Savannah Cat Chat - THE Place for Savannah Cat Talk

Welcome to the Savannah Cat Chat Forum! Our forum has been in existence since 2012 and is the only one of its kind. We were here, serving the savannah cat community before Facebook and Instagram! Register for a free account today to become a member! Please use an email program other than Hotmail, since Hotmail accounts are blacklisted by many servers and ISP's. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site in some of the forums by adding your own topics and posts. But in order to take advantage of the full features, such as a private inbox as well as connect with other members ad access some of the larger topics, a donation of $2.99/mo or $25/yr is requested. This will allow us to continue running this forum!

My cat hates me

Wyldthingz

Savannah Super Cat
Yikes. I honestly don't blame you for not wanting her inside. It is sad for her as she can't be a pet either. I think it is important that you tell the Breeder that socialization is important and make a BIG point here. The breeder may continue to raise her kittens like this and have similar outcomes unless someone complains. Some breeders spend just enough time with them for them to get sold. The pet owner is then stuck with the process of socialization. It was also unfortunate that she sold you a cat that she wasn't sure would not spray before rehoming her.

She is a very pretty girl and she at least nice to look at.
I think now you do what you can and celebrate every little step she makes but don't build yourself up for miracle changes.
 

isisf2

Savannah Child
Yes, I was sfraid of her not being able to be a pet. I really don't want to return her but hate the idea that she cant enjoy my home as a cherished pet. Thanks for the response.
 

Patti

Admin
Staff member
Are you absolutely sure that she has been spayed? I would ask for the vet records to confirm this. I would NOT force her to do anything - if she wants to hide then let her hide. Forcing her out will only reinforce her fear of you. Do you have one room you can dedicate to her? Pull up the carpet or cover it with tarps? Paint the walls wish easy wash enamel paint or even FRP panel? That way you can work with her on your terms. Keeping her outdoors is only making the distance between you worse unless you can spend hours with her out there instead of in the house. I'm just afraid that forcing her into her carrier to come into the house every day is just reinforcing her mistrust of you. But you really do need to figure out why she's still spraying. And be sure to clean those areas with a really good enzyme cleaner such as Anti-Icky-Poo or Unique Distributors.
 

Brigitte Cowell

Moderator
Staff member
I agree with Patti, keeping her outside even if you bring her inside for meals...it will not work. She will stay at the same level of sociability for good then with no improvement. As Patti says, if there is a room you can make work, with a floor covering, with extra attention to cleaning...whatever. That may work, with the help of Marilyn. And yes, check to confirm she is spayed.

One thing you need to do if you are going to work on this with her inside is that you need to be totally on top of cleaning up any pee spots as soon as they happen. If it means for the beginning you are continually cleaning (with a good enzyme cleaner, no bleach!) then that is how it has to be. Try the pheromone calming collar too if she'll wear one.

This cat is going to be a LOT of work... so before you start make sure you AND your boyfriend are willing to give this a good chance. You don't want every day to be a fight with your boyfriend over the cat's behavior, you need a period of time that you have both agreed to work on the issue.
 

isisf2

Savannah Child
The breeder gave me the info from where and when she was spayed so I'm beliving she is. I don't really have a room to give her but the bathroom and it is carpet(the picture I have up is her in my bathroom. you can see the carpet). I would have to replace with tile and put a door up to dressing room. I'm having a little conflict with boyfriend as he doesn't want to "step" in pee in the middle of the night and he likes the carpet in bathroom. I'm gonna have to push the issue. I will try the products for clean up as well.
I have used the pheromone spray but not the collar. The spray did not seem to work. She just sprayed right over it. I will give it a try! Hopefully I can have all this info come into play by next week and we will see how she responds. I have told the breeder of her spraying before and she said she does not know why she is spraying as she never sprayed at her home. So thats why I have opened this situation up to the many people and breeders out there with experience. I'm not saying she is a bad breeder by any means, just that this kitten wasn't one of her best products as socialization is concerned.
I must add though that today I brought her in the bathroom again (but with force by taking her out of her house and into her little bed) and fed her chicken. Didn't pay attention to her much or look in her eyes and put one peice at a time on the floor closer to me to where I had her eating out of the bowl on my lap:) . she growled most of the time but when she was done she backed off into a corner and hissed. I played with her a bit until she didn't seem intrested and then put her back with same force and when she reached her kennel she was back to hissing:((do I celebrate or not?:toasting:) I hope that was progress and not the fact that she was starving because when I brought her food earlier she didn't eat her dry food. I brought her food, waited a while and took it out. Is that the way to do it? Or do I just feed her at feeding times and leave it? And BTW her kennel is just outside my bedroom deck. next to my sliding glass doors. Thanks again everyone.
 

isisf2

Savannah Child
O.K Bridgette. Just seen your response. I am going to HAVE to get a room just for her. She would have to be in my bathroom. It is quite large so she will have room. I have work to do....
 

Brigitte Cowell

Moderator
Staff member
Yes, there's really no way around this being a lot of work...AND a lot of inconvenience at the beginning. You've got two major problems to be working on, the peeing AND the lack of socialization. Hard to work on the socialization issue when she can't be in the house!
For the carpets, consider one of those little portable steam cleaner things... http://www.bissell.com/little-green-proheat-deep-reach/ is one of them. You can put enzyme cleaner instead of carpet cleaning solution and make sure you get any pee out of any carpet.
 

Wyldthingz

Savannah Super Cat
It is very strange for a cat to spray there and not at the breeder's house. I have a hard time believing that one. Often they quit spraying away from the cattery because there is not other cats to contend for space and position. Marking is mostly territorial for other cats.

I did know someone that had her cat spayed but the vet left a piece of ovary which caused her to come in season. I think this situation is rare however it could happen?

I had one cat that would freak out if picked up. I trained her with food to go in a carrier. She did this readily and was so easy to transport. Once they figure out a cat carrier is a reward, then moving her back and forth won't be a battle for her. Taking her back to the breeder however won't do anything for her. The breeder will likely not spend any more time with her than she did before you got her. :(
It is also pretty typical for Savannahs to growl while eating something really yummy. It isn't necessary aggression.

Maybe she has another cat that she can offer you for a companion for her and would make a better pet?
 
Top