Future pet?

[Mariya]

So I've been researching Savannah cats for a while and i've kinda grown obsessed! They seem really so friendly and a unique experience. I had a few general questions.
Do higher generations (F1-F2) absolutely require an outdoor enclosure? Are daily walks and play times enough to fuel their high energy?
Can higher generations be okay 6-8 hours alone at home if they have a playmate (another cat of similar age)?
How much cat experience is adequate before adopting an F2 savannah? Mainly, I've had a variety of shelter cats whom I greatly loved. Savannah cats drew me because of their energy and dog-like nature as loyal and sweet pets who don't tire quickly.
Also, please share any experiences you've had with your savannahs! Im curious to learn more!
Thank you very much!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Personally, I see a large difference between an F1 and F2 in what to expect as a pet. Although there are exceptions, for my experience (as a pet owner, breeder and rescuer) F1s are in a class of their own. They are way more intense, determined and difficult to live with as pet. That's not to say that there isn't a comparable return in your investment.... but it's not just how long they are alone during the day it is the amount of interaction you are willing to put into your pet when you are at home.

No Savannah is really the kind of pet you work a hard day and just come home to sleep with. They will have slept all day and be ready to play. Just an F1 is MORE of that. I would put F2s and F3s together in a minor class and then all other generations then in another. They are all high energy and interactive and playful and trouble. It's a matter of levels of trouble and persistence and intensity.

Yes, F1s can be fine without an enclosure in general...there are some that really really do better with that kind of access. I do know that door darting almost completely stopped when we added an enclosure off our back door, being able to go out into the fresh air and chase insects and take in things stopped their need to rush out the front door. So you would deal with that challenge...if you don't have that enclosure then Mr or Ms Curiosity is going to want to get out. Going out on a leash won't be enough for that urge, so you will need to counter the door darting. Never take a cat over the threshold with the leash, put them leashed into a crate to take outside...then both they learn to associate a crate with "a good thing" but also they don't associate going through the door with getting to walk outside.

I had never had a "purebred" or "deliberately bred" cat before when I got my first Savannah in 2001...they'd always been rescues or abandoned cats. I was hooked with my first in 2001 though... they are everything I loved in the cats I had to date, in one cat breed

 

[Mariya]

Personally, I see a large difference between an F1 and F2 in what to expect as a pet. Although there are exceptions, for my experience (as a pet owner, breeder and rescuer) F1s are in a class of their own. They are way more intense, determined and difficult to live with as pet. That's not to say that there isn't a comparable return in your investment.... but it's not just how long they are alone during the day it is the amount of interaction you are willing to put into your pet when you are at home.

No Savannah is really the kind of pet you work a hard day and just come home to sleep with. They will have slept all day and be ready to play. Just an F1 is MORE of that. I would put F2s and F3s together in a minor class and then all other generations then in another. They are all high energy and interactive and playful and trouble. It's a matter of levels of trouble and persistence and intensity.

Yes, F1s can be fine without an enclosure in general...there are some that really really do better with that kind of access. I do know that door darting almost completely stopped when we added an enclosure off our back door, being able to go out into the fresh air and chase insects and take in things stopped their need to rush out the front door. So you would deal with that challenge...if you don't have that enclosure then Mr or Ms Curiosity is going to want to get out. Going out on a leash won't be enough for that urge, so you will need to counter the door darting. Never take a cat over the threshold with the leash, put them leashed into a crate to take outside...then both they learn to associate a crate with "a good thing" but also they don't associate going through the door with getting to walk outside.

I had never had a "purebred" or "deliberately bred" cat before when I got my first Savannah in 2001...they'd always been rescues or abandoned cats. I was hooked with my first in 2001 though... they are everything I loved in the cats I had to date, in one cat breed

Thank you so much for the information and for replying to quickly! I've been considering an F2 savannah because a mutual friend had one with a large enclosure. Her savannah was very social and friendly and absolutely gorgeous! It had the friendliness and energy of a dog and could even fetch!
Is training tricky for savannahs? And what age would you suggest they should start? Also, since F1 and F2 may grow to be larger than a regular cat, would I just need a larger carrier (for the vet)?
Although I've fostered a few cats, they've usually been bonded. Would the introduction of two kittens be similar to introducing adult cats? I felt that kittens take to each other more quickly because they're more interested in playing
Also, how long would you suggest I wait before introducing a new kitten? How much of an age difference would be acceptable for the two to get along? Thank you once again!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Not necessarily. I have two F1s right now, one is 11 lbs and is nudging 23lbs nowadays. One fits a normal cat carrier and one needs a roomier one. Same with F2s...I know someone that had littermates, the girl was 8lbs and the brother was over 30lbs. Whilst we do see our largest SVs at F2 we also see normal domestic sized cats... so there is no guarantee of size even at that generation and even with males. My F2 male was ~13lbs most of his life.

I don't think training is difficult but they may train you more than you train them ;-) I know that many have success with clicker training, most of mine have not been very food motivated thus it wasn't something I pursued, but they well learned the basic rules of no counters when I am in the room (but of course are up on counters if we are not there, they are cats)... I don't know what you want to train your cat to do to know how early it would need to be...I think the earlier you start a cat with leash training the better but not all cats enjoy being outside on a leash and not all Savannahs will.

Introducing kittens is always easier than adult cats, it shouldn't matter too much what the age of your first kitten/cat is before introducing when introducing a kitten...although two kittens may be a pretty immediate bond you would still want to quarantine a new kitten to make sure the kitten bonds to you first before they meet their new BFF.

 

[tdbradin]

Welcome to the forum and the savannah addiction! You have already found a wealth of knowledge. I'm fairly new to the breed and cats in general, but if you like high energy and ornery antics you won't be let down. Since I researched Savannahs and found my kitten there has been no looking back.
Good luck in your search if you decide having a savannah rule your roost is right for you!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Patti]

I think an F2 is a wonderful generation to have. You get many of the serval traits without as much of the persistence and stubbornness that you may find in an F1. I don't believe you need to have an outdoor enclosure, but you definitely need to Savannah-proof your home - for any generation really (don't worry, if you miss something they will be sure to point it out to you ).

As Brigitte has explained, Savannahs come in all sizes. I have had four F1s over the years with the smallest being the size of a fairly large domestic cat (but probably not as large as a Maine Coon) and one who can kiss my chin if she stands up on her hind legs on me (I am 5'2").

As far as being home alone, well this is where a companion is so important. I work up to 12 hours a day, and when I come home my cats let me know I've been missed, but after the initial brief greeting they are much more interested in getting dinner However I have several Savannahs and they are very good at keeping each other entertained during the day. If I had only one cat I'm sure that would be a very different story.

Savannahs are very intelligent cats so training them is not difficult as long as you provide them with adequate motivation. As Brigitte has pointed out, they are much more adept at training us than we are at training them! And just realize, if you try to train them to do something that they simply don't want to do, you will likely never get them to do it...

Regarding introducing two kittens, there are many threads on this forum about introducing new kittens to other pet family members so you can do some research here. If you choose to get two kittens from the same breeder I would still try to isolate them from each other for at least a couple of weeks so that they have the opportunity to bond with you, which would be less likely to happen if they already have each other. If you are introducing new kittens to each other I would definitely give them a two week isolation before introductions - by then they will have learned that there is another presence in the home and have gotten used to their scent (on you) which will make introductions easier. Each cat/kitten is individual so there is no cookie cutter schematic for introductions, but as long as you take it slow and easy, and be sensitive to the kittens' reactions and adapt your plan as needed, they should do fine. BTW, if you choose to go with two kittens, they don't both have to be Savannahs. Any high energy breed should do well with a Savannah. I have both Savannahs and Highlanders, and they get along wonderfully.

As far as ownership experience goes, if you have lived with other high energy, intense cats then you should be well prepared. If not, then it will be a learning curve for you as well as your new Savannah. Just remember that you never want to leave anything out that you cherish, and everything is a potential toy to a Savannah, including power cords, drapes, wall paintings/hangings, throw pillows, cabinet doors, external refrigerator ice machine, etc.