Escape prevention question

[Trish Allearz]

I appreciate your comments, I hope I have not left the impression that I am an insensitive pet owner. The point of my question was to find solutions which are "SAFE, DOING NO HARM". The safety and welfare of any pet in my home ,has taken the highest priority. The point of me explaining my situation,was to inform responders that I fully recognize I have some limitations which need to be factored into a responsible decision. Bottom line, if I can't find a solution that insures the safety and wellbeing of a Savannah, my search ends.

No, you don't sound like a bad pet owner at all- you are what I like- someone who is researching their options and learning. We all learn every single day!

 

[Pam Flachs]

I appreciate your comments, I hope I have not left the impression that I am an insensitive pet owner. The point of my question was to find solutions which are "SAFE, DOING NO HARM". The safety and welfare of any pet in my home ,has taken the highest priority. The point of me explaining my situation,was to inform responders that I fully recognize I have some limitations which need to be factored into a responsible decision. Bottom line, if I can't find a solution that insures the safety and wellbeing of a Savannah, my search ends.

To the contrary! I find your questions to be very well-thought out and honest.

I have worked with quadriplegics who have all had cats. Most of those cats were your typical, sedentary lazy kitties, but one person had a Bengal girl. To prevent her from being curious about the goings-on outside the door...and I understand how building or creating another entrance would be difficult for you.....this particular Bengal owner created a cat "fun" area near a window opposite the front door, with cat trees, toys, an aquarium or fish bowl, a bird-feeder outside, so she was inclined to spend a lot of her time where the entertainment was, and not trying to dash out the door. With breeds like Savannahs and Bengals, you do have to invest a little more effort in teaching them that running out the door is not a good idea. I believe you CAN have a Savannah, and will find a solution that will work, if your cat-to-be is so inclined to try to rush out. I have very few that have attempted that, and it was only the ones that I used to walk outside with their harnesses. I no longer do that for that very reason. I still do take them out for walks, but carried outside in a carrier, with a blanket or towel covering so they can't see where they are going. Their walks now are away from home; usually the pet store or wherever I can pets are allowed.

 

[kravenheart]

Speaking of disciplining: I have had a lot of success with canned air. I have it around all the time because of my work with computers, and the cats react immediately to the "hiss" when they know they are doing something they shouldn’t. You don't even need to be near them, across the room and they will still respond immediately by jumping away from whatever they are doing. I have never tried it with Savannahs though, just normal house cats.

 

[admin]

Canned air works with my Savannahs...good point - thanks for posting!

 

[Sunny]

If the problem of escape is the people, fix the people, not the cat. I think that you will find the most harmony and rewarding relationship (of both human and feline) as a result.

 

[WitchyWoman]

Bill do you have a garage or a side entrance to your house that enters a room (laundry room, mud room) with a door that can be closed between that room and the rest of the house? If so, I would make all of your visitors enter that way. If you have a garage, it would be particularly secure. If there's an escape, at least it would be into the garage (as long as the visitors remember to keep the doors down or side entry closed).