What Your Savannah Needs You to Know
* I am an 18-20 year commitment. I am not a ‘right now’ purchase. I am not a ‘today’ purchase. I will hopefully be a part of your life for the next two decades. Are you thinking about college? How will I fit into your plans? Still searching for that perfect someone to marry? Hope he or she isn’t allergic to cats. Having children in the future? You will be responsible to teach them not to pull my tail or yank on my whiskers. I am not a TODAY commitment—I am a lifetime commitment.
* There is no guarantee on my size. I may be super big—or I may be a petite spotted little thing. Regardless, I am a Savannah and should be loved for my amazing personality over my size.
* Since we are talking about size—remember—for the first two years of my life, I am still growing. I am STILL a kitten. Even if I am 20 pounds and looking you straight in the eye at 10 months—I am a kitten and should be treated accordingly. I am learning—and that means you are learning too. I may be learning if I nudge this vase close enough to the counter’s edge—it’s going to shatter and you will be upset. You are learning not to place tempting objects in areas I can test their gravity.
* I NEED to see my vet at least once a year. Yes—I may look and actually be completely healthy, but there will come a time when I will need dental cleanings, senior blood work and other preventative care you might not think about as the years pass. You picked a vet we trust—so trust your vet.
* And since we are on the topic of vets—PLEASE choose a vet we both trust. Remember, I am like an infant child-- I cannot speak to tell you if the staff handles me roughly or if the vet isn’t kind. You need to treat our prospective veterinarian as you would a new pediatrician—ask questions, listen to the answers—and if you aren’t comfortable, place me back in my carrier and let’s find a vet you can definitely trust. Vets who are against hybrid cat breeds definitely should not handle me. I’m worth more than their ignorance.
*Feed me quality food so that I may thrive. I know—your cats growing up subsisted off of Friskies and did just fine. But nowadays—we know so much more about cat nutrition. Take the time to research the different possibilities and choose a healthy viable option. I may still prefer Friskies—but let’s be honest—you prefer McDonalds over a healthy meal most days too. Doesn’t mean you should be living off of Big Macs and fries!
*Play with me. I am an intelligent playful being and will be that way throughout my life. If your life becomes so busy you cannot interact with me—consider bringing home another Savannah. Can’t afford a second Savannah? There are plenty of shelter kitties looking for homes out there!
Sure- I may be the type of cat that prefers living alone with my humans, but if you can’t interact with me on a daily basis—think outside the box and ensure I am still getting consistent attention and interaction from someone else.
*Finally—love me. Love me long and hard.
Love me enough to say goodbye when the time is right. Don’t hold on to me so tightly that you make me suffer through long days of pain… Realize I know you want what is best for me—and even if that means saying goodbye before you are ready—that may be a sacrifice you will have to be willing to make. I have given you my love—my full heart—each and every day of my life. Now you need to repay me in full by letting me go when my body is failing.
And when this happens—if you make that final choice—please, stay with me. Stay with me. Hold me. Whisper into my beautiful big ears stories of my kittenhood—tell me you love me and always will. Stay with me until I slip into that forever sleep…
I am a Savannah cat. I am a fiercely intelligent, funny, loving breed— and there are no others like me.
And these are the things you need to know before bringing me into your home...
*Copyrighted 2016-- AllEarz Savannahs
* There is no guarantee on my size. I may be super big—or I may be a petite spotted little thing. Regardless, I am a Savannah and should be loved for my amazing personality over my size.
* Since we are talking about size—remember—for the first two years of my life, I am still growing. I am STILL a kitten. Even if I am 20 pounds and looking you straight in the eye at 10 months—I am a kitten and should be treated accordingly. I am learning—and that means you are learning too. I may be learning if I nudge this vase close enough to the counter’s edge—it’s going to shatter and you will be upset. You are learning not to place tempting objects in areas I can test their gravity.
* I NEED to see my vet at least once a year. Yes—I may look and actually be completely healthy, but there will come a time when I will need dental cleanings, senior blood work and other preventative care you might not think about as the years pass. You picked a vet we trust—so trust your vet.
* And since we are on the topic of vets—PLEASE choose a vet we both trust. Remember, I am like an infant child-- I cannot speak to tell you if the staff handles me roughly or if the vet isn’t kind. You need to treat our prospective veterinarian as you would a new pediatrician—ask questions, listen to the answers—and if you aren’t comfortable, place me back in my carrier and let’s find a vet you can definitely trust. Vets who are against hybrid cat breeds definitely should not handle me. I’m worth more than their ignorance.
*Feed me quality food so that I may thrive. I know—your cats growing up subsisted off of Friskies and did just fine. But nowadays—we know so much more about cat nutrition. Take the time to research the different possibilities and choose a healthy viable option. I may still prefer Friskies—but let’s be honest—you prefer McDonalds over a healthy meal most days too. Doesn’t mean you should be living off of Big Macs and fries!
*Play with me. I am an intelligent playful being and will be that way throughout my life. If your life becomes so busy you cannot interact with me—consider bringing home another Savannah. Can’t afford a second Savannah? There are plenty of shelter kitties looking for homes out there!
Sure- I may be the type of cat that prefers living alone with my humans, but if you can’t interact with me on a daily basis—think outside the box and ensure I am still getting consistent attention and interaction from someone else.
*Finally—love me. Love me long and hard.
Love me enough to say goodbye when the time is right. Don’t hold on to me so tightly that you make me suffer through long days of pain… Realize I know you want what is best for me—and even if that means saying goodbye before you are ready—that may be a sacrifice you will have to be willing to make. I have given you my love—my full heart—each and every day of my life. Now you need to repay me in full by letting me go when my body is failing.
And when this happens—if you make that final choice—please, stay with me. Stay with me. Hold me. Whisper into my beautiful big ears stories of my kittenhood—tell me you love me and always will. Stay with me until I slip into that forever sleep…
I am a Savannah cat. I am a fiercely intelligent, funny, loving breed— and there are no others like me.
And these are the things you need to know before bringing me into your home...
*Copyrighted 2016-- AllEarz Savannahs