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Help I'm unexperienced savannah's owner!
- Thread starter Sol
- Start date
I'm not surprised he's a little grumpy and not wanting too much petting considering what he's been through. He is giving you plenty of notice that he is unhappy but he's not attempting to hurt you. Rather than petting his head while he's wearing the cone, give him your index finger to smell and then gently pet him under the chin and on his cheeks. Some animals get defensive when touched from above so approach from below. Also try gently petting his front feet and legs. Because he can't see the rest of his body very easily with the cone one, he may be afraid of what you're going to do and suspicious that your petting his body will turn into an unpleasant medical procedure.
Moggieslegacy
Savannah Super Cat
I think Witchy and others here are better to give advice than me, and I can't say anything in response to Savannah cats in particular, but with animals in general I have found the foundation of building a trusting relationship is them learning we can usually be trusted to listen to them and respect their boundaries. That when they say no with their posture or a subtle movement away, we will listen and respect them. And with animals it is usually a lot more about body language. By the time they start vocalizing they generally feel we did not get the message the first time.
If it was me, I would spend time laying a foot of two away, but beside Alpha, and depending on whether he relaxes with that, maybe reaching out a finger and just laying it on a paw. If he flinches away I would remove it and just go back to laying there. If stays relaxed and e accepts, or even relaxes more enjoying touch as reassuring, I would just let it sit there. Nothing else. A light touch of respectful friendship. After a few times of hanging out like that I would try some very limited subtle gentle stroking a 2 inch area with that 1 finger. Again if he flinches away I would stop. If he accepts that and becomes more relaxed in response, I would very gradually progress to more, but listening for any signals you are patting him without it being enjoyed by him, and as soon as you get that signal stopping and even backing off a bit.
Except in this situation as Witchy noticed, the cone may make contact with a part of his body he can't see scary for him.
But I am thinking in this video probably you were just wanting to provoke a strong reaction so you were pushing him, and this is not showing a typical exchange between the 2 of you...
If it was me, I would spend time laying a foot of two away, but beside Alpha, and depending on whether he relaxes with that, maybe reaching out a finger and just laying it on a paw. If he flinches away I would remove it and just go back to laying there. If stays relaxed and e accepts, or even relaxes more enjoying touch as reassuring, I would just let it sit there. Nothing else. A light touch of respectful friendship. After a few times of hanging out like that I would try some very limited subtle gentle stroking a 2 inch area with that 1 finger. Again if he flinches away I would stop. If he accepts that and becomes more relaxed in response, I would very gradually progress to more, but listening for any signals you are patting him without it being enjoyed by him, and as soon as you get that signal stopping and even backing off a bit.
Except in this situation as Witchy noticed, the cone may make contact with a part of his body he can't see scary for him.
But I am thinking in this video probably you were just wanting to provoke a strong reaction so you were pushing him, and this is not showing a typical exchange between the 2 of you...
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John Popp
Site Supporter
I agree with Witchy, under the chin rubs and scratches are the best. That Alpha is OK with you doesn't mean that they are OK with everyone else that's around. Dino wanted to serve up notice to anyone watching that while it might be OK for his Daddy to rub his chin, everyone else should beware.
Also, there's a distinct difference that I can notice when Dino is really upset and when he is just making noise. Sounds like Alpha is just making noise although hopefully enough noise to have others going slow with him and proceeding with caution.
Last item, a really warm moistened washcloth to wipe Alpha's fur will go a long way. Not being able to groom with the cone on is a horrible experience for a cat, and getting wiped down (licked) is a great treat for them and perhaps will limit the grumbling. We use a product called cat wipes from Earthbath, when Dino's fur is looking rough, otherwise we just use the warm washcloth.
Also, there's a distinct difference that I can notice when Dino is really upset and when he is just making noise. Sounds like Alpha is just making noise although hopefully enough noise to have others going slow with him and proceeding with caution.
Last item, a really warm moistened washcloth to wipe Alpha's fur will go a long way. Not being able to groom with the cone on is a horrible experience for a cat, and getting wiped down (licked) is a great treat for them and perhaps will limit the grumbling. We use a product called cat wipes from Earthbath, when Dino's fur is looking rough, otherwise we just use the warm washcloth.
Poor guy, he is definitely not a happy kitty, but considering his situation and condition that is not really surprising. It looks like he is annoyed with the touching etc. but is not trying to hurt you which I find to be a very positive sign. I would back off a bit, be near him but don't push the pets - especially with a cone on he's going to be distrusting of his surroundings because he can't really see them. If you do reach into the cone toward his head, offer him a treat such as freeze dried chicken (or whatever is his favorite) so that he associates it with a positive experience.
This is another video made in the last days. When I go to visit him I stay with him as long as possible and I feed him by my hands so he can eat without moving and I Think that he appreciates this way of eating! Before when I went to visit him I always take off the collar to let him lick his fur as it was a month that he didn't lick himself. For me was a way to make him happy and then I just sit near him petting him slowly on the top of his head. This for at least an hour. But when it was time to go and to put back the collar there was the tragedy and this things stressed him so much that I decided not to take away the collar anymore and for me is very sad because I can't do anything to make him feel better! Now I'm feeding him with raw food I don't know if it's right before he ate canned food. I Think that it's better to eat both. I'm doing everything for him but in these days he is very angry and I don't know how to comunicate my love to him He is always growling and hissing and He is never relaxed and I really don't know how to relax him so when I'm there I pet him to make him feel safe and beloved but it seems that he doesn't care about anything.
Inviato dal mio SM-G950F utilizzando Tapatalk
Inviato dal mio SM-G950F utilizzando Tapatalk
I agree with John and Witchy.
I think poor Alpha has been through a lot of trauma and he's upset and distressed and still feeling really crappy. you also need to remember that he seems more Serval than domestic so not the average kitty in recovery...my suspicion is that this is going to be a slow road to recovery to what he was before... patience and love are key!
I think poor Alpha has been through a lot of trauma and he's upset and distressed and still feeling really crappy. you also need to remember that he seems more Serval than domestic so not the average kitty in recovery...my suspicion is that this is going to be a slow road to recovery to what he was before... patience and love are key!