Looking for advice

[John Campbell]

I am getting ready to purchase a new Savannah Kitten and need some advice. I have decided an F3 would be the best suitable for me. I am not a breeder, but a lover of pets (I would make a horrible breeder because it would tear me up every time one was to leave) I have already chosen my breeder but have a few questions.

1.) I have a 14 year old (very Friendly) dog, A Cocker/Boxer mix (mom and dad's were purebreeds). He loves everyone and though he is getting quite senior he has the energy of a 4 year old. How should I expect to get along on the first site?

2.) I have been watching a lot of video's and I have noticed a lot of Savannah's seem to pant a lot. Is this normal?

3.) I expect my kitten to arrive via airline, how well to they travel as 10 week old (approx age) kitten and handle separation from their family?

4.) I know it is recommended to introduce pets a little at a time, but for me, that is going to be next to impossible. My house is quite large and very few doors. I can start her out in a smaller bathroom room, but then there will a fast transition.. What is the best way to handle this.

Thanks in advance.
John

 

[admin]

I am getting ready to purchase a new Savannah Kitten and need some advice. I have decided an F3 would be the best suitable for me. I have already chosen my breeder but have a few questions.

I have a 14 year old (very Friendly) Cocker/Boxer mix (mom and dad's were purebreeds). He loves everyone and though he is getting

John, you need to finish your post please...

 

[John Campbell]

John, you need to finish your post please...

I was still typing, and it just posted... I never clicked the post... I have completed the post now. Sorry.

 

[admin]

I was still typing, and it just posted... I never clicked the post... I have completed the post now. Sorry.

No problem...

 

[admin]

I am getting ready to purchase a new Savannah Kitten and need some advice. I have decided an F3 would be the best suitable for me. I am not a breeder, but a lover of pets (I would make a horrible breeder because it would tear me up every time one was to leave) I have already chosen my breeder but have a few questions.

1.) I have a 14 year old (very Friendly) dog, A Cocker/Boxer mix (mom and dad's were purebreeds). He loves everyone and though he is getting quite senior he has the energy of a 4 year old. How should I expect to get along on the first site?

2.) I have been watching a lot of video's and I have noticed a lot of Savannah's seem to pant a lot. Is this normal?

3.) I expect my kitten to arrive via airline, how well to they travel as 10 week old (approx age) kitten and handle separation from their family?

4.) I know it is recommended to introduce pets a little at a time, but for me, that is going to be next to impossible. My house is quite large and very few doors. I can start her out in a smaller bathroom room, but then there will a fast transition.. What is the best way to handle this.

Thanks in advance.
John

Welcome, John! And congrats on getting your first savannah kitten!

1. They should get along well, but introductions need to be slow...you seem to have the right idea by putting the kitten in the bathroom...let the dog smell/sniff under the door for starters...putting a young kitten in a small room is not only to intro them to pets...it is also for their safety...young kittens get into everything and anything...please read some of out kitten proofing posts, etc.

2. They are probably panting because they have been playing hard...

3. 10 weeks is young to travel by air, but I know breeders do ship at that age...kittens will cry and do feel separation anxiety, if you will..some settle in quicker than others...that is why a small room is essential...this give=s the kitten a sense of security and lets you get to bond with the kitten...spend a lot of time with her, talk to her, read to her, put a radio in with her...we have lots of posts on this subject as well...just do a search and you will come up with much info

4. already answered

 

[Alex and Katie]

Hi John,

While I don't have as much experience as other members having only owns savannahs for about a year and a half, I can tell you that 10 weeks is too young to ship a kitten. We have a large savannah family in northern NJ, F1, F2, and three F3's all male and from personal experience 10 weeks is a bit early to separate from their mothers if you were picking up in person. Having one shipped at that age is very stressful and the kitten could fall ill. I would wait another few weeks if possible weather permitting.

as far as introduction goes, 3 out of 5 of the kittens ive either picked up or had flown in have developed some sort of respiratory infection while in transit. its important to quarantine your new kitten to make sure he/she is healthy (although I do not believe your dog would be subject to a feline URI).

In regards to your dog, I would expect that the dog will be fascinated by the new kitten but may be a bit much for the kitten to handle right away. We have a Siberian Husky and a Husky Timberwolf mix and both are quite large and extremely playfully aggressive. You should not expect love at first sight especially from the kitten although every cat is different and you might get lucky. Our F3 melanistic spook took to the dogs before he took to the cats as the cats were kind of hissy when they first met but the dogs were playful and loving. He is closer with the dogs than the other savannahs and I routinely come home to find his head in one of their mouths while he audibly purrs. Our F1 Milo also loves the dogs but this took some time and plenty of hissing and swatting. The big thing is when a kitten swats a dog it just gets the dog riled up and then the paws start coming down which further scares the kitten. anyways got off on a bit of a tangent here, but our F2 zuri is the only one of our 5 who doesn't adore the dogs and will still hiss and swat at them. They've learned not to play with him.

In my opinion your kitten will need to be separated from the dog for awhile particularly when unsupervised. whether in a bedroom or blocked off in some other way, you cannot leave the dog and kitten alone (possibly for a few months) or your dog may playfully terrorize the kitten

As for the panting, yes mine are HUGE panters....theyre SO active and fly around so much that they routinely hop into bed, tongue hanging out gasping for air...its really quite funny

 

[Pam Flachs]

Welcome John! You have received some good advice already when your new kitten arrives. I agree with keeping the kitten in the bathroom for a time, and if he/she arrives at 10 weeks, that is pretty young yet and still very much a baby. I'd suggest a minimum of two weeks in "quarantine" for the kitten....a big new house will be scary at first, and you don't want the kitten to be unsupervised, especially with your dog. I assume your dog is cat-friendly...has lived with cats before or met them without incident such as chasing, barking at them, etc?

I agree with Paige (admin) and NYCZoo to check the many posts here regarding a new kitten's arrival.

 

[John Campbell]

Welcome John! You have received some good advice already when your new kitten arrives. I agree with keeping the kitten in the bathroom for a time, and if he/she arrives at 10 weeks, that is pretty young yet and still very much a baby. I'd suggest a minimum of two weeks in "quarantine" for the kitten....a big new house will be scary at first, and you don't want the kitten to be unsupervised, especially with your dog. I assume your dog is cat-friendly...has lived with cats before or met them without incident such as chasing, barking at them, etc?

I agree with Paige (admin) and NYCZoo to check the many posts here regarding a new kitten's arrival.

He is very Cat Friendly... I just lost my cat of 15 years old (gray tabby) to kidney failure. He was quite special, but had some social issues as he was abused as a kitten and did not like anyone but me and the dog as that is all he allowed trust in. (3 girls in a pet shop thought it was funny to hear a kitten spit, so they flipped his nose, pinched his ears, tail, paws) just to hear him spit because it was cute. He was very smart (made his own phone calls and yes I mean dialing a home phone, and when you would say something he would talk in the pussy cat language as I call it.). I hope the breeder that I am getting my kitten from does not have the same humor in seeing a kitten spit....

 

[Alex and Katie]

John, if you don't mind me asking are you getting a male or a female F3? I know ill probably get slammed for this as there are plenty of LOVELY female savannahs (still waiting to meet one lol) but you may have a easier time with a male kitten than a female kitten in my opinion

 

[John Campbell]

John, if you don't mind me asking are you getting a male or a female F3? I know ill probably get slammed for this as there are plenty of LOVELY female savannahs (still waiting to meet one lol) but you may have a easier time with a male kitten than a female kitten in my opinion

I may get slammed as well... But I want a Female F3 as a pet. I would have already gotten one, but because my job moved and I am working temporary duty out of town meaning that I am in town 4 days and out of town 4 days I do not feel this would be good for the kitten. I think that my TDY will be over by the end of November and I hope to do something shortly after that time.... I have been thinking of a fitting name for her, and I think I have found one that would be fitting, and I may get flamed over it.

I currently work in the Aviation Industry in airline maintenance (one of the guys you get mad when you plane is broke) currently as a Aircraft Maintenance Controller. I may have delayed or canceled one of your flights, but I won't apologize for it.. LOL.

I also worked in Videograpy, and Photography, and plan to have a facebook and youtube page for her, so you may see a lot of her.