My first Savannah - advice please?

[Evie]

We love to be able to help, but we do expect compensation - like some pics of your Savannah sweetie!! And a name to put with the pics...

Lol! Her name is Kitoko and I will get some photos uup as soon as I can...

 

[Evie]

My SV does not like to be picked up or held. I hoist her up several times a day. The key is to make sure that the experience is as pleasant as possible and short in duration! When she gets picked up, she gets lots of loving and she gets set down the moment she starts squirming. She does not associate being picked up with being confined or held against her will. In the beginning, I would hold her for 15-30 seconds at a time. I can now hold her for several minutes at a time.

I am still a way off hoisting as she still seems to cringe and move away when I even brush my hand lightly on her. But I will keep trying and work towards picking her up. She still seems hyper aware - even when she looks asleep - and opens her eyes before I can get to stroke her. I am going to try the treat idea and see if food will get me closer.

 

[WitchyWoman]

Evie, have you seen this http://www.savannahcatchat.com/thre...ed-acclimating-your-new-sv-to-your-home.1959/ First post contains a document with tips and tricks that may help.

 

[Evie]

One of mine, both f2s, loves to be picked up and held, carried around, smooshed with hugs. The other barely tolerates being picked up. She collapses on the floor when you put her down as if her legs stopped working! She doesn't do anything bad when picked up so getting her in a carrier is no issue, but it is clear she would just prefer you not do it. She couldn't be touched when we first got her, so the fact I can pick her up is the result of a lot of work and patience.

The other one I can just pat my chest and he will jump up in my arms from the ground purring like a madman. Sometimes he forgets he should be invited and just flings himself at you. They have different personalities and your kitty may be in the doesn't want to be held camp. Just be sure you get her to tolerate it enough to put her in a carrier in emergencies.

Hi, they are all so different aren't they - but most of the cats I have owned have not really liked being picked up. Apart from my Pixie-Bob who goes all floppy and just loves it! I will work with my kitten and hope to get her to a point where I can treat her and get her to the vet and down in her enclosure etc it is so helpful to speak to other owners as I felt sure I was doing something wrong. My kittens breeder told me that her sister had become a loving lap cat within a few days of getting to her new home but Kitoko his for most of the first week! I thought that maybe I was supposed to be grabbing her and restraining her everyday to get used to being held - it just didn't feel right to me. I feel so Mich more relaxed and will keep working on touching and holding but hopefully without stressing either of us out!

 

[Evie]

Evie, have you seen this http://www.savannahcatchat.com/thre...ed-acclimating-your-new-sv-to-your-home.1959/ First post contains a document with tips and tricks that may help.

Hi WW, thank you for the link I will have a read.

 

[Evie]

Mine are like Bekki's, one loves to be held any time, one hates it, and one who tolerates it.
I forced the issue with Jarvis (a kitty who hates to be held) when he was a kitten, and it took me months to undue the damage. Take it slow, listen to your gut and your kitten, and eventually you will reach a compromise.
If hissing or growling is occurring, try a reward for her coming to you. Make it something she likes that you only give as a reward for this behavior.
When I need to pick up Jarvis I say, "Jarvis come here baby". When he comes he gets picked up and fed a small piece of raw meat. I only feed him raw when I am holding him, and he loves it so he always comes. I started by giving the command when he was in seeing distance, and feeding him the treat on the counter. We gradually worked up to me touching him while he ate it, to me putting my arm under his belly while he ate it, to me pulling him onto my lap while he ate it, to me picking him up and feeding it to him while holding him.
At this stage I can say the command from anywhere in the house and he comes running, gets picked up, and we go raid the fridge together. Took me about a year of working on it to get here so take it slow and never skip the reward.

Hi, thank you very much for this advice. My kitten sounds very similar to Jarvis. I hadn't tried treats yet but she loves her raw food so I think I will try hand feeding the raw as you have. It is so helpful to hear how long the process has taken you as I will not now be tempted to expect to much from her to soon.

 

[Becki]

Build the trust first, the rest will come. I swear the minute I stopped worrying if I would ever be able to pet Nyah, much less hold her, was the day she let me pet her! Treating, especially dehydrated chicken, was a key part of winning Nyah over. I didn't attempt picking her up until I could pet her consistently and she was relaxed and purring. I then picked her up just a little bit, and put her down. I increased the height and time slowly. Now I can hold her for quite a while before she gets squirmy. Again, she isn't enjoying it, but tolerates it!

 

[bxrpwr]

I have two F5 SBT's, and one is much better at being carried around. The other is much more independent in general. I agree with everyone else, I just pick them up, and the minute they start to wiggle around, let them down.. Build the trust first though.

 

[Evie]

Hi Becki, thanks, I will be shopping for dehydrated chicken treats tomorrow! I know now that it is still early days for me and Kitoko and that I still need to earn her trust. I do feel much more relaxed having heard your story. I will carry on going slowly and just enjoy being with her. I am so lucky to have an SV! No one can prepare you for just how special they are can they? PS I managed a very brief stroke this evening! Baby steps!

 

[Evie]