Are savannahs better in pairs?

[Nancy&bongo]

I wish I would have gotten your input back then because that was my reasoning for a second one, "to dissipate Bongo's energy after I've ran out of it" by the end of the day even though I still have to deal with all the dogs (energy or no energy) because this is my Business (Daycare & Boarding)and until everyone is happily tucked in bed I'm on the clock 7 days a week. I just made more work for myself getting another F-1 male savannah which I clearly see now but was blind at the time.

 

[Rob1984]

bongo looks awesome any pics of your other f1?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I have two domestic cats that I have to protect from my savannahs 24/7. If left alone they would kill them just from not knowing their own strength. To them, my domestic cats are prey! They love them to death literally!

Cat fights can indeed seem like they wish to kill each other, anyone that has watched shows like My Cat From Hell has seen those fur flying altercations. I think there is something if they are a big cat AND know it. I'm fortunate as my largest F1 (she's a tall lean 24lb cat) is a complete coward really, it's my 9lb F5 girl who is the bully and dominatrix in my home, she chases the F1 who is literally three times her size.

One thing we have to stress over and over doing our rescue work is that people need to consider their existing cats' personalities and needs before adding another, especially a high energy interactive breed such as a Savannah...and even more so when adding an early generation Savannah. Older sedate domestic short/longhairs often really don't want the kind of rough and tumble of a Savannah!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

As much as I have always loved the F1s, my breeder was brutally honest in regards to what it is like to live with them so I decided on an F3 instead. I would have happily added another Savannah but my hubby really wanted a Pixie Bob. As it turns out, the ridiculously easy-going nature of a Pixie is perfect around the crazy Savannah. While he does not have her stamina, he initiates play more than she does. I am so very happy that he is around to help dissipate her energy.

Yes! When suggesting companions for a Savannah, I usually say either a similarly high energy breed of cat (Abyssinian, Bengal, Oriental) or a very patient breed like the Pixiebob, Maine Coon or British Shorthair. Up until recently I had a Brit and he was amazing... nothing bothered him, so a SV bugging him if he didn't want to play he just ignored them until they left him alone....but if he wanted to play he didn't have to go far!

I love to hear of breeders being informative as much as I like to hear of buyers that listen to them. In Rescue (as well as my own cattery) so many listen and hear what they want to hear.... even one of my buyers, I told him over and over that a Savannah kitten was energy beyond what he'd ever had before. He was a vet and thought he knew better, then I saw him a couple weeks later and he was apologetic for not paying attention to my warnings. He had no idea how much energy a kitten could have.

I think F1s are amazing and I cannot regret mine no matter how much trouble Nina is... but I try my best to steer people away from getting one as their first Savannah. They are not for everyone and the challenge is greater than their very cool looks...

 

[Jacob Steel]

I can't comment on the others but I have a f4 and a f6 and they love eachother. They have eachother to play with and burn energy and they both love me over eachother haha. But it helps when I'm at work or have plans to know they have eachother to play with and cuddle I come home and they are usually both sleep on eachother look up and come over. My female seemed independent until I got james now she's in love with him chases him everywhere.

Plus now I got two personalities to love


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[Rafiki]

Jammu is a big boy at just over 18 lbs while Rafiki is 15-3/4 lbs. Jammu is more than able to handle her, even when she is in a crazy mood. The only bad thing is that he is bottom heavy and a lousy jumper so he cannot climb to escape. If she gets too rough, he squeals and she usually backs off. Most often, he will place his giant oven-mitt-paw on top of her head and simply push her head down to the floor and she understands that he is simply not in the mood.

 

[SavannahLuv]

Nancy, when you say that your second Savannah was a "high % savannah", do you mean high % for an F1? I have definitely found that anything significantly above 50% in an F1 brings much much more of Serval behavior. I had had three "normal" F1s before we got Nina our 62.5% F1 (her mom is F2 and dad Serval)... she is very different and way more difficult.

I always wondered about that, especially when I was 1st looking for a Savannah it seemed like most of the F1's I'd find were always more than 50%... kind of made me feel like for the huge price difference I might as well just get a Serval. After lots of research and speaking with a local who used to own a Serval I realized I was better prepared to care long term for a F2. While I'm sure I could have handled a Serval or high % F1 in the beginning, I knew I wasn't quite prepared to do so for the next possible 20 years. I think my Shango is considered a higher % F2 at 35% and I think he's the perfect combination for me. Unfortunately, most of the bigger catteries who are breeding more as a business to make money don't seem to stress how much different 50% vs 65% can be in terms of behavior. For us 1st time Savannah owners, no matter how much research we do, I don't think we can ever fully be prepared for what life with an earlier generation Savannah is like until we actually bring one home.

 

[Nancy&bongo]

True.

 

[Nancy&bongo]

bongo looks awesome any pics of your other f1?

That picture in my avatar is the other one. His name is C U B B Y and is a high% savannah and he lets it be known. Very vocal with a very loud voice. Doesn't sound like a cat?! (I don't know what he sounds like actually??) There is BONGO in the "Escape" article!