What to expect with my future f4 savannah

[Charley]

I'm not as experienced as the others and can tell you I made bunches of mistakes with my guys but they turned out fine, lol.

Something I didn't expect was the level of hyper activity SV's seem to have. I really was blown away with how LONG they can play. You will want to spend a good 45 minutes playing in the mornings. Mine only sleep when I'm gone or working - they aren't lazy kitties, lol!

I haven't had any issue with destructive behavior outside of paper towel rolls - this is an on going "problem" lol. You might want to be sure to close bathroom doors initially until you know if s/he is a paper eater. Both of mine are - one more than the other so we keep doors closed where paper products are exposed for their own safety unless I'm in there because we are hippies and kitties get sad if they can't go with me, lol!

 

[Carykd7kau]

YES What Charley said. They are big on Paper. Any kind. My Kilifi's favorite toy is a wadded up piece of paper. "Throw it dad I will get it and bring it back so you can throw it again." ALL DAY LONG

 

[aharter]

Well I suppose if a wadded up piece of paper is their favorite toy, it sure saves on the toy bill . I am hoping she doesn't get too lonely during the day when I am gone.... Tho it will only be 4 hours at max. I will keep in mind to wake up EXTRA extra early, although from what I have been reading I feel that I may be reminded in the morning haha and waking up earlier won't be a problem. It is funny, growing up I had a dsh cat and I always wanted to play with her, but she could only handle a few minutes at a time , and mostly wanted to lounge around. I am pretty excited for the energy and interactiveness of a savannah, although I am sure it will be more than I imagined , like you guys said! Thank you so much for your helpful responses! I love how helpful these forums are.

 

[Rafiki]

I keep a pile of large sheets of dunnage paper in the living room and in the den. The cats love to chase things into the paper and go sliding. Catching a stick toy under the paper is another fav game. Rafiki will go under the paper and we lightly trace a toy over the paper and she pounces from under. Yeah, they are really big on paper!

Also, try a variety of balls. Rafiki taught us how to play fetch on her 3rd day. They can be picky on texture. Rafiki likes 2" foam balls (soft and squishy) while John C's Elsa likes miniature tennis balls. Fetch is a great game - tires the cat out much faster than the human servant.

 

[aharter]

I am hoping mine will want to play fetch! I will be getting both foam and mini tennis balls to try out then. I have a long list of toys and supplies I will be buying within the next 3 + months

 

[Carykd7kau]

Fetch is a great game - tires the cat out much faster than the human servant.

It does???? Tell that to Kilifi. PLEASE!!!

 

[NikkiA]

I'm not as experienced as the others and can tell you I made bunches of mistakes with my guys but they turned out fine, lol.

We all make a bunch of mistakes Charley, just read the threads from when I joined re: Jarvis!
We are just lucky SVs are so forgiving

 

[Pam Flachs]

I am hoping mine will want to play fetch! I will be getting both foam and mini tennis balls to try out then. I have a long list of toys and supplies I will be buying within the next 3 + months

Please reconsider using foam balls; many cats have chewed pieces of foam balls and toys or eaten them whole...not a good thing and usually resulting in surgery The mini tennis balls should be fine, though. Ping-pong and wiffle style balls make good and safe cat toys, too.

Be sure any ball you try is not small enough to be swallowed...like human kids, toys that are not small enough to fit in their mouths are usually best....

 

[Rafiki]

Pam, I am constantly worried about that but cannot seem to find a suitable substitute. She likes things that are really squishy to carry and refused to play with the mini tennis balls. I would love to find something else but have not found anything - any suggestions?

 

[NikkiA]

Pam, I am constantly worried about that but cannot seem to find a suitable substitute. She likes things that are really squishy to carry and refused to play with the mini tennis balls. I would love to find something else but have not found anything - any suggestions?

I have this problem with Jarvis. When we fostered, our foster kitten arrived with toys, and Jarvis LOVED them.

We allow SUPERVISED playtime with the foam balls (we have 3), while Mike and me are home, in the bedroom. NO WHERE else in the house for fear Mickey (he can't distinguish between food and not food) will find them and eat them).

We use puff balls elsewhere, knitted toys filled with catnip, bunny batters, hard plastic balls, and full size tennis balls elsewhere in the house in the toy drawer and the toy baskets. We have the mini tennis balls, but only one of our boys will play with them. Have you tried the bunny batters from henry? Do you have rabbit fur balls near you (I can only find these occasionally- have to drive to NYC or Philadelphia)?