Soon to be Savannah family with questions

[Kristin]

I have two F4 sbts. I got my girl as a kitten and started harness training her pretty much as soon as she was out of quarantine. I took her outside, to pet stores...basically wherever I could take her and she loved it. I take her travelling through Canada, and she is 100% fine. In fact, we call her Vacation Zeddie because she loves it so much she is 1000 times nicer than when she is at home.

My male has been living with me for a year, and he was a year when he came here. He is harness trained as well, but he doesn't love going out like she does. He prefers to be held and carried everywhere. Its funny because at home he is the trouble maker but when we are out he just sits there. He does love to go outside on his harness/leash and explore though.

I think the amount of exposure to different things with your kitten will make a big difference. If it is a foodie, lots of treats make the experience my enjoyable as well.

 

[Rafiki]

I believe that safely exposing your kitten to many new things while he is young helps him become more adaptive as an adult. I got my first cat while still in school. I would go to school in one state for 3 months and then work for 3 months in a different state. My first kitty began harness training as soon as I got her and I took her for short jaunts in the car immediately after quarantine. Early rides lasted less than 3 minutes while driving around a parking lot. She went everywhere with me except work. She loved car rides, meeting new people and animals and adventures in general. The trick was to ensure that all her early experiences were positives.

Unfortunately my work schedule called for lots of travel in the first 2 years that I had my SV so I was not able to commit to the same routine. Due to illness, many of the car trips were to the vet - not a positive experience! She loves going out on a harness and meeting new people and animals but she is just not overly keen on the car.

 

[Emmi]

Hi sorry for not replying earlier, last 2 days have been hectic and I didn't see your answers here before just now.

Yes! That is exactly how I had it in mind, gradually exposing him to new things and getting him used to short outside stay with us so he will be used to it as adult. That is really encouraging to read thank you so much. Of course taking the quarantine period into consideration, and of course his first trip with us which will be to the vet.. How did you take them with you when they were small? With harness only? or in a carrier?

Rafiki, I'm so sorry that you've been struck by illness. What did (or does?) she have?

..Something happened that put everything in another perspective here
Illness struck here as well. My dog has been diagnosed with acute kidney malfunction 2 days ago and we don't know yet whether she will pull though or what her longer term prognosis will be. We and our vet are doing everything we can for her, but she is already 10 years old. Before, she was extremely vital and playful, but she is such a poor sick puppy now.

At this moment, I am insecure how the upcoming days will go let alone longer term. Our SV baby should be arriving end of March. What if my dog is still sick as she is? I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but I just don't now at this moment.

 

[admin]

I am so sorry Emmi, to hear about your dog! It is truly heartbreaking to have a sick animal :-(

I think you will have to play this by ear and see how your dog does - you have a bit of time...at what age is your kitten supposed to be sent to you?

 

[Emmi]

thank you for your kind words
its indeed heart breaking to see her as poor and sick as she is. I'm hand feeding her as she doesn't really want to get up to eat, and carrying her outside as she is so weak at the moment. At least she doesn't throw up any more, and wiggles her tail every time she see's me, so I truly hope that is a good sign.

I really don't want to take my thoughts to far yet really.. I can't even express how much I have been looking forward to his arrival already, but in all honesty, bringing a high energy playful baby into our home if my dog is so weak and sick as she is, I don't know how that would be, and with that I mean for the both of them.

Our kitten will be 12.5 weeks when we can pick him up so yes we still have time to look how things develop.

 

[Patti]

I'm so sorry to hear that your dog has fallen ill. I think you should anticipate that he may need to be kept separate from your new kitten indefinitely, at least when they are unsupervised. It could be that the kitten will bring out the puppy in him and be a positive influence in his life... but it is also possible that she will be overwhelming in her exuberance and create additional stress for him. I don't think you can anticipate the response you'll get until you actually face the situation, so being prepared for either/any scenario is prudent.

 

[Savannah Mama]

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[Emmi]

Yes I believe you're right, its close to impossible to anticipate how well or not they will go together under these circumstances. Luckily we have enough space to separate them if it would be needed, even though it would be such a shame. Our dog truly loves cats, actually she loves everyone and everything At her babysit she even sleeps with them cuddled up against each other.
This is what I envisioned as well for them.

But well reality does not always come as you planned or hoped.. and we will try to cope as well as possible for the both of them.

 

[Patti]

Has your kitten been exposed to dogs at all? That would be key in helping anticipate how they will get along together once she is home with you. If she is used to dogs, and he is used to cats, then they will likely get along just fine after appropriate introductions.

 

[Emmi]

Yes there is a dog where he is growing up. They are not in the same room constantly, but he will definitely be used to children, dogs and other kind of animals.