Determining the Right Generation Savannah for YOU
The question that is often upon Savannah fanciers’ minds before they decide to take the splurge and bring one of these fascinating cats home is the ever present, “Which generation is right for ME?”
This question is THE question when you are originally looking at Savannah cats. Once you decide you absolutely need one of these charming souls, you have to figure out… F1, F2, F3- F6? Do I want to show? Do I want just a pet? What is right for me?
I remember the stress of first deciding which cat to bring into our household. When reading about the higher generation cats, I could not decide whether they were timid housecats or wildcats straight from the plains of Africa! While some sites tended to side with the strict, “All Savannahs are great housecats!”- other sites seemed to pander to the exotic with statements such as, “F1 and F2 Savannahs may NOT be safe with children! Remember- these are half exotic cats!”
It left me perplexed! Where was the middle ground? What was the truth behind it all?
Well, I am coming to you from the flip side of the coin- so to speak. Now, I am owned by F1s and I am owned by lower generation cats. Mind you, I do mean- owned by! There is no owning a Savannah cat!
The lower generations, in my opinion, are charming, sweet, loving, with a streak of ‘Devil may care!’ in them! They will be snuggled up to you one moment and then flying across the room, doing aerial acrobatics in the blink of an eye! They are exotic looking- even the most non-cat layperson will notice the gorgeous spotting and the markings of a lower generation Savannah and comment on their exotic looks (and the next moment, they too will be charmed by their personality as well! It never fails!). The lower generations are a wonderful introduction to the Savannah family and if you are ever hesitant about what generation to purchase, I would recommend an F5 or F6 to start. After all, you can always add an F1 or F2 further down the road!
The higher generations, such as the F1s, are charming and loving- on their own terms. They are mischievous and intelligent and although you may want to cuddle, you will usually have to wait until it is on their terms before they are going to snuggle down with you. They have a keen eye for treats and whether it is bread or meat- you better keep a closer eye on it then your cat! They are, of course, exotic looking and anyone will realize the moment they see your Savannah that he or she is very special indeed! But they are stubborn and at times obnoxious in their ability to perpetrate trouble and if you ever find yourself lacking in patience, perhaps a lower generation Savannah would be more your speed for the time being. The only reason I would say a higher generation, well-socialized Savannah would not fit into a home with children is perhaps the parents already have their quota-fill of grey hairs and might not always have the patience required for these cats!
To sum it up- choosing a generation of Savannah really depends upon
you! In my home, this is the difference between a lower generation Savannah and a higher generation…
Refrigerator doors with lower generation Savannahs in residence…(normal looking, right?)
Refrigerator door with higher generation Savannahs in residence…
(I DID tell you they were stubborn and obnoxious in their pursuit of trouble, did I not? This lock was added after our F1 female had stolen our steaks for dinner that night for the LAST TIME! And the ASPARAGUS TOO! The tragedy!)
Those Silly Savannahs!
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NOTE: This is a joke & meant as a tongue-in-cheek article.
Please don't bread your Savannahs!
How to Bread Your Savannah
Recently, there have been an influx of Savannah breaders online… They usually post ads that state, “Pure bread Savannah, part WILD CAT, asking $10,000.”
Now, you may not feel like this concerns you, but I am here to tell you- breading Savannahs is a very tricky process and I do not recommend it for amateurs!
Thanks to a recent discussion on the Savannah Pets List, I have created this recipe for those of you interested in breading your very own Savannahs!
First, set out a shot glass, then a bottle of Jack Daniels (simply wine will not do here! It must be Jack!). Then you will want a paper bag filled with bread crumbs, pepper and salt- to taste- and a very large bowl. On one side, set a crate of eggs and beside that, I recommend a full First-Aid kit and perhaps a cell phone pre-dialed to 911 (in case you are preparing to bread an F1 or F2).
Your next step involves taking a shot of your Jack Daniels (once again, in case of an F1-F2, you might want to start with two shots) and then find your cat. Realize he is probably on top of the refrigerator, staring down at you, trying to comprehend what idiocy you are about to attempt.
Climb up to the top of the fridge and remove said-cat. Take the quick thump on the head with grace when he Serval-smacks you- after all, you were the one who had this great idea to bread Savannahs in the first place!
After you wrap your arms around your Savannah and pry him from the fridge, carry him to your counter where you have prepared to bread him. Realize as you try to crack eggs into the bowl while he is squirming in your arms and his claws are digging into your very delicate parts that you should have done this step ahead of time! Finally, when you have a bowl full of eggs, attempt to dip your Savannah in.
Take a breath of relief when you realize your Savannah actually enjoys this part of the breading process! Take a moment to smile and laugh as he dives into the eggs and smacks his lips, his big tongue rasping up towards his nose.
Now comes the trickier part… At this juncture, you may skip the shot glass and just glug the Jack Daniels.
With both hands, remove your now slippery Savannah from the egg bath and attempt to hoist him into baggy with your breading accouterments. Now is not the time to panic as he opens his mouth and gives you a full-on Serval hiss and you realize that cats actually have a full set of thirty teeth- 12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 molars and 4 very sharp canines, you note- and that your Savannah’s teeth are perhaps a bit bigger and a bit sharper looking then the average feline.
Shriek like a girl when your Savannah rakes his claws across your forearms and then attaches himself to you. Take a moment to reflect that you should have trimmed his nails before attempting to bread your cat, but realize it is now or never!
Taking a deep breath, shove your Savannah’s big butt into the paper bag and attempt to shake it to cover him with bread crumbs, pepper and salt- and then scream like a BLEEP when he shreds the bag and springs out at you, smacking you upside the head for the indignity he has just suffered!
Watch in shame as your Savannah leaps back up to the top of the fridge and cleans himself. Survey the mess of eggs, eggshells, broken glass as the Jack Daniel’s bottle has hit the floor, and the bread crumbs mix paw prints that lead up to the top of the fridge.
At this point in time, you will realize-
Perhaps you should leave the Savannah breading to the experts.
Thank you, Savannah Pets List, for the idea behind this article!
Articles
Simon & the Kielbasa Gang
I have come to you with a serious warning... For those of you looking to bring a Savannah cat into your home, for those of you with a newly aquired Savannah, and for those of you who are owned by Savannahs who been pretending to be demure and innocent....
HIDE YOUR SAUSAGES, PEOPLE! HIDE THEM!
Earlier in this week, I had a slight memory lapse as I pulled a Kielbasa sausage out of my freezer. I was intending on making jambalaya and my brain told me I had already pulled one sausage out, but my eyesight told me there were none to be found! I vaguely remember thinking, "I should put this up before the cats get to it"- but then again, that could be stress or old age setting in.
I looked high in the fridge- the children looked low- underneath the beds. No sausage was to be found and my faulty memory was blamed for the mishap.
Little did I know, when I was digging underneath the master bed, looking for that damnable always missing TIVO remote, that I would pull out the poor remains of a savaged Kielbasa today! YES! All that was left was the plastic wrap, mauled almost beyond recognition!
The culprit is still at large. He is lanky, orange, with spots and nice ocelli on the back of his ears. Very long legs and a big pink nose that screams INNOCENT- but don't believe it! I believe he also works with a buddy system and before you know it- your OWN Savannah could be a part of the Kielbasa Sausage Gang!
HIDE YOUR SAUSAGES, PEOPLE!
That's all I'm saying.
(On a serious note- seriously, they could have ate the plastic and then we'd be out $2000 for a blockage. Better a $3 sausage then a $2000 surgery! Better yet- no sausage thieving AND no surgery!)
