Is this normal?

[Luke Rawlings]

Less than a month ago Archer was about the size of a regular cat. He has since had some kinda crazy growth spurt. He is now about half the size of my black lab. Is this normal? If so, how long does a growth spurt like this usually last? He's 10 months old.
His legs look much longer than in the picture when he's standing up, but you get the idea of his size. He's tall, long, and thin. Lol I love it!

Also, I've been trying to leash train him, but he has grown out of the 2 harnesses I've bought him in the last month. Should I wait for growth spurt to end? And how late in their life will they still be able to train to walk on a leash?

 

[Kinna]

From what I've read, the final size of a savannah can be a mystery, but generally, they can be expected to be bigger the higher the generation. Of course there are always exceptions to that rule. They should keep growing for about 2 years, and during the 3rd they fill in. So yes, I would say it's not unusual that your kitty is getting big. Not sure how long a growth spurt lasts though, I assume it varies.

Since he's still growing, I would suggest getting an adjustable harness or walking jacket. The T harnesses have the most adjustment space for a growing kitty, but if he pulls, it could choke him. You might have to accept spending the money to buy walking jackets as he grows if pulling and/or wiggling out is a concern. Here's the one I would like to get for mine once she's older: Hyendry. As for training age: The sooner the better, of course. But, I do believe that with a proper technique, patience and perseverance, you could train him at any age.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

There's not really a "normal" for Savannahs when there is such a variation in eventual size. As long as Archer is healthy, then all is well

I would just bear the cost of the harnesses and train him now...the longer you wait on that the harder it is. Of course it depends on how he's doing with it, is he confident outside and enjoying it so far? If he's not by 10 months then he just might not be the type that does enjoy walking. Not all cats do nor do all Savannahs.

 

[Luke Rawlings]

There's not really a "normal" for Savannahs when there is such a variation in eventual size. As long as Archer is healthy, then all is well

I would just bear the cost of the harnesses and train him now...the longer you wait on that the harder it is. Of course it depends on how he's doing with it, is he confident outside and enjoying it so far? If he's not by 10 months then he just might not be the type that does enjoy walking. Not all cats do nor do all Savannahs.

 

[Luke Rawlings]

View attachment 21753 Less than a month ago Archer was about the size of a regular cat. He has since had some kinda crazy growth spurt. He is now about half the size of my black lab. Is this normal? If so, how long does a growth spurt like this usually last? He's 10 months old.
His legs look much longer than in the picture when he's standing up, but you get the idea of his size. He's tall, long, and thin. Lol I love it!

Also, I've been trying to leash train him, but he has grown out of the 2 harnesses I've bought him in the last month. Should I wait for growth spurt to end? And how late in their life will they still be able to train to walk on a leash?

I should mention, he's an F3

 

[Rafiki]

My F3 girl was around 10 lbs. at 1 year and is now 17 lbs. at 4 years old. The first year was crazy and then growth came and went in spurts her 2nd year. Her last growth spurt for length and height occurred when she was 2-1/2 years old. After that, she just filled out. Again, each cat is unique but that is what she experienced.

 

[Patti]

Growth spurts are normal, sometimes you will even see a growth spurt between 1-2 years of age. As for the harness, I would recommend a walking jacket - much more secure, and most are adjustable to a degree. You can simply Google 'cat walking jackets' or even run a search on this forum to find recommendations.