Greetings and a question

[moheesviolin]

Hello, new here! About a year ago my then-fiance (now husband) and I went to the local animal shelter and picked up a couple kittes, an adult and a 3 month old kitten. Both were labeled DSH. The adult is very much DSH, but the kitten....We were trying to figure out what he is (we for a while thought possibly part Bengal), until my hsband's mother showed a picture of him to a friend of hers who has savannahs. Her immediate response was "that's a savannah kitten", and when the friend showed the picture to breeder friends of hers, they said the same thing. They think f3 or f4. So we got a savannah from the shelter.
My question is, when should he be switched off of kitten food to adult? We've left him on kitten food because he's still definitely growing (he's just over a year), and we were warned he could keep growing to 1.5-2 years old. Right now he's about 15 inches at the shoulder, and maybe 20-21 chest to rump. He's also incredibly high energy. As I type he just ran in from the other room at top speed, jumped over me, then leaped from the ground to the top of the five and a half foot cat tree.
He is mostly free-fed. When we're home and awake, his food is down. We can't leave it down all the time because the other cat (who very easily gets fat) would scarf it down. I want to make sure we're giving him what he needs, so help from people who actually planned a savannah would be great!

 

[WitchyWoman]

Congratulations on the accidental SV. We should all be so lucky. We are picture addicts, so please post a few of your fur kid.

Typically, kittens are slowly transitioned to adult food when they're a year old so your fur kid is ready.

 

[moheesviolin]

Great, thanks! I know with "normal" cats 1 year is the norm, but since he's still growing. And now leaping at the peephole on the door because he likes to imagine it's a bug...
I have a few older pictures of him (the avatar pic is the other cat, obviously), I'll try to get some new ones up if he ever holds still enough When/do they ever calm down and not act quite so much like a kitten?

 

[WitchyWoman]

Great, thanks! I know with "normal" cats 1 year is the norm, but since he's still growing. And now leaping at the peephole on the door because he likes to imagine it's a bug...
I have a few older pictures of him (the avatar pic is the other cat, obviously), I'll try to get some new ones up if he ever holds still enough When/do they ever calm down and not act quite so much like a kitten?

All cats reach physical maturity at 3 yrs of age, regardless of breed. He may ease up a bit once he hits 2-3 yrs but they tend to hold onto their kittenish ways most of their lives. Mine went from being awake 24 hours a day for 1.5 years to adopting their crepuscular nature and saving their intensely active times for early morning and early evening.

My first 2 savannahs wore out their first cat sitter. She still comes by to visit and admitted that she's glad she doesn't sit for them anymore because they bled her dry of every ounce of energy

 

[Patti]

Welcome moheesviolin! We would really love to see pics of your Savannah baby!

As for feeding him, there are several high quality foods that will feed all stages of life (Evo, Orijen, Blue Buffalo, Instinct etc.). I assume you are feeding kibble? I try to find foods where the first 3-5 ingredients are protein, rather than filler. I also try to give a combination of dry, canned, an raw for better variety and a healthier diet.

 

[moheesviolin]

He gets Natural Choice kitten (dry kibble) and various chips that he likes to steal. The other cat gets the indoor adult version of the same. He seems to be fine on it, I just wondered because he is still growing. Not filling out, not getting more physically more mature. Actually still getting taller and longer. And he still plays like a kitten. I just want to be sure he's getting enough.
Here are a couple older pictures, I'll get new ones up at some point!

 

[moheesviolin]

And one of my favs, Christmas kitten! Shows his face shape off well. I can't seem to find the one of him laying on his side that really shows his body shape and his markings. But he's got broken rib spots and leg bars. So not the ideal marking pattern, but he's not exactly mister show bred

 

[Patti]

He's a very pretty boy!!

 

[John Campbell]

Very pretty boy... But when him under the Christmas Tree, my only question is? Why is the Tree Still Standing? That is not Savannah like to leave a tree like that alone.

This has been posted recently, but very fitting for your picture... Wish you the best of luck with him.

 

[moheesviolin]

Ha, yeah, that picture was about five minutes after we put it up. It's also a fake tree, so I think that helped with keeping him disinterested. We still found ornaments on the floor every morning, and some sparkly garland bits in his poo. We might not use garland this year.