Our first savannah

[Brigitte Cowell]

Personally, I won't let any of mine leave before 12 weeks of age, and prefer it after they are 16 weeks of age. I don't believe it harms any kitten's ability to integrate into a new home by waiting these additional weeks, but it usually does result in a more outgoing confident kitten that adapts easier to that new home by sending them out just that little bit more mature. So nothing to lose, and much to gain...

Even at the F1 generation, I've had three and all were gotten from their breeder at >12 weeks of age. The one that is most insanely bonded to me actually came at a year old...

 

[The Kasbah]

Well, it's pretty much been SVCatChat's stance that a kitten should be 12 weeks and have two sets of shots. So it's not just my opinion on this. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take from you 'having huge issues' that I'm posting my belief which is the belief posted repeatedly on this site by many, many others. As far as background, I've done rescue for over 17 years and have been breeding for about 7 now. So I'm no newbie to this party either.

It is up to the breeder-- you are very right. Yet, you might have the experience to make that call-- a lot of breeders are pure fools and do not. On this site, alone, we have seen multiple instances of kittens being placed too young and coming home with diseases and issues that could have been avoided if the breeder had taken the time to take full responsibility for their kittens. And pray tell- how is a customer supposed to know the difference between a breeder with knowledge and experience and one just blowing smoke up their butts? Most can't tell the difference. A lot of those smoke blowers are excellent at their craft-- deceit, lying, playing to the buyer as a caring breeder, but at the end of the day, not caring about anything but cold hard cash.

I'd prefer a buyer to err on the side of caution myself. C'est la vie.

 

[The Kasbah]

I am not suggesting that any Breeder send their kittens off to their forever homes before they are ready. But as you said, "IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE BREEDER."

Sadly, although you didn't mean harm by your original post, when people state things like this in the absolute, it casts a gray shadow on people like me who do things differently...and THIS is what I "take issue" with.

For the record, I have never shipped out a kitten who was not ready to join his/her forever home and on occasion I have had to delay babies who were not ready. That aside, I do generally send them out at 10-weeks and will continue doing so, because it works for me AND my clients. Therefore, I do not think that I should be criticized in a public forum for my practices, as they are well thought out, intentional and have harmed no one.

In summary, I do not fault anyone who chooses to hold their kittens until they are 16-weeks or older. Although it is not MY personal policy, this is a decision that should be made by each individual breeder based on how their kittens mature. I figure that Breeders who choose to wait until 4-months are doing so for a valid reason and I do not questions their judgement... What I take issue about is not being given the same courtesy.

Hope that clarifies things. I am not angry with you, Trish...but when any comment directly challenges my practices, I will speak up. You just had the misfortune of being the gal who spoke up and voiced an opinion that I do not agree with for my cattery.

I was not aware that Savannah Cat Chat had rules in place about when their Breeder Members could ship off their kittens. I will of course go read that thread and thank you for sharing it with me.

xoxo

 

[The Kasbah]

I thought it would be ok, because some breeders do let kittens go at 9 weeks. If I remember right I thought that Select Exotics let Stacie have her F1 at that age.....Sorry to make any one upset...

No one is upset. Don't worry! We sometimes debate one another, but behind the scenes we all get on famously.

 

[Treywi]

Hi everyone! On june 9th we brought home our first SV. His name is Havoc. He's 9 weeks old and already 4 pounds. He's an F5, we don't plan on showing him. So glad to be a part of this community?
This is him when we first picked him out at 3.5 weeks View attachment 8627
This is him at 7 weeks View attachment 8628
And finally his first day home at 9 weeks View attachment 8629

Welcome to the forum and he is just a doll! Great name too.

 

[cbain]

I thought it would be ok, because some breeders do let kittens go at 9 weeks. If I remember right I thought that Select Exotics let Stacie have her F1 at that age.....Sorry to make any one upset...

Select Exotics kept our 2 kittens for 12 weeks, the first cat they took a deposit and charged me in full then the kitten was shipped, I still have copies of the Emails. I am not a breeder !!! I let the breeders do the hard part and spoil their kittens later.

 

[MM3]

Well, it's pretty much been SVCatChat's stance that a kitten should be 12 weeks and have two sets of shots. So it's not just my opinion on this. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take from you 'having huge issues' that I'm posting my belief which is the belief posted repeatedly on this site by many, many others. As far as background, I've done rescue for over 17 years and have been breeding for about 7 now. So I'm no newbie to this party either.

It is up to the breeder-- you are very right. Yet, you might have the experience to make that call-- a lot of breeders are pure fools and do not. On this site, alone, we have seen multiple instances of kittens being placed too young and coming home with diseases and issues that could have been avoided if the breeder had taken the time to take full responsibility for their kittens. And pray tell- how is a customer supposed to know the difference between a breeder with knowledge and experience and one just blowing smoke up their butts? Most can't tell the difference. A lot of those smoke blowers are excellent at their craft-- deceit, lying, playing to the buyer as a caring breeder, but at the end of the day, not caring about anything but cold hard cash.

I'd prefer a buyer to err on the side of caution myself. C'est la vie.

 

[MM3]

LOVE YOUR POST........


First kitten ever
First exposure to breeder(s)
I felt very venerable
In the end found out breeder didn't care
No contact to find out health status
Guess it was the money

 

[Becki]

Congrats on yr new kitty, Havoc is such an appropriate name!

 

[Trish Allearz]

LOVE YOUR POST........


First kitten ever
First exposure to breeder(s)
I felt very venerable
In the end found out breeder didn't care
No contact to find out health status
Guess it was the money

It's hard. It's really hard. I will tell you-- even when looking into other breeds, even after working with three breeds over the years (two I bred, one I only showed)-- I still feel vulnerable talking to breeders. You live and you learn.