Advice

[Rafiki]

To keep them off the counter, try the SSSCAT can. It is a motion activated blast of air. Scares the bejesus out of both them and you. There is also a Scat Mat - clear mat that has a mild electrical charge. The best part of that one is that it comes on randomly so one time Rafiki sniffed and pawed at it with no ill effects and it didn't go off until she had all 4 paws on it. Holy jumping Savannahs, batman!

Or, just deal with them being on the counters! I am only fanatical about her not being on the counter where the stove is. Other than that, when I have guests staying for long periods of time that I don't want to offend (translation - my mother!), I will use them for a week or so before company arrives and she will generally behave for a week or two (the cat, not my mother).

I should add that before I had a SV, I couldn't believe that people were unable to keep cats off the counters. Silly me.

 

[Patti]

Hi. I just read your post about how you clicker train Sarabi. I've never done that before and am curious to know the best technique (if there is one). My 20 week old F1 male, Mango, wants to get into every possible thing he can. For the most part, everything is permissible for him, but we have been trying to keep him off of the counter near the stove so he won't jump up while in use. If I understand correctly, the clicker is positive reward though, right? Hmmm......how do I keep him off the stove-side counter? When I firmly say "no", he looks at me like he knows he shouldn't be there, but keeps going back. He really is like having another child

Would love to know how you are doing the clicker training...

There is a Yahoo Group and a Facebook Group for Clicker training:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Cat-Clicker/info
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Cat.Clickers/

 

[Riddick]

I wont begin clicker training until Sarabi is done with being sick. The book I have that I would suggest you get is by Karen Pryor, clicker training click book. We are taking Sarabi to the vet on Wednesday and I will be running the PCR test that Patti recommends. After the second round of antibiotics nothing has changed. I read on these forums how hyper and curious these cats are, Sarabi really isn't this. We have a rescue tuxedo cat that has twice as much energy and curiosity. I am hoping that this has to do with having a cold. I guess since we got her she was a week out from being spayed and has been sick the whole time. If we can get her better I hope her attitude will change. Patti do you think this could be something life long or life threatening?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think feeling blah from illness probably affects mood, it does in us humans! Antibiotics can make a kitten feel crappy too... and I think you've said she's been on those since she got there?

Once Sarabi is well again I am sure she will be a different kitten... but as to the expectation of being as you have read, all cats ARE individuals so not everything you read will be in the one kitten. Some are more energetic than others, some are more troublemaking than others! But in a given litter you may have one rambunctious hellion and one teddy bear of a kitten. So it's hard to know if her quietness is due to her illness or to her base personality...

 

[Patti]

There ARE such things as mellow Savannahs, but they are rare, and usually boys! You should be able to get some clues from your breeder - how was she described as a kitten? Was she active, playful, rambunctious, etc. when she was with the breeder? Or was she the shy, quiet one in the litter?

I hope you get to the bottom of Sarabi's illness and that she'll become a normal, playful little kitten once her health is restored.

 

[Riddick]

There ARE such things as mellow Savannahs, but they are rare, and usually boys! You should be able to get some clues from your breeder - how was she described as a kitten? Was she active, playful, rambunctious, etc. when she was with the breeder? Or was she the shy, quiet one in the litter?

I hope you get to the bottom of Sarabi's illness and that she'll become a normal, playful little kitten once her health is restored.

The breeder described her as her shadow and the sweetest personality, playful with tons of energy. I guess we will see what the vet says tomorrow. This has not been the experience I would have wished for in getting a Savannah cat but hopefully things will look up. I am sure she will really hate us after the visit to the vet.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

It's not an experience you would want getting any pet... our expectation on getting a kitten or puppy is lots of joy and fun...not illness and medications :-(

Unfortunately, just like us, they get sick...

 

[Riddick]

So we just got back from the vet and Sarabi has pneumonia. There is quite a bit of fluid in her lungs and she has a low grade fever. The vet suggested we start he on a zpac and see if that will knock it out. The vet also said that there is a possibility that she could always be a sick cat for the rest of her life which would be very expensive. The breeder has gave us no time frame but we are able to send her back and she will keep Sarabi as her pet. In return she will let us have pick of a F3 litter that will be later this year. We have had Sarabi for about 3 1/2 weeks now. Does anyone have any thoughts on what you would do? I am in a tough spot.

 

[Pam Flachs]

Poor Sarabi This is a tough decision, and I don't know what would be best for Sarabi and you in the long run...you keeping her with the possibility she might not be as healthy as she should be long-term (and I don't know how your vet came up with that conclusion) or sending her back and waiting for another, healthier baby.

Did your vet run a respiratory PCR test on her? Has the breeder offered to pay any of her medical bills, since it appears she was not well when she arrived?

Another factor to consider is how bonded you are to her...and her to you. Obviously she should not travel right now; I would think the stress of her moving back to the breeder's while she is ill might worsen her current condition....but are you up to medicating her while she has been skittish in the past giving her antibiotics?

I feel for you....and Sarabi. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for what is best for you.

 

[admin]

It is a difficult decision...I don't knew how your vet came up with his/her conclusion though...once the pneumonia clears, Sarabi should be fine...unless something else is going on? And I second what Patti has asked about the breeder and medical bills....