Behavior

[Ellie]

What a pretty kitty.
You need an extended play time before bedtime so he gets tired and wants to sleep... I have that round ball in a circle cat toy and how simple it is cats love it and I don't have to supervise so after play, if she still wants more there you go, not feeling frisky? there are super fun apps you can download on your phone that my Jambi likes.
If he's stealing food, you just need to feed him more and more often.
Cats on the counter is my biggest pet peeve ... try vinegar water in a spray bottle, but also accept you will probably never have nice things anymore lol
Jambi is 14weeks ... I thought he didn't purr either... it then he started and he starts sucking on my neck, which is annoying, but those purrs are super cute. He purrs more often with special snuggley pets. You'll find the purr spot.

Thank You! One of Neo's favorite toys is the ball in the circular thing. Last night he actually got the ball out! Played with the ball for an hour. LOL. I use vinegar water....he runs but comes right acknowledge. I will be feeding him more.

 

[Patti]

As others have said, six weeks was way too young to wean a kitten off its mother, and very likely the reason he has loose stools - either IBS or food allergies from being exposed to solid food before his gut was developed enough to handle them. Pumpkin is a good place to start to see if it doesn't help. Psyllium (e.g., unflavored Metamucil) can also help if he has IBS.

As for his activity level and breaking things, this is very typical Savannah behavior (similar to any other active cat breed) and your breeder should have warned you about this before you ever brought him home. You can try using something like Museum Wax: https://www.amazon.com/Quakehold-66111-2-Ounce-Museum-Wax/dp/B000FJU29U to hold things in place, or Scat Mats: http://www.petsmart.com/dog/supplie...raining/scatmat-pet-training-mat-5087379.html to try to keep him off the counters, but the reality of the matter is that you WILL most likely need to put your breakables away, if you want to keep them safe...

 

[Patti]

It'll take a while to get use to the set up of the forum.

It's actually very easy to keep up with the forum if you just click on 'New Posts' each time you return - this will give you a list of threads that have posts you haven't read yet, and when you click on the link it will take you to the first unread post of that thread.

 

[Ellie]

As others have said, six weeks was way too young to wean a kitten off its mother, and very likely the reason he has loose stools - either IBS or food allergies from being exposed to solid food before his gut was developed enough to handle them. Pumpkin is a good place to start to see if it doesn't help. Psyllium (e.g., unflavored Metamucil) can also help if he has IBS.

As for his activity level and breaking things, this is very typical Savannah behavior (similar to any other active cat breed) and your breeder should have warned you about this before you ever brought him home. You can try using something like Museum Wax: https://www.amazon.com/Quakehold-66111-2-Ounce-Museum-Wax/dp/B000FJU29U to hold things in place, or Scat Mats: http://www.petsmart.com/dog/supplie...raining/scatmat-pet-training-mat-5087379.html to try to keep him off the counters, but the reality of the matter is that you WILL most likely need to put your breakables away, if you want to keep them safe...

Thank you Patti. I am very aware and realize that Neo was too young to be taken from his mom. However, it happened. I am guilty, and feel very badly about it. I would like to move on now and give Neo the best life he can possibly have. And yes, the breeder "warned" me about Savannah activity and I did my research. The activity doesn't bother me. I can put away breakables or replace them. I just wanted to know if perhaps there was another reason for his bedtime hunt, and I think I have my answer., thanks to the kind members I chatted with here yesterday. I have increased his food & play and last night he settled down just fine.
None of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes. Mine was taking Neo too early.

 

[Rafiki]

I have heard that colostrum powder can be used to heal the digestive tract and improve the immune system. Has anyone here ever tried it?

 

[Patti]

I am guilty, and feel very badly about it

You are certainly not guilty, and should not feel badly. Your breeder is the one who acted inappropriately by allowing the kitten to leave so early, your only mistake was trusting your breeder.

I'm glad to hear that Neo settled down easier after incorporating some of the suggestions from here into his nightly routine. His evening behavior is not uncommon (and probably better tolerated than for those who have their Savannahs start running the racetrack at 4am!!)

 

[Patti]

I have heard that colostrum powder can be used to heal the digestive tract

I have heard that colostrum treats a variety of maladies, including inflammation of the colon, so possibly beneficial for those with IBD?

 

[Ellie]

Thank you to all who helped me on Sunday......UPDATE on Neo......Neo has more than doubled his food intake, (15 oz yesterday!) NO KIBBLE! The Pumpkin worked great. I gave it to him Mon, Tues & Wed. (He loved it!) Today his stool is formed, didn't see any blood. I am switching him to Darwin's raw diet and we received our intro shipment today after a food consultation on Monday. I added a tiny amount tonight and he inhaled everything. I will probably still leave a can of Wellness down when I go to work, to avoid long stretches for him. I compared the kitten and adult formula and there is very little difference, so I'll probably use the adult can.....it's bigger. So, until he can go all day from morning to dinner time, I guess this is considered "partial raw." But at least it's better.

I am so excited to help my baby boy and to get him healthy. I appreciate all the info, feedback and support I received here. You guys rock!!!

Question.....Neo is very "nippy." In the past, before neutering, it was terrible. I actually thought it was going to remain a problem. He did not let me touch him without attacking my hands. He wouldn't come on my lap or like being picked up. He has gotten soooooo much better since neutering. He will let me pet him when HE WANTS and hold him and he now comes on my lap. He cuddles up against me to sleep at night. However, he just seems to always be in "play mode" with the nipping if I approach him. Unless he is sleeping or just woke up. Any advice, info???
Thanks!

 

[SavannahLuv]

Glad to hear Neo is doing better

I had and still have problems with Shango being nippy. He's gotten a lot better, but there are those days where he's extra ornery and extra nippy. I got him neutered at not quite 5 months old so that might have helped. In the past I noticed he'd nip more when he was hungry so I increased feeding and that also helped a lot. Now he nips only when he gets over stimulated. I always tell him a firm no and if I have a squirt bottle close by, sometimes have to tell him no and squirt him.

When playing, I make sure he gets really wound up and tired and then I slowly keep playing until he lays down and starts panting. The most important thing when playing is to not just suddenly stop. I also use distraction to get him to stop nipping at me... grab whatever toy is close by and start re-directing his attention to the toy and not me. Then when he starts biting at the toy and playing with it, I praise him and tell him good boy.

When I first got him and he'd get really bad, most things didn't work to stop him so I'd simply get up and go in the other room and close the door... more like giving myself a time out. I'd give it 5-10 minutes and then go back and by then he was usually calmed back down. I tried to teach him that if he hurt me, he no longer got to play with me and was stuck playing alone.

 

[Ellie]

This would be the change in diet. Kittens have very sensitive stomachs and going from fancy feast to a premium food (or changing to any kind of food can cause loose stools. Sometimes the premium foods that are very high in protein can just be too rich for kittens. Unfortunately, it's a learning process of what we want our fur babies to eat vs what they can/will eat.

Please do lots and lots of research before switching to a raw diet. It is a big commitment and not everyone is able to do it. I know, I personally am not able to commit to making my own raw at this time so I buy Darwin's commercial raw food... but it's not cheap. I spend anywhere from $130 to $180 a month on Shango's food, but am fortunate enough to afford it and it's the only thing I can get Shango to eat. He's never ate any kind of dry kibble and isn't a fan of most wet foods either as his main food source.

I did the research and received intro shipment of Darwin's Raw on Thurs 11/10. Started really slow, mixing a small amt....Neo inhaled it. I have been increasing more and more and he finished that 1st packet today. Called Darwin's and they said I can use straight raw since Neo eats it like a piggy. I am just not sure how much I should be giving him, because I know he'll easily eat a whole packet in a day and want more. How much are you feeding Shango? How many times a day? (I work and am not sure what to do while I am at work, it will spoil if left out) And can you recommend healthy treats? Thanks for all your help.