Single Kitten Issues?

[lrmichelle]

Hi everyone,

For those that don't know, I just bought an F2 Savannah girl last week from Mike and Sandy Hale of Halestone Savannahs. They are very good breeders, and I'm really happy with my decision to purchase from them. She's only 9 weeks old now, and won't come home for a few more weeks. I've named her Vienna. She's a very sweet kitten,and very playful, but I have only met her once.

My only concern is that she is a singleton. She was the only kitten in her litter. She was and is very well socialized by Mike and Sandy, but I don't think she's had other kittens to play with since Mike and Sandy don't mix kittens. I'm not too worried about it since I really trust them as breeders, but I'm wondering if anyone else has a singleton cat and what his/her temperament turned out to be.

When I paid for the deposit, I didn't even think it would be a problem, but after reading more on this site about kitten socialization, I'm beginning to wonder if/how this would affect little Vienna.

Again, not too worried about it, but if anyone else knows anything about this subject, I'd like to hear it. Hopefully it's good news, or at least not bad news!

- Lauren

 

[lrmichelle]

I also have two other cats at home (not Savannahs), and I really am hoping they'll all be buddies.

 

[Medesha]

I wish I had something Savannah to add but I don't >_<.

To keep this post from being completely useless (then again, maybe not) Several years ago, there was no real help in this town if you had a feral problem, no TNR program, the shelter was forever full, and there was a Catch 22: I'd been discouraged from bringing the few ferals I could contain to the vet to be spayed and get shots, because they'd only accept animals who'd received shots and to get them shots I'd have to take them to the vet and... I was a teenager, and didn't have a steady source of income- it was all I could do to feed the ferals and get their kittens into good homes, best I could do at the time.

One of the ferals, Kitty only ever had three kittens per litter or a single one. The single ones always turned out to be insane, demonic, destructive, completely uninterested in playing/being touched with/by while their mother was the friendliest feral you'd ever met. I think some of them just have the souls of wildcats, can't be tamed... then again, I imagine the lack of siblings probably was one of the big issues.

Of course, they were almost definitely inbreds, so that could have played a part, too...

But uhh, so long as Vienna's getting lots of attention from her caretakers, I wouldn't really worry- kittens of any breed learn about.. restraint when playing/scratching/biting from littermates, and a lack of that could possibly lead to a kitten that doesn't know how far is too far. But I'm sure the people at Halestone Savannahs (along with the kitten's mother, who can also play that role) are doing their best with Vienna!

On another note, I was thinking of getting Vakai a companion- he cries so much when I leave the room for even a few minutes! I hope he's open to it! I've read that it tends to be easier when the cat in question is younger...

 

[Trish Allearz]

Realistically- since your baby will be so well socialized, I wouldn't freak out too much about it Plus, don't forget- kitty learns most of his social skills from his Mom. So while he may not have other kittens to learn from, Mom will be teaching him as well

 

[Patti]

Every kitten has its own unique personality but I've never heard of any problems specifically related to being a singleton kitten. I've had a couple here and there have never been any socialization problems - with humans or other cats.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think they learn a lot from their mother about getting along with another cat...and I think it can depend on the individual a lot too. But one singleton I produced here was the MOST social kitten I ever introduced into my household (at 12 weeks after two vaccinations)... Jumoke trotted out like he owned the world and every cat in the house fell in love with him. He had no concept that a cat wouldn't love him, after all his mommy cat did!

The last singleton I produced, I weaned her late at almost 10 weeks so that she'd had one vaccine at least, and put my Brit Georgie in with her for company and socialization so that she wasn't completely alone. It was a risk as she'd only had one vaccination. She went to her home and was almost immediately friends with the two neutered males in the house, the Oriental female kitten the owner got at the same time did not integrate so easily and was from a larger litter. So I think it likely is just personality.

 

[Breheart]

I don't forsee any issues since you have a great breeder who is handling and socializing Vienna well The only concern I would have is bite inhibition, but you can easily continue training her with this by giving yelps and squeals if she ever bites you.

When Keljin came home, he was bad at knowing what his bite was like. He was the runt of the litter, and was never really playful with his litter mates, until he was healthy and ready to come home he hadn't really learned much so I had to work hard at it but he is totally gentle now!

I would practice giving him treats by finger, and if he bit my skin I would yowl and he would let go and run away. Same with playtime, teaching him to attack the toys and not my skin, and trying to "talk" in his language to let him know that biting me was not okay.

 

[Breheart]

Other than that I can't imagine any issues to come up, its all just a matter of personality. You are doing great so far by asking these questions so if anything does become a problem when she is finally home, you know right where to turn to for more advice

 

[Kristine]

Hi everyone,

For those that don't know, I just bought an F2 Savannah girl last week from Mike and Sandy Hale of Halestone Savannahs. They are very good breeders, and I'm really happy with my decision to purchase from them. She's only 9 weeks old now, and won't come home for a few more weeks. I've named her Vienna. She's a very sweet kitten,and very playful, but I have only met her once.

My only concern is that she is a singleton. She was the only kitten in her litter. She was and is very well socialized by Mike and Sandy, but I don't think she's had other kittens to play with since Mike and Sandy don't mix kittens. I'm not too worried about it since I really trust them as breeders, but I'm wondering if anyone else has a singleton cat and what his/her temperament turned out to be.

When I paid for the deposit, I didn't even think it would be a problem, but after reading more on this site about kitten socialization, I'm beginning to wonder if/how this would affect little Vienna.

Again, not too worried about it, but if anyone else knows anything about this subject, I'd like to hear it. Hopefully it's good news, or at least not bad news!

- Lauren

She'll be fine. The only issues I have ever had with singletons is that sometimes they play a little rough with the other cats at first as they did not get to practice on the siblings. But, they learn. I have bred and raised several singleton kittens and every single one went to its new family without incident and also adjusted fine to its new kitty friends. My first pet therapy cat, Clarice, was an singleton. She not only was incredibly social to people, she was fine with the other cats as well. Sandy and Mike do a great job socializing their babies. Congratulations!!!

 

[lrmichelle]

It's encouraging to hear others' stories, so thank you all! I tend to worry too much. I'll keep updates on how my little Vienna does!