Does My Savannah Need Vaccinations Like Domestic Cats?

Yes, Savannahs should receive routine kitten vaccinations just like domestic cats. The type and number of vaccinations is sometimes debatable, but it is generally accepted that they should have at least two initial vaccinations as a kitten (most veterinarians recommend three), with one being after they are 12 weeks old, and then a booster at a year of age and then every one to three years thereafter. Many breeders recommend killed virus vaccinations only because exotic cats have been known to have serious reactions to the modified live viruses. However, killed virus vaccinations have been associated with sarcomas at the injection site. Modified live viruses do not have this same concern so more breeders are beginning to use the modified live virus vaccinations. You may find your breeder will be very specific and require you to use only a certain type of vaccination, another breeder will allow you to choose your personal preference.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SAVANNAHS

What is a Savannah Cat?

A Savannah is a domestic cat with a Serval ancestor.

HEALTH AND CARE OF YOUR NEW SAVANNAH CAT

What Food Do Savannahs Eat? Will They Eat “Normal” Cat Food?

Savannahs eat commercial cat food like any other domestic cat would, but are usually also very receptive to a raw diet. We recommend a high-quality cat food brand be used, especially as Savannahs grow fast in the first years of their life, so will need good nutrition.

Raw vs. Kibble: Premium cat food, whether raw, canned or kibble is recommended and your Savannah will be happy and healthy on premium foods. If you choose to feed raw food, please research dietary requirements for cats prior to preparing a raw diet. You can find many nutritious recipes by researching BARF diets online.

PURCHASING A SAVANNAH CAT

How Do I Choose the Right Savannah Breeder?

It’s hard to decide where you might want to get your kitten. There are many breeders with kittens available, which makes it important to consider many factors. A kitten (cat) should live 15-20-odd years, so your new family member should be a well thought-out decision. The breeder is part of that decision. The breeder you choose to purchase a kitten from should be someone you trust and whose opinion you value. Contact a few breeders and ask questions. Ask about their breeding program, the potential parents of your kitten, what the parents’ personalities are like. Ask about previous kittens and what they are like now they are grown. Ask for referrals.

If problems arise once you have the kitten you still want your breeder to be available to help answer questions and share the experience of your Savannah. Ask about the breeds behind that kitten, and for a copy of its pedigree. Discuss what breeds went into making that particular kitten and what attributes those breeds may contribute to its health, looks and personality. As the Savannah breed is still in development, there are many influences to consider.

BRINGING A SAVANNAH CAT HOME

Why Do I Need to Quarantine My Savannah When It First Arrives?

There are two important reasons why your new kitten should be quarantined for a minmum of two weeks. First, the stress of being ripped from all familiar surroundings and people, traveling to a new home, and meeting a new family is very stressful on a kitten. This can sometimes cause health problems by suppressing the immune system, just as it can in humans. Cats in general are very susceptible to certain illnesses and a stress response can trigger an illness such as an upper respiratory infection (cold) or a bout of diarrhea. If there are other cats in the household, it is always a good idea to keep them separated until you are assured that the new kitten is not going to succumb to such an event.

The second reason is that the kitten needs to be kept in a small room where it can easily find its food, water, and litter box. It also needs this time to get to know it’s new human family and to develop a bond with them. A new kitten being left to wander freely in a new home when first arriving can easily be overwhelmed and at the least have some litterbox mishaps because it forgets where the box is, or at the worst hide in as safe, dark environment (e.g., under a bed), which will necessitate you ‘chasing after’ it to retrieve it. This can cause even more fear and stress in the kitten and set up an unhealthy relationship between it and you.

When a kitten is restricted to a single room such as a bedroom or a bathroom with only you going in and out to interact with it, it will soon learn that you are the center of it’s life and a strong bond will form. Once this has been accomplished, you can start to slowly introduce it to other parts of the house, and to other pet members of the household as well.

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What is a Savannah Cat?

What Food Do Savannahs Eat? Will They Eat “Normal” Cat Food?

How Do I Choose the Right Savannah Breeder?

Why Do I Need to Quarantine My Savannah When It First Arrives?

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