Grooming and Introducing Your Savannah Cats

Tips For Introducing Cats

When you decide to add a new cat to your home, it’s typically more exciting for you and your family than it is for the cat you already own. Although most cats are solitary by nature, most will also come to accept or eventually tolerate any additions.

Cats can be very territorial, which is why you should always be careful when you introduce a new cat to your current cat.

If you are introducing kittens to one another, the entire introduction process can be short, lasting as little as 10 - 15 days. Adding cats to each other all depends on their temperament and their personality.

When you introduce a new cat to your current cat, you should always make sure that you give your present cat plenty of love and attention. This way, your cat will feel secure and know that he isn’t in competition with your new cat for affection.

When you bring your new cat home, you should let him stay in a safe room until you have finished introducing the cats. Your safe place can be any small room in your house, such as a bathroom or spare bedroom.

The key here is to use a room that your current cat doesn’t go in. In the place, you should leave your new cat a scratching post, bed, water dish, litter box, and food dish.

At first, your current cat may howl and hiss when he stands at the door, trying to tell the other cat that he doesn’t belong. When this happens, you should ignore it, as punishing your Savannah cat price for his behaviour will only lead to more problems.

After a while, the first cat will start to act calm when he is near the new cat’s door. As he begins to work calm, you should pet him and give him praise.

When your first cat starts to go to your new cat’s door and doesn’t howl or hiss; you can start introducing them to each other. The best way to do this is to get them used to each others scent.

You can start letting them eat out of the same food dish, although you’ll want to feed them at different intervals at first. This way, the scent of each cat will be present at the food dish, and each cat will get the scent when he eats his food.

Once both cats have got used to the scent, you can begin to feed them closer together. To do this, you should keep your new cat in the safe room with the door closed, and your first cat on the other side of the door with his food dish.

This time, feed both cats at the same time. After doing this a few times, they should start eating without any hissing or growling. At this point, they are ready to be introduced to one another.

When you introduce them to each other in the same room, a bit of growling and hissing is to be expected. Although they may be used to each other's scent; your first cat will still feel a bit awkward with your new cat being in his territory.

You should play with them both at first, so they can smell one another and greet in their way. If they start to fight you should break them up, and give them some time apart.

It may take some time to get them entirely used to one another, although once they do - they will become playmates for life. Cats love to be social, although it may be a bit rough at first, especially for your first cat.

Cats can be very territorial, especially if you have a kitten around. If you get both of them used to each other early on - it will be a lot easier to add future cats to your home.

Grooming Your Cat

No cat wants to be dirty, and it’s up to you to ensure that your cat stays clean. Grooming is essential, as it helps your cat remain fresh and healthy. Grooming starts with brushing, as brushing helps to keep the cat's hair from becoming hairballs.

Brushing will remove loose hair, and help prevent the risk of hairballs. A lot of cats have trouble dislodging hairballs. If the cat isn’t able to get a hairball out, it could result in a blockage of the intestines. Blockages are severe, and can quickly become life-threatening for your pet.

Cats that have long hair need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis, while cats with short hair need to be groomed on a weekly basis. When you clean your cat, you should always watch for lumps in the coat and skin irritations.

You should start brushing along the cat’s back, going from his head to his tail. Do this a few times on one side, and then switch to the other. Each area should be brushed a few times in the direction of the way your cat’s hair is growing.

When you brush your cat, you should always avoid touching his face and paws. If a cat doesn’t like to be cleaned, you can still groom him using another tool. The grooming glove is an excellent alternative to the brush, as most cats don’t mind it at all.

Starting out young is the key to grooming, as it will get your cat used to brushing and grooming. Some cats that had started grooming when they were kittens grow to love it, many of which often look forward to their grooming time.

When brushing your cat, make sure that you check his ears, eyes, teeth, and claws. His eyes should be bright and clear with nothing residing in the corners. His ears should be clean, pink in colour, and no sign of ear mites.

Ear mites result from dirt built up in a cat’s ears and can result in the ears shrivelling up and your cat losing his hearing. Ear mites are very annoying for the cat and hard for you as an owner to get rid of. The best way to get rid of them - is to ensure that your cat’s ears stay clean and healthy.

Each time you groom your cat, you should always aim to go a bit further with your examinations. When your cat remains still, you should forever praise him and give him a treat.

If your cat doesn’t cooperate and starts to struggle, you shouldn’t fight with him, but instead, let him go and try the next day. Once your cat gets used to grooming, he will look forward to it every day.