Advice on purchasing a Savannah!

[finn]

Hey there,

I am actually going to see a breeder tomorrow to look at a F5 Savannah cat posted on their website. I'm thinking I will end up putting a deposit for the cat and picking it up about a week later if I like her. Since this will be my first Savannah I was wondering if you guys could advise me on what questions to ask the breeder / things I should be looking out for when I visit?

The kitten I would like to see is 15 weeks and I know I will ask questions about the current / suggested diet for the kitten and I am hoping to see the parents as well...

Any suggestions on what to ask & look out for or even just some tips for my (hopefully) new kitten would be absolutely lovely!

Thanks so much

 

[Trish Allearz]

Is the kitten TICA registered? What is the kitten- A/B/C/SBT? How was the kitten raised? What type of vet care did it receive before now? What type of cat food is it on? What type of kitty litter? How is the personality of the parents? Can I meet the parents? If not- can I see pictures of the parents?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

http://www.kirembosavannahs.com/faq/KittenBuyersChecklist.pdf

http://www.kirembosavannahs.com/faq/Selecting-Kitten-2011.pdf

These articles might be helpful... the one thing I would say is this: do NOT get sucked into the mentality of feeling like you HAVE to buy that kitten. I talk to so many people afterward who basically feel like they "rescued" a kitten because they felt obliged to buy it rather than leave at the breeder due to the conditions they see. They feel like they are doing the right thing, but in reality they are perpetuating that situation by funding it. I have no idea what breeder you are visiting, btw, and so this is NOT a comment on the kitten you are considering. This is just a general thought on the process of going to view a kitten for potential purchase.

Good luck and I hope the kitten is everything you want!

 

[shelby]

Ask if the kitten has had vaccines(which ones), at what age and also ask if the kitten has been examined by a vet and ask to see the report on any health problems the kitten has had and talk to the vet. Pay attention to how the baby acts around you and also the family he/.....or she lives with. I think all kittens should have a complete physical before leaving for its new home.

 

[John Popp]

The best advice I can offer is make your check list, use some of the excellent advice offered by others above and firmly have in your mind that you are going to walk away without making a final decision. Just give yourself that 24 hour time period to make your decision unabated by having a certainly enchanting kitten in your lap or at your feet.

If you walk through the doors to meet a kitten thinking you'll make the decision when you've seen them, you are definitely toast and will be walking out the door with either a kitten or a signed contract. Savannah kittens have extraordinary powers at this young age and a definitive cuteness that hides their intent. They will eat your food, destroy your possessions, perhaps on occasion even soil something and these activities can go on for 20 years or more. So be strong, give yourself the opportunity to sleep on the decision and find the right kitten for you.

Doesn't change the aftermath of owning one, just keeps you at arms length from fluffy kitten mind control when you are making a long term commitment.

 

[Trish Allearz]

Oh- and WHAT'S IN YOUR CONTRACT??? And if they don't have one- run. Just.. run.

 

[SV Dad]

The best advice I can offer is make your check list, use some of the excellent advice offered by others above and firmly have in your mind that you are going to walk away without making a final decision. Just give yourself that 24 hour time period to make your decision unabated by having a certainly enchanting kitten in your lap or at your feet.

If you walk through the doors to meet a kitten thinking you'll make the decision when you've seen them, you are definitely toast and will be walking out the door with either a kitten or a signed contract. Savannah kittens have extraordinary powers at this young age and a definitive cuteness that hides their intent. They will eat your food, destroy your possessions, perhaps on occasion even soil something and these activities can go on for 20 years or more. So be strong, give yourself the opportunity to sleep on the decision and find the right kitten for you.

Doesn't change the aftermath of owning one, just keeps you at arms length from fluffy kitten mind control when you are making a long term commitment.

Now JP! You sound bitter! Don't scare a new member! Just because you fell for the fluffy kitten routine like MOST of us, and LIKED it, doesn't mean the SV kittens don't know what's best for their new uh...caretakers?...owners?? (nah).. trainees, yeah that's it.
Unlike some folks around here, I admit to falling for this ruse, and am happy and blessed by it. It lead to two more SV's, that's how bad it was!!

 

[shelby]

One more thing I MIGHT ADD.If there is any sign of watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing..there might be a real concern as to what is causing this.I will say...sometimes there can be a sneeze that is just that, but on the other hand it can be something that will cause problems on down the road. Just pay close attention to signs the kitten may be under the weather.

 

[John Popp]

Not really any complaints here, and I certainly did my homework. I don't think the 24 hour rule would have changed the outcome, although I didn't make any provisions for it and I did go away for a bit to get my head on straight before committing. I'm sure the kitty hypnosis hadn't fully subsided, and the ride home totally endeared the little guy to me for a lifetime.

 

[John Popp]

One more thing I MIGHT ADD.If there is any sign of watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing..there might be a real concern as to what is causing this.

Totally agreed and no reputable breeder should ever send you off with a kitten in less than 100% health. You should never need to start your relationship with a new pet nursing them back to health, just the same as you wouldn't let changing a flat tire be the first thing you did with a new car.