Kristin
Animal Communicator
I don't know how you breeders handle people who don't know Savannahs on a regular basis.
I try to socialize Zeddie as much as possible, but I am getting pretty tired of explaining to people that no, she isn't aggressive, she is just VERY vocal.
Zeddie complains...a lot. If I pick her up and she doesn't want to be picked up, she makes sure I know it. But she has NEVER bitten, and any scratches I have gotten have been accidental. I brought her into a local pet store and got tons of weird looks (which is fine...I mean it is pretty different having a cat on a leash) but as soon as people heard her voice, people wished me luck (in owning her?) and we got a lot of wide berths.
I took her into a clothing store (we were at another pet store and the clothing store was right beside it...I probably should have just left it for another day but I was too lazy to make an extra trip) and carried her around. The employees gave me permission to have her in the store, but kept asking why she was so mean, and again more looks and good luck wishes (what is with people wishing me luck with her?)
Even my cousins that come over on a regular basis are terrified of her! They coddle all the dogs that come over, but when it comes to Zeddie they won't even touch her. She is pretty dominant with the dogs, but I don't interfere too much because she is significantly smaller than them, and needs to feel a sense of authority in her own home (I don't have any dogs, they are all dog sitting dogs, or my sister's). She gave one of my (loud) dogsitting dogs a smack in the bum, and the dog screamed for her life. Of course my cousins start freaking out, more "your cat is mean" and "poor dog" and coddle the dog. After them bugging me multiple times about it I told them that I trusted her more than any dog I have ever met. Just two weeks ago I was bit in the face by a dog with no warning and needed stitches! I have seen a lot of interactions between Zeddie and this dog. She is a Westie, so has on occasion, gotten the "prey" look when looking at Zeddie...which is when Zeddie smacks her. Zeddie merely looked at her yesterday and the dog screamed and ran away.
Does anyone else have problems with people thinking/assuming their savannah is agressive?
Sorry about the really long post
I try to socialize Zeddie as much as possible, but I am getting pretty tired of explaining to people that no, she isn't aggressive, she is just VERY vocal.
Zeddie complains...a lot. If I pick her up and she doesn't want to be picked up, she makes sure I know it. But she has NEVER bitten, and any scratches I have gotten have been accidental. I brought her into a local pet store and got tons of weird looks (which is fine...I mean it is pretty different having a cat on a leash) but as soon as people heard her voice, people wished me luck (in owning her?) and we got a lot of wide berths.
I took her into a clothing store (we were at another pet store and the clothing store was right beside it...I probably should have just left it for another day but I was too lazy to make an extra trip) and carried her around. The employees gave me permission to have her in the store, but kept asking why she was so mean, and again more looks and good luck wishes (what is with people wishing me luck with her?)
Even my cousins that come over on a regular basis are terrified of her! They coddle all the dogs that come over, but when it comes to Zeddie they won't even touch her. She is pretty dominant with the dogs, but I don't interfere too much because she is significantly smaller than them, and needs to feel a sense of authority in her own home (I don't have any dogs, they are all dog sitting dogs, or my sister's). She gave one of my (loud) dogsitting dogs a smack in the bum, and the dog screamed for her life. Of course my cousins start freaking out, more "your cat is mean" and "poor dog" and coddle the dog. After them bugging me multiple times about it I told them that I trusted her more than any dog I have ever met. Just two weeks ago I was bit in the face by a dog with no warning and needed stitches! I have seen a lot of interactions between Zeddie and this dog. She is a Westie, so has on occasion, gotten the "prey" look when looking at Zeddie...which is when Zeddie smacks her. Zeddie merely looked at her yesterday and the dog screamed and ran away.
Does anyone else have problems with people thinking/assuming their savannah is agressive?
Sorry about the really long post