Scratching Issue...how to stop it

[John Popp]

I have resorted to corporal snuggling. When our boy seeks to gain my attention in a way that draws my ire, I simply pick him up and hold him firmly to my chest. When he is ready to bolt, I certainly let him go and the nibbles on my shin have subsided. It's not the attention that he craves, and sometimes he's content to stay in my arms for a few minutes. I don't need to worry about having a squirt bottle at the ready, and I don't need to remove myself or lock him down for a time out.

He certainly is always seeking attention and I do my best to meet his needs. We definitely spend lots of playtime together each day, but if it were his choice it would be for 6-8 hours. I'm good for about half that and the corporal snuggling has worked wonders for both the minx and I.

 

[il Gatopardo]

John you are a much braver man than I. I've come to the opinion I will never understand cats. Cest'la vie.

Henry is actually a very loving boy but hell if I understand this.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I see a cat that wants something not petting... he may want active play, have you tried picking up a suitable wand toy (Da Bird, Cat Catcher or Neko Fly) and getting him jumping and running at that point? It looked to me that he wanted your attention but not necessarily petting although he obviously loves you. He was trying to communicate something to you and it may be that he wanted play.

Do you have another cat for him to be bouncing his energy off on? He may be missing a regular wrestling partner...

 

[admin]

I agree with Brigitte...he keeps going to the toy and I think he really needs to play more. Savannah cats are not wild or half wild, so don't believe the myths.

 

[il Gatopardo]

The "toy" you mention is probably his leash on the floor. Yet while I find the behavior more than a little odd I was not too worried. Mostly curious. I disagree about the "wildness" factor. There is definitely a difference. People see it almost immediately. I remember years ago at the SF zoo there was a leopard enclosure. The cat in there looked straight into my eyes in a way I can never describe, it was beyond chilling. It was like it looked straight into my soul, never saw that before. Henry sometimes has that look when he is annoyed, it does raise the hairs.
I think maybe a good thread would be for stories about our pets. I used to take Henry to work. Once a guy came to the desk and asked if I knew who the person was who was walking a tiger. I was at a loss for words. and Hen was right next to me in his carrier. Another time someone looked into his carrier and said "cougar"?. Cop asked me if he was a lynx... it goes on.

 

[admin]

You can start a new thread, if you would like...

And I will repeat - savannah cats are NOT wild - there is a difference between a wild animal and an animal with a bit of serval genetics...the more people insist savannahs are wild, the more legislators, HSUS and AR extremists will try and succeed in many places, to ban them.

 

[il Gatopardo]

No they are not and I certainly get your point.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think Savannahs are quirky and they are clowns, and that likely comes in part from their Serval heritage but we that work in this breed have learned from experience that labels like "wild" are dangerous in terms of legislation.

And yes, people do misinterpret them from their appearance... and make wild guesses as to what they are. Then again, I once was in a pet store and a person came up and says "Oh that's one of those exotic breeds... wait, I know... it's an Abyssinian!" and looked so proud of himself for coming up with such an exotic name! LOL! And no, I don't have one of those ticked or Servaline-spotted Savannahs...it was the word that seemed exotic to him. Mostly I get "is that a tiger" while I prefer the "is that a cheetah" as at least that is closer than the bobcat, etc some guess.

 

[il Gatopardo]

Ha, you should have said no, it's an ashera cat. How people can possibly mistake a savannah for a tiger is really beyond me. I want to say something disparaging but I'm trying to be good.
Savannahs are indeed quirky and clowns. Henry is trying to steal the steak off my plate as I write this.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

When at a recent cat show, a spectator and her child stopped to look at my black Baz, and asked "Is that a big cat?" I had to reply "Well, he's not small..." to which the child then said "Is it YOUR cat?" and I said "Well no, I stole him... hoping his owner doesn't notice!" But yes, it can be hard to answer politely and without sarcasm sometimes...