Finally! Some photos of the "problem" Savannah cat

Well, I finally went to visit the "problem" savannah cat last night. What a sweet kitty! He walked right up to me, rubbed and purred, then started digging through my purse to take inventory of everything in it (my Puck does this sometimes too). The owner is considering putting him up for adoption because she says that he chews everything around the house. I think the big boy is simply bored and trying to get attention! She showed me some of the "destruction"; I've seen an average puppy do far, far worse. She was worried about my purse, but I pulled items out of it and let him sniff and mouth each one of them (he didn't actually bite them), and she said "don't do that-you're encouraging bad behavior"! But I explained that his curiosity was natural, and once he was able to investigate everything, he wouldn't be obsessed with it. Sure enough, once he'd seen everything in the purse he left it alone for the rest of the evening. While we were talking I picked up one of his toys and played with he and his Jungle bob brother. They LOVED having someone to play with. "You're so good with them-maybe you should adopt him" she suggested.Tempting-but my home is a bit small for another giant cat (he's a little bigger than my Maine Coon Oberon). He needs space and LOTS of interaction.She kept saying "but I love on him all the time and it's not enough". Affection is great, but cats-especially young ones-crave playtime too. I told her that I thought more time interacting with him with his toys was what is needed-plus a large outdoor enclosure so that he can be entertained by the outdoors when she can't spend time with him.

It's just a shame that so many people think that cats should be SO low maintenance that when they act at all "dog-like", they consider them "problem' animals. A half wild cat is a very intelligent cat, and intelligent animals take effort (ask any border collie or African gray owner)!

I took these photos at night, so they aren't great. I'll try to get some during the day sometime:

I'm glad he's not such a problem cat as she described. I hope he'll get a home where he'll have the attention he needs.

Most of the pleasure in having a cat (or them having you) is seeing them happy and fully realizing their potential as cats... watching their movements as they stalk and pounce on their prey even if its just a toy mouse on a string! Enclosures don't need to be that expensive although I'll bet this guy is a real jumper, judging by the size of those hind legs so it would need extra high sides or a top.

I talked to the owner of a wild cat sanctuary down here, and she said that an escape proof serval sized enclosure (1200 sq. ft) would cost $3,000.Pretty pricey, but hell, she paid more than that for the cat! If I had the money and a bit more space, I'd volunteer to take him-he really is a very loving animal-but I'd like to try to encourage his owner to make some real changes before offering to uproot the guy. The owner says she'll try what I suggest, then she changes her mind, then she's all for it again....she just seems to have trouble making solid decisions.She really does love him and she's great at ensuring that his health needs are met-but I don't know if she has the patience for such a pet (plus she likes a very neat, beautiful home-which hers is-but such places aren't always pet friendly) So I guess the answer to your question is : :shrug:

He loves you on sight!

I'm having enough problems dealing with a jealous Siamese and two relatively easy cats. I can imagine the problems with a beautiful animal like that who is partly wild.

I hope you can help find him the home he deserves.

that I had here-and he's half Bengal! (Bengal/ serval hybrid-so there's very little domestic blood in him). She said that he was a bottle baby, so that must have something to do with it. I really hope that she will decide that he's worth a little damaged furniture; in fact, I suggested that she embrace the "shabby chic" look. Savannahs develop a strong bond to "their" person, so I feel that uprooting him could be very hard on him (plus finding a qualified home will be really, really tough), so I'm encouraging a change in attitude instead. We'll see!

My fiancee and I would probably get one if we could afford it.

We both love big cats, and prefer shorthairs (so Maine Coons are a problem) - maybe someday...

I imagine the breed would be good mousers. A mouse or rat would take a look at that creature and know the jig is up!

I've ALWAYS wanted a Savannah - an F1 to be exact. If hes up for adoption he has one sure good home here!!!!!!!

could be a problem since he can open any unlocked door and LOVES to play in water, lol!

addition is done next month and totally sealed on all 4 sides. *puppy dog eyes* :)

and I cant believe she actually thought that he could just be there and not need ANY attention.. no wonder the poor cat is terrorizing her house. He wants LOVE. I adopted a sphynx that wasnt a very nice cat... all he needed was some time and attention and not have to worry about someone abusing him. I'm just now able to hold him without him going ballistic. His previous owners wife must have abused him - he got rid of the cat because his new wife said he was "too demanding and too much maintenance".

I got him in the beginning of July and now he doesnt run and hide in fear of someone walking by him and doesnt hide all day in my basement. Hes a little skiddish with people he doesnt know but hes always around me just like my other Sphynx. Its like having a child and not interacting with it. That child will do stuff just to get your attention, and if the only attention it gets is negative then its going to be bad just to GET that attention.

In all seriousness, if she is willing to give him up for adoption let me know, he'd have one very happy and loving home. I got references from my vet, my Sphynx's breeder, and the Sphynx rescue just so you know theres no questions about where he'd be going!

and do you have room for one of these? :http://www.bigcatrescue.org/build_a_cage.htm

Are Sphinxs high energy/ high intelligence cats?(He needs compatible playmates). He eats an expensive raw diet, and probably needs to be harness trained and walked daily to be happy. He also can't live in a home with small, rubber or plastic items lying around (he'll devour them-even handles off blenders). It would be like having an orally fixated giant Jack Russel terrier around the house.

PM me with your information and I'll keep it on hand. I can't promise anything, but it would be good to have another option.