Cat Introductions

[admin]

And also many breeders will take their kittens back rather than have the situation escalate out of control...I know I would rather try to work with my kitten buyer, but would take my kitten back in a NY minute rather than have him/her in an untenable situation.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Nothing a breeder could do about it any ways.

Do physically or be a help to the situation?

No, the breeder isn't THERE to physically help, but their advice and experience can be very useful! Even if you feel that your individual problem is completely different from anyone's past experience (probably unlikely), just having an experienced ear to bounce ideas off on might help come up with a better strategy. From what I know of the situation, we are talking about the wish to successfully integrate a kitten into a house with existing cats... advice and information can definitely help!

 

[Trish Allearz]

No, the breeder certainly cannot take the actual steps needed to fix the problem, but the breeder can certainly offer advice and try to work closely wth the owner to remedy the situation. The information is free and the owner can take the advice or not, according to his/her own choosing. But, isn't it better to have as much information as possible and to be able to try as many options as possble, until you hit upon one that works for your situation? There is never any arm in asking the question. If you don't like the answer you receive, then you still have the option to approach the problem in your own way.

AND a good breeder is just as invested in their kittens and their kittens' happiness as the owners are. Just because 'you' have the kitten doesn't mean the breeder isn't still emotionally invested in that baby's well being.

 

[scorpius]

There is a proper way to introduce cats. You MUST let them play UNDERNEATH the quarantine door until they are no longer hissing and you are no longer seeing signs of stress (puffed tail, etc.).

This is good advice, and it seems that Amaury and Shango have been naturally practicing it. In my case, my quarantine door has about a 1.5 inch gap to the floor (decent gap).

4 days ago, I first brought Amaury into my home, into the quarantine room (where he still is). Here is what I observed of Shango, outside the quarantine room door (he came at his own terms):

Day1, Shango approached the outside of the quarantine room, tail fluffed and some hissing. A few I don't know you growls. Much curiosity...
Day2, Shango did no more hissing, just a bit of tail fluffing and then just a few paws under the door.
Day3, Shango did no more hissing or tail fluffing. I noticed lots of friendly paw playing under the door, both initiating it equally.
Day4, Shango began doing his playful barks and of course, offering more friendly paw playing under the door. So, judging from this and the fact that Amaury needed to de-energize big time (I've been in his quarantine room for probably 30+ hrs so far - he's been de-energizing on me!), I used it to first introduce the two. Amaury, was just more interested at first to explore the house at his own pace. Shango was interested in Amaury, some smelling and the two even licked each other. Then some playful running and entanglement, but nothing rough. I monitored this to be safe and surprisingly Shango has not been aggressive. I felt comfortable enough to allow Amaury to play with Shango like this for (3) 20 min periods today. I watched the whole time to be safe, as Amaury is an F1 male @11 weeks/5 lbs, Shango is F2 male @25 weeks/10 lbs.

So I'm going to continue to keep Amaury in his quarantine room probably another 7-10 days. But will let him out a few times to play and de-energize, but not enough to debond from me. If I don't de-energize him a bit, he goes bonkers and yells and screams and throws tantrums and plays very hard with me What I found is that the brief de-energizing outside now makes him sleep a more in the room (and he needs his sleep, he may not know that). So far, he's a happy, pooping, peeing, eating little guy! And Shango just has a great temperament (like his Dad?)...but I always thought he might like a playmate. I think they may become good buddies later on.
dj

 

[Brandy DW]

I would have preferred to hear from you, though. Yes, someone did tell me to check the forum, but I am certainly able to read the posts without anyone else's help. So, in reality, no one had to "squeal" on you. I was able to read everthing that everyone posted, but unfortunately was unable to repsond before one of the admins locked the thread. But, you need to understand that the reason why people choose certain breeders is because they know they can rely on that breeder for help, if the situation warrants it. When there is an issue, of any kind it is always better to check with your breeder. It can't hurt but can certainly help in a lot of situations. Often, an owner believes in his/her heart that he/she has the situation under control. As a result, the situation often goes on longer than it should and can become an irreversible situation if enough time elapses (which in cat timeframes can be a matter of ony a couple of days). Hence, it is always better to be safe, rather than sorry, and commnicate with any and all who can help resolve a problem, inlcuding the person from whom you purchased the cat.

Hopefully this isn't too off topic, but replying to this. Sometimes it's just hard to talk to the breeder, they respond with what's worked for them but then when you try it - it doesn't work that way. Breeders have a vast knowledge of all sorts of savannah's (the mom, dad, kitten's at least if they're a small breeder, far more if they're a large one) while most pet owner's only have a couple of cats. So breeders know how a savannah could react or what could help true - but they mostly know it in their own environment, not in the owner's environment... So it's sometimes just hard to explain and then when you get some idea's to put those idea's into effect. That's how I feel at least, I can't be the only one who feel's that way although I may be the only one on this board who feels that way. But that's one of the reasons why I'm here. To get a lot of view points, different perspectives, and potential answers. Also a lot of knowledge obviously. The cute pics and video's are the cherry on top

 

[Coolcat]

I would have preferred to hear from you, though. Yes, someone did tell me to check the forum, but I am certainly able to read the posts without anyone else's help. So, in reality, no one had to "squeal" on you. I was able to read everthing that everyone posted, but unfortunately was unable to repsond before one of the admins locked the thread. But, you need to understand that the reason why people choose certain breeders is because they know they can rely on that breeder for help, if the situation warrants it. When there is an issue, of any kind it is always better to check with your breeder. It can't hurt but can certainly help in a lot of situations. Often, an owner believes in his/her heart that he/she has the situation under control. As a result, the situation often goes on longer than it should and can become an irreversible situation if enough time elapses (which in cat timeframes can be a matter of ony a couple of days). Hence, it is always better to be safe, rather than sorry, and commnicate with any and all who can help resolve a problem, inlcuding the person from whom you purchased the cat.

Yea they lock alot of threads here when they cant face the truth.Every thing is fine exepct the cats dont like each other.If the have to live seperat so be it.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I believe threads are locked when all has been said that needs to be said and anything further is arguing circles....or so off topic a new topic needs to be started.

 

[Camelottaspots]

I have no idea if anyone DID contact Arden, but I am darn sure if one of my kitten buyers was having issues with introduction of that kitten to the rest of the household, I'd want to know sooner rather than later. I'd want the opportunity to offer advice early on when it can do the most good, rather than after the situation has escalated to the point of no return.

And if that buyer had posted to a forum participated in by peers of mine, I'd want them to alert me to the issue too.

I do agree with you on this, B. It is certainly a little embarassing to learn that an owner to whom we sold a kitten had an issue important enough to brng to a public forum, but seemingly not important enough to discuss with his breeder. I hate learning about these things on a public forum when I may have been able to help resolve things before it became such an issue that it needed to be posted for the input of others. Certainly, if the owner and I am unable to resolve things between the two of us, more heads are better than two. But, this is something that is relatively common and should be nipped in the bud within a day or two of the occurrence. You would not believe how often an owner thinks he/she can resolve something alone, only to have things escalate and then the owner is too embarassed to say anything at all. It is not best for the owner or the kitten to have to suffer the consequences.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Hopefully this isn't too off topic, but replying to this. Sometimes it's just hard to talk to the breeder, they respond with what's worked for them but then when you try it - it doesn't work that way. Breeders have a vast knowledge of all sorts of savannah's (the mom, dad, kitten's at least if they're a small breeder, far more if they're a large one) while most pet owner's only have a couple of cats. So breeders know how a savannah could react or what could help true - but they mostly know it in their own environment, not in the owner's environment... So it's sometimes just hard to explain and then when you get some idea's to put those idea's into effect. That's how I feel at least, I can't be the only one who feel's that way although I may be the only one on this board who feels that way. But that's one of the reasons why I'm here. To get a lot of view points, different perspectives, and potential answers. Also a lot of knowledge obviously. The cute pics and video's are the cherry on top

Brandy, just because what the breeder offers in advice doesn't work for you one time doesn't mean that next time what they suggest may not be perfect and solve your problem. At least the breeder has that experience of their cats, and yes it does depend on the individual breeder on how many cats and whether they are kept as pets or as caged breeders, and might offer some info that may help. Why not take advantage of that? But additionally, each kitten a breeder produces is their responsibility (if they are a good breeder) so it stands to reason they would be concerned and want to help if there is a problem.

Yes, this forum is a great way to get many many viewpoints from people with different experiences and numbers of cats etc... but you should still utilize the resource of your breeder. It's a little sad to read that you don't feel that you can, or that that resource is not useful to you :-(

 

[Coolcat]

I do agree with you on this, B. It is certainly a little embarassing to learn that an owner to whom we sold a kitten had an issue important enough to brng to a public forum, but seemingly not important enough to discuss with his breeder. I hate learning about these things on a public forum when I may have been able to help resolve things before it became such an issue that it needed to be posted for the input of others. Certainly, if the owner and I am unable to resolve things between the two of us, more heads are better than two. But, this is something that is relatively common and should be nipped in the bud within a day or two of the occurrence. You would not believe how often an owner thinks he/she can resolve something alone, only to have things escalate and then the owner is too embarassed to say anything at all. It is not best for the owner or the kitten to have to suffer the consequences.

Not embarrassed why woud i be.

I believe threads are locked when all has been said that needs to be said and anything further is arguing circles....or so off topic a new topic needs to be started.

Who decides enough said...sure dont mind takeing donations from us though.