How to Take Care of a Savannah Cat

The Savannah cat is a breed that was developed by breeding the African serval with the domestic cat. The result is a large domestic cat, which is extremely affectionate, playful and capable of jumping to the highest shelf or ledge in your house. The Savannah also has a reputation for being dog-like, as this breed loves to swim, can be trained to come when called, likes to follow its owners and will walk on a leash. If you are planning on obtaining a Savannah cat, find out how to provide a suitable environment for this unusual feline. Prospective owners can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 to purchase a Savannah, according to the web site MC-Savannah-Cats.

Things You'll Need

  • Litter trays
  • Raw Chicken
  • Mult-vitamins
  • Probiotics
  • Calcium powder
  • Taurine powder
  • Teaspoon
  • Bitter apple spray
  • Dog toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Confine your Savannah cat to a quiet room of the house for the first few days after bringing him home. Use this time to bond with your cat by spending lots of time with him. Allow your Savannah to roam around the house. If you have other pets, introduce the Savannah to them gradually. The KittyCat web site recommends that you do not keep a Savannah cat if you also have birds or other small animals that resemble prey; but the Savannah cat gets along well with dogs and cats, especially if they are active and patient.

    • 2

      Place several litter trays around your house for your Savannah cat when she first arrives in your home, especially if she is still a kitten. Reduce the number of litter trays gradually as the cat gets to know your home.

    • 3

      Design an appropriate diet for your Savannah. Feed your Savannah cat raw chicken three times a day until he reaches six months of age, when two meals a day will then sustain him. Provide as much as the cat can eat within fifteen minutes at each mealtime. Never feed your Savannah cooked chicken bones, as these can splinter and pierce the walls of the digestive tract. Alternatively feed your cat a specialized wild cat food, which already incorporates the necessary vitamins and minerals that will keep your Savannah healthy.

      Mix one meal per day with a multi-vitamin supplement and a small scoop of probios to promote healthy digestion. Add taurine powder to a meal three times per week to help your cat maintain good heart function and vision and calcium powder to a meal twice a week for strong bones. For both taurine and calcium measure one eighth of a teaspoon for kittens and one quarter of a teaspoon for adult Savannahs.

    • 4

      Prevent your Savannah cat from being destructive by providing her with mental stimulation to keep her occupied. Apply bitter apple spray to the wires of any electrical items in your home to discourage your Savannah cat from chewing them. Provide her cat with plenty of dog toys, as these cats are known to play roughly; items that are designed for domestic cats will not last long with the Savannah. Engage with her regularly, as the Savannah is extremely playful.

    • 5

      Arrange for your Savannah to receive a checkup with your local veterinarian. Advise your veterinarian that the Savannah cat must only receive killed-virus vaccines, as live vaccines can cause death, according to the KasbahCattery web site. Avoid having your Savannah cat vaccinated against feline leukemia virus and feline infectious peritonitis, which actually can cause the disease in this cat. In addition, your Savannah should not be given ketamin or a preoperative cocktail, which can be deadly. Instruct that in the event that sedation is required, the veterinarian must use isoflorin gas.