check with your current vet and if s/he won't treat SVs, find another who will.

4. I am gone for work for about 10 hours a day. I know Savannah cats need a lot of attention and love, I am worried that will be too long for me to be gone. Thoughts/advice?
Your other cat will provide some companionship for the new cat so it won't be as bad as leaving one cat alone all day. You will still need to make time to play with the SV before work and in the evening. These cats, especially the higher generation SVs, tend to bond closely with their owners and demand a lot of one-on-one attention so you'll need to factor that into your daily schedule.

5. My current kitty has her claws capped for various reasons, is this a good option for Savannah kitties?
Sure, although getting them on and keeping them on may be a challenge.

6. I am worried about getting her/him spayed/neutered...I have not heard a lot of instances of people doing this...is there a reason besides breeding?
I don't know where you've heard that a lot of people don't spay/neuter their SVs. Anyone who isn't a breeder spays or neuters their SVs. You have to get the cat spayed/neutered. Any reputable breeder will either take care of that before sending the cat home or make it a requirement of the purchase contract. Although a F3 male is sterile, he will still spray urine when he becomes sexually mature. He'll also be more territorial and territorially aggressive and will likely make life hell for your existing female cat. Unspayed female cats also have a tendency to spray and are at risk to develop pyometra when not bred.

 

[Irishcookies]

My concerns for getting a Savannah cat are as follows:
1. What is an acceptable amount of room to house a F3 Savannah? Is my apartment too small?
Your apartment has enough space for 2 cats but you should make sure you have 1 or cat trees or shelves or other vertical space for the cats to climb and stake out as territory.

2. I have not seen a lot of stories about standard domesticated kitties getting along with Savannah cats. I want to ensure both kitties will get along or I have enough room to allow them to do their own thing.
Proper quarantine of the new cat and a slow introduction are key to helping them get off on the right foot. Adult cats usually accept a kitten easier than another adult cat. Male/female pairings tend to go easier than two females. The personality of the cats is important also. If one is overly dominant and one is overly submissive, there may be compatibility issues. Discuss personality with the breeders you are considering to increase your changes of getting a personality compatible with your current cat keeping in mind that personalities can change as a kitten matures. You'll find good info here on how to introduce a new cat https://www.savannahcatchat.com/forums/savannah-cat-questions-need-savannah-cat-advice.20/

3. I have heard that normal vets won't treat Savannah cats. Has anyone ran into this issue?
You might find some who don't like to or don't want to. Check with your current vet and if s/he won't treat SVs, find another who will.

4. I am gone for work for about 10 hours a day. I know Savannah cats need a lot of attention and love, I am worried that will be too long for me to be gone. Thoughts/advice?
Your other cat will provide some companionship for the new cat so it won't be as bad as leaving one cat alone all day. You will still need to make time to play with the SV before work and in the evening. These cats, especially the higher generation SVs, tend to bond closely with their owners and demand a lot of one-on-one attention so you'll need to factor that into your daily schedule.

5. My current kitty has her claws capped for various reasons, is this a good option for Savannah kitties?
Sure, although getting them on and keeping them on may be a challenge.

6. I am worried about getting her/him spayed/neutered...I have not heard a lot of instances of people doing this...is there a reason besides breeding?
I don't know where you've heard that a lot of people don't spay/neuter their SVs. Anyone who isn't a breeder spays or neuters their SVs. You have to get the cat spayed/neutered. Any reputable breeder will either take care of that before sending the cat home or make it a requirement of the purchase contract. Although a F3 male is sterile, he will still spray urine when he becomes sexually mature. He'll also be more territorial and territorially aggressive and will likely make life hell for your existing female cat. Unspayed female cats also have a tendency to spray and are at risk to develop pyometra when not bred.

Thank you so much. All of this information is so helpful!! I really appreciate it.

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