introductions...

[Evie]

You have definitely made good progress! It sounds like she relates much more easily to other cats, which may hinder her bonding with you once she is free to interact with your other cats, but you can't keep her locked up indefinitely, and she is clearly very happy with other cats. It's a give and take, I think eventually she will learn that you are her best friend and will purr for you as well!!

Hi Patti, yes things are going okay apart from a little blip with the carrier! I bought in an old one of mine as she did a wee in hers on her way to me - very long journey! And I thought it might bring back stressful memories. Any way I lined the old carrier with newspaper and a cushion and put it in her room and she has gone for a wee in it? I did have an issue during her second week with me going for a wee in two cat beds I had put in with her. I took the beds out and gave her another two litter trays and also changed her litter back to the one the breeder used. She has used the trays since then. I think I will try bringing her carrier in instead with no bedding and try that? I don't understand why she may have done this. She sleeps happily on vet bedding it seems to be the basket - whicker material she goes on unless that's a coincidence. I'm just a bit worried I won't get her used to the carrier now. Two steps forward one step back! Lol

 

[Patti]

I'm not quite following you about the 'vet bedding' or the wicker, but it sounds like she likes to pee on anything soft - clothes are an invitation for some cats to pee on, and down is exceptionally inviting. I would start by bringing her carrier in (after washing it out with a good enzyme cleaner) and feeding her a treat in it. When she's finished eating, take it out of the room again. Try doing this daily for awhile until she is walking into the carrier voluntarily in anticipation of getting food. Hopefully that will keep her from peeing in there again, as well as getting her used to is as a friendly place.

 

[Evie]

You have definitely made good progress! It sounds like she relates much more easily to other cats, which may hinder her bonding with you once she is free to interact with your other cats, but you can't keep her locked up indefinitely, and she is clearly very happy with other cats. It's a give and take, I think eventually she will learn that you are her best friend and will purr for you as we

Sounds to me like she is coming right along, Evie. Patience and Love will conquer all.

Thank you Cary, they certainly are amazing cats and I am enjoying the experience so much. Even the stressy bits! I am getting addicted to the forum as its great to hear everyone else's SV

I'm not quite following you about the 'vet bedding' or the wicker, but it sounds like she likes to pee on anything soft - clothes are an invitation for some cats to pee on, and down is exceptionally inviting. I would start by bringing her carrier in (after washing it out with a good enzyme cleaner) and feeding her a treat in it. When she's finished eating, take it out of the room again. Try doing this daily for awhile until she is walking into the carrier voluntarily in anticipation of getting food. Hopefully that will keep her from peeing in there again, as well as getting her used to is as a friendly place.

Hi Patti, I will try with the empty carrier as you suggest. I have given it another good clean so hope she will be fine going in it for a treat. I did read on another thread that kittens pulled from their mums too soon can also soil outside of their litter trays - I believe that happened with my kitten. Is she likely to have any lasting effects from this? Also she is doing well exploring the house and meeting the other cats but she does get really over excited! My older cat is doing his best to put up with her jumping on him and we are close by to let him escape if he needs to. He has only hissed and given her a quick swipe with his paw, which keeps her away for a few minutes! My other cat seems a lot more tolerant and puts up with a little more of the chasing and being jumped on before he needs to get away. I am putting her back in her room when it all gets too much - its hot here too at the moment and they are all getting overheated. Separating them makes them all take a break. She doesn't like being separated but I go in with her and she quickly calms and drops off to sleep. Does this sound okay to you? Do you think she will eventually give them their space and just settle down? I know eventually they will all have to work things out between them but don't want to be making things worse. I have let them meet behind glass doors for a few days and now they have met - in the fur! For a couple of days. I worry she will wind them up so much that they will not want to be friends at all.

 

[WitchyWoman]

I worry she will wind them up so much that they will not want to be friends at all.

Evie, try to stop worrying about what might happen and let the cats decide. Kittens are a pain in the arse for adult cats even if the adults are energetic. The longer she is able to interact with them, the quicker all of them will establish their new routine. Her energy level may or may not change as she matures but she will likely not be energetic 24 hrs a day as she matures. Eventually she'll do what most cats do -- play a lot in the morning and evening and sleep the rest of the time. It's their nature.

You can try playing with her a bit before you let her out to try to drain a bit of that pent up energy. Trouble is, Savannahs recharge pretty darn fast and she'll be ready to play with the other cats in no time.

Giving everyone a break by putting her back in her room is the right thing to do. Do you have cat trees or shelves or some other type of vertical space throughout the house that the cats can retreat to when they want to get away from her? If not, that's a good option.

 

[Evie]

Hi, you are right I am worrying too much! I have owned cats all my life and even worked on a big cat project! It couldn't prepare me for the arrival of my own little wild thing! I guess she isn't so much different and I need to relax a bit! I will let the furry ones sort things out for themselves and be on hand to separate them if absolutely necessary. I do have cat trees and other places that the cats can have time out but she can reach ALL of them! Bless her though as she seems to be bonding with me and my foster daughter even quicker over the last couple of days. She is asleep snuggled against me as I write! I have managed a good few strokes too! I can see how addicted you might get to these wonderful cats

 

[WitchyWoman]

I can see how addicted you might get to these wonderful cats

I have 4 Savannahs, I know all about addiction. Now if I could just remember where I misplaced my sanity….

 

[Evie]

I have 4 Savannahs, I know all about addiction. Now if I could just remember where I misplaced my sanity….

Lol! Thanks for your patience and good advice

 

[Patti]

I don't know how old your girl was when she was pulled from her mom but it is true that if kittens 'leave the nest' too early they may have missed out on some of the socialization and training that normally occurs as kittens grow up, including litterbox training. Cat Attract or Kitten Attract usually works exceptionally well in these situations. Also, make sure that the litterbox is never too far away, in other words when she is exploring the house she has easy access to a litterbox so that she doesn't decide to look for a more convenient place to go.

As for the differences in energy levels between your older cats and your kitten, this is not uncommon. Try giving her some dedicated play time - pick two or three times during the day/evening when you can play with her and try to stick to the schedule. Cats actually like routine and do well with it. If she knows that a play time is coming up she may be more merciful on the other cats. In the meantime the older cats will let her know when they've had enough. Unfortunately, sometimes a Savannah can just be overwhelming for older, less active cats and they need to be separated but I would give them a chance to work things out on their own first.

 

[Eddies]

The older cats will discipline your little angel & she will learn from them. Eddies playtime was 3:30 am, & 3:30pm, & again at 7pm. His favorite toy was a light-up mouse that squeaked, he played fetch by week 2. The wands were great to distract him & keep him moving, taught him a LITTLE grace, he had no problem falling off the bed, running into walls & slamming into the floor to ceiling mirror!
Mojo taught him manners very quickly once he was out of quarantine...drove Tigger (Bengal) batty at first then Tigger joined in the game!
Congratulations on your new family member, guard your plate & drinks; Eddie thinks if I'm eating off it he can too & usually drinks whatever I have!!!!!!

 

[Evie]

The older cats will discipline your little angel & she will learn from them. Eddies playtime was 3:30 am, & 3:30pm, & again at 7pm. His favorite toy was a light-up mouse that squeaked, he played fetch by week 2. The wands were great to distract him & keep him moving, taught him a LITTLE grace, he had no problem falling off the bed, running into walls & slamming into the floor to ceiling mirror!
Mojo taught him manners very quickly once he was out of quarantine...drove Tigger (Bengal) batty at first then Tigger joined in the game!
Congratulations on your new family member, guard your plate & drinks; Eddie thinks if I'm eating off it he can too & usually drinks whatever I have!!!!!!

Thank you yes I think I will let them try and work things out between them. Not looking forward to the early morning play sessions! Lol! I am amazed at their ability to hurl themselves at things and my girl has been trying to get inside one of our mirrors to play with herself too! They are so entertaining I'm getting nothing done in the house since she arrived!