Trimming Your Cats Nails

Nail Trimming Tips

Let’s talk about those claws. Cats are well equipped beings with very sharp claws. The use them for a number of things like climbing, marking their territory, and self-defense. Because their claws become dull after several times of use, it is necessary for them to get regularly sharpened. Since this is a natural instinct, cats will find what they can to polish up their lethal weapons, whether it’s on their designated scratch post or your lovely leather sofa. 

In order to save yourself from those dreadful cat scratches and your favorite drapes from the nauseating rips and snags, it is important to know how to properly trim your cat’s nails. 

Anatomy of the Claw

Cat’s nails naturally retract when they are resting, making it a bit difficult to see their nail. You can gently apply pressure at the bottom of the toe to expose the nail. 

At the base of the nail is a more pink or light red area. This is the quick, make sure you can identify the quick before cutting as this area contains blood vessels as well as nerves. If you happen to cut into the quick on accident it will bleed and be painful for the cat. Make sure you have a clotting agent such as styptic powder to clot the nail, then take a break.

Most domestic cats have five claws on both front paws and 4 on each back paw adding up to 18. However, there are exceptions such as a polydactyl cat. Examine your cat’s paws thoroughly before sitting down for a nail trim. 

Use Proper Tools and Techniques

There are designated trimmers for cats and some people prefer a Dremel drill. However, we like to use human nail trimmers as it is something that is already familiar with, and the cats don’t seem to be as startled when using them versus a drill. Hold the trimmers horizontal when cutting each nail. Cutting vertically seems to be an easier position to cut, however it can splinter the nail and cause what is almost like a hangnail to us. 

Getting a Feel for It

 The best time to start trimming nails in when your cat is a kitten. Kittens are more acceptable to new things and will allow you to mess with their feet more. Touch their feet several times during the day and practice retracting their claws so you and your kitten get more comfortable with it. 

Of course, not everyone will adopt their cats as kittens. In this case, the best time try for a nail trim is when they are worn out and sleepy. Possibly after a meal or a long play session. Find a dim, quiet room with no distractions. Lay them on your lap and gently massage their paws. This will relax them as well as allowing them to become more familiar with you handling their feet.  

Reward Them for Good Behavior

Cats respond very well to positive reinforcement. When attempting to trim their nails it’s always a good idea to have treats on hand. When they allow you to retract their paws, give them a treat. Try one nail at a time, rewarding them after each complete paw. If they start to get squirmy take a break and try again later or another day.  

Work as a Team

 Sometimes it’s not always easy to get the nails trimmed by yourself so you might have a friend accompany you. When doing this you are more apt to make the cat nervous since there are more of you than him. Make small movements and use a soft voice which will help calm him down. Take breaks if necessary as you want to keep this a pleasant experience for you cat.  

Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, you and your cat are not going to be perfect the first time. Allow you both some time and practice, be patient and reward good behavior. Take breaks when necessary and never be aggressive or angry with your cat if they do not stay still. Let them have some space and try again another day. You will be pro’s before you know it!

Until Our Next  Cat Convo

- Amanda

How to Choose the Right Cat for You

5 Questions to Ask

Savannah cats are a cross between domestic cats and wild serval cats. These medium-sized, large-eared African cats are beautiful and intelligent. When bred with domestic cats, they produce animals that boast the best features of both types of cat. They’re highly adept jumpers, displaying incredible athletic ability. They’re also deeply loyal. Some owners even compare them to dogs.

So how can you decide whether a Savannah cat is right for you? And which Savannah cat will fit in best with your family? These five questions can help you make the right choice.

 

What’s your ideal cat personality?

Cats of all breeds are known for their independence, their intelligence, their ability to bond with human caregivers, and their occasional tendency toward mischief. Every Savannah cat is an individual—a unique product of their genes and environment.

You can learn a lot about a cat’s personality by looking at its generation number. Savannah cats are assigned filial generation numbers (F1, F2, F3, etc.) to denote how much wild ancestry the cat has. F1 cats have one fully wild parent. Later generations have less wild blood, and instead have wild grandparents or great-grandparents.

F1-F3 Savannahs behave similarly to their wild ancestors. They tend to be larger, look more distinct from typical domestic cats, and make more demands on their owner’s time. They’re also likely to be a lap cat, and require more time and exercise.

F4 and later generation Savannahs are more similar to domestic cats. They may still have some wild tendencies, but can be significantly more affectionate are easier to socialize and train.
 

 Why do you want a cat?

What do you want to do with your cat? Do you hope to cuddle up on the couch and watch television? If so, then a lower generation Savannah cat might be the best choice. Are you hoping to lead an active lifestyle, and plan to train your cat to participate? Savannahs often enjoy family activities and outings.

Some other questions to consider include:

• Do you have other pets? Small animals may be intimidated by higher generation Savannahs. Higher generation Savannahs may treat birds, rodents, and other caged pets as prey. They may, however, get along well with medium to large-sized dogs.

• Can you keep your cat safe? Savannah cats are acrobats who love to jump. If you live in a high-rise, you’ll need to secure the doors to your porch. People who live on busy streets must be proactive about keeping high-energy cats from roaming.

• Are you more interested in a companion, or in seeing how a cat behaves in the wild? Earlier filial generation Savannahs behave like their wild ancestors. They display dominance hierarchies, hiss or chirp, and hunt for prey. Later generations show more muted instincts, and tend to be more trainable and social  

• Do you have children? How old are they? Young children may play too roughly with Savannah cats, and end up with scratches or even bites. Older children often fare better with cats. No matter how old your children are, you must be prepared to supervise them with your cat, and to teach both the cat and the child how to safely interact with one another.

• Do you have time to socialize your cat? The single most important predictor of any cat’s temperament is early socialization. You’ll need to expose your cat to dogs, children, other animals, and everything else it might encounter in its life during the first few weeks it spends in your home. The earlier the cat’s filial generation, the more socialization it will need.

How much time do you have to spend with your cat?

All Savannah cats need time with their owners, but the amount of time and how you spend that time varies from cat to cat. Some factors to consider include:

• Being physically present: All cats are social animals. They don’t like spending long days alone. So if you work very long days or travel frequently, your cat might be happier with a companion cat. Make sure the two cats get along well, and have been heavily socialized to one another. Leaving two unfamiliar cats unattended is a recipe for fighting. If you’re not interested in another cat, you may need to hire a cat sitter.

• Training time: Earlier generation Savannahs need more extensive training. They respond well to consistency and a dominance hierarchy. This requires you to continually enforce the same rules, and to spend more time on training efforts.

• Playtime: Earlier generation Savannahs need extensive exercise. They like going on walks, roughhousing, high-energy games of fetch, climbing, and chasing. A few minutes of play won’t be enough. More domesticated Savannahs are lower energy, but crave time with their owners. Your cat may follow you around the house, or even try to shower with you. Consider how you spend your time, how much of that time you want to spend with your cat, and whether you can manage a life with an intelligent and needy pet.

How do you want the cat to look?

Higher generation Savannah cats closely resemble wild cats. F3 and later Savannah cats show significant variability in their appearance. You can’t predict how a cat will look—or how large it will be—based solely on its filial generation number. Please take look at our “past kittens” to see some examples of cats that we have previously bred.

If your living situation requires a smaller cat, consider a lower generation cat. Although all cats vary in size, higher generation cats tend to be consistently larger.

Loki (front) is an African Serval Male Kitten

Alex (back) is an F4 Savannah Female

Can you fit a pet in your budget?

Pets are a huge responsibility. From the initial cost of the pet to high-quality food, toys, scratchers, and most importantly great vet care. Making sure you can fit all of these things in your budget long term is something you need to consider before adopting any pet. 

A1 Savannahs is proud of our cats. As the founder of this breed, we know how special each and every one of our cats are. We carefully select the lineage of each cat and love them from the very beginning. They’re family.  We’re committed to finding them loving and supportive forever homes whom we love to keep in touch with. We’re happy to discuss with you whether a Savannah cat is the right choice for your family.

Until our next cat convo

-Amanda

We've Been Busy

Hey all!

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I posted last. I have been working on adding our new products to our webpage! They are pretty cool, and we are super excited about them. I didn't really quite realize all the work and effort that goes into adding all of this but its finally done!!! I am not really a computer whiz, so I am pretty proud that I did most of this on my own! Ha Ha. We have a lot of things up our sleeves that we plan for the future so there is more to come! 

See Our Products

You can click the button to the right to check out all the new stuff. I will explain a little about them, so you can get a good idea of what we have to offer. 

First Off, We Have The Cat Collars

The cat collars are extremely neat as they come with a matching bracelet for you. They feature the breakaway collar and are made with animal friendly vegan leather with gold clasps. They come in a variety of colors and patterns which we will be adding more as soon as we get them in stock. We also have a variety of dog collars if you all are interested just let us know by sending me an email at products@a1savannahs.com. I would be happy to show you what we can get. Also, if and when you buy the collars please send us photos of you and your matching kitty! We would like to have a client photo gallery of our products in use.

Second, We Have The Super-Duper Sturdy Cat Furniture 

Okay, so not to brag or anything but this stuff is really cool. Since our Savannah's are pretty large compared to most cats, it's hard to find shelves that accommodate their size and weight. When I found out about these shelves and hammocks I was instantly in love. Most of them can hold up to 65 pounds or more. They have a multitude of variations and you can choose your own stain and fabric color to match your house. Pretty Snazzy! There are products of all price ranges and the good thing about this furniture is that you can always add-on and make your own design. It is elevated off of the ground, so it can also be a safe space for cats that have dog or kid friends. You can add feeders as well as planter boxes which I think is the coolest thing ever, especially for indoor cats. In a later blog post I will let you all know what plants are safe for your cats to nibble on. 

Third And Final Note

We are planning on adding to this collection of products in the near future. We already have some ideas and things in progress that we can't wait to share with all our cat families!

Let us know how you like our stuff so far or have any questions. We would be more than happy to help!

Until our next cat convo

-Amanda

Growing Kitty Week Nine - Twelve

Almost Time to Bring Kitty Home

Now that we are ending the major developmental stages in a kittens life, it is time to prepare them for their new home. In weeks nine through twelve, we will go through what is necessary for them to leave the nest. 

Livin' It Up

Now the kittens are fully weaned, litter box trained, and look more like adult cats. They won't be having any major growth spurts in the next few weeks but rather filling out and gaining muscle tone. Their baby teeth should all be in place and their eyes should be changing to their permanent color. They are moving their body more similar to an adult which includes a hunting like behavior and pouncing on their fellow litter-mates. Also, they start reacting to certain substances like cat grass and catnip. This is the time you really can interact with them and introduce them to other pets and friends. Cat trees are also recommended at this time because their nails should be at the point of needing cut. This shouldn't be much of an issue as long as you have messed with their paws enough as young kittens. I think the easiest way is to grab a friend and one hold while the other cuts, or since I am alone most of the time when doing this I just sit them in my lap for a mani-pedi. 

Vaccines and Surgery Time

Most say that 10 weeks old is safe for spay and neuter and this is true. However, we like to spay and neuter our kittens at 12 weeks. The reason for this is because when the kittens get taken to the vet we do not want them to think the vet is a bad place. This being said we like to give the rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, blood work, and any other vaccine or testing all done at the same time while they are under anesthesia. When they wake up they will not remember all of the extra things done so it's not so bad. They get a cozy home for the night with a treat and get to come home the next morning. By 12 weeks all of our kittens will have had their FVRCP vaccines, spayed or neutered, first-year rabies vaccination, dewormed, microchipped, and the first month of Revolution for prevention. Between 13 and 14 weeks the kittens should be ready for their new home. We keep them for an additional ten days to see out the healing process of surgery but other than that they are ready to go.

My New Home

When adopting a kitten, it is important to have your home ready for your new baby. Depending on where you are adopting your kitten from you will need to check with your breeder, veterinarian, or local shelter to help prepare for the new kitten. A few things you might ask would be:

• What type of food has my kitten been eating? This is important. If you all of a sudden change the type of food they are eating it can easily upset their bellies and cause loose stool.
• How often is my kitten being fed and what times? Remember the kittens do best on a schedule so for the first few weeks try and gradually adjust them to your lifestyle and what will work best for you long term. 
• What kind of litter is my kitten used to? Make sure that the kittens only use a natural non-clumping litter. 
• Can I have some sort of toy, blanket or towel that my kitten has had to keep my kitten comfortable when coming to its new home? When your kitten arrives at its new home it is going to be much different from what it has been used to. Smell, noises, tastes. It is nice for the kitten to have something that is familiar to it from before so it can help calm their nerves and realize its new home isn't so bad after all. 

These are just some basic things to ask for when adopting a new kitten. We also recommend that you keep the kitten in a small area at first so it doesn't get lost. Keep a litter box, food, and water dish nearby so it isn't scared to use the potty or get something to snack on. It is also important to keep the kitten warm. Being in a new environment can cause the kitten stress. When kittens stress their immune systems can weaken making it easier for them to catch a cold or get sick. Staying warm can help with that and we use small heating pads for all of our kittens. They like it nice and cozy. And most important have fun with your new kitten. Once it gets settled in it will be full of energy and wanting lots of attention! 

I will go into more detail about preparing your home for your new kitten in a later blog post but this gives you a pretty good idea. 

What are some of your favorite kitty toys?

Until Our Next Cat Convo

-Amanda

Growing Kitty Week Six, Seven, and Eight

Happy New Year!

Hello 2018. Just wanted to say Happy New Year to all of our friends, followers and fellow cat lovers! This year we have some awesome things in store that we can't wait to share! Cheers to a New Year!

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Week Six, Seven, and Eight

We are starting to wrap up on the major developmental stages so I am combining these next three weeks together. Many things are still changing but not as in depth as the first few weeks. 

Week Six

In week six the kittens are running, playing, pouncing, and entertaining everyone around including themselves. They are learning how to do things on their own so mom gets a little break. Kittens should be eating four small meals a day and fully trained to use the litter box. Their teeth are coming in nicely and their eye color can start to change this week. Vaccinations are considered safe at six weeks of age but some vets prefer to wait until 8 weeks. We vaccinate at 6, 9, and 12 weeks, that way by the time the kitten is ready for its new home it is fully vaccinated for the first year. 

Week Seven

The Kittens should be completely weaned by this time. They can groom themselves as well as each other which makes their sibling bond stronger. They should be mostly self-sufficient but run to mom and each other for comfort and relaxation. At this time, it is also important to start messing with their paws and ears as well as introducing them to grooming. Running water and using normal household items are good to start at an early age. These noises can be frightening so this will help ease them into the idea of bath time. 

Week Eight

Week eight has a lot going on. This week they should be weighing in around 2 pounds which is said to be safe enough to spay or neuter them. We like to alter the kittens at 12 weeks just because most things can be done at one time which makes it less stressful on the kittens. Their teeth should be aligned where they need to be and are as sharp as ever. Kittens are completely weaned and will start to look more like adult cats. They will not grow nearly as fast as in the prior weeks, but will more or less start to fill out and develop muscle tone from all that horsin' around. Kittens should be kept on a routine just like children, sleeping and eating around the same time every day. Socializing is still very important and if a kitten is unsocial at this age it will be very difficult to get it to come around but it can be done with some time and patience, especially with higher generation savannah's. 

Show us some of your growing kitty pictures!

Until Our Next Cat Convo

- Amanda

Growing Kitty Week Five

Well Hello Week Five

Week five the kittens are becoming more and more dependent. They are starting to eat solid foods and should be mostly litter box trained now. Running and playing with their litter mates is on top of the priority list. 

Mom I Got This

Starting at week five moms will start weaning their kittens. This will be a slow process over a period of several weeks so mom still needs to be around. Kittens should be introduced small amounts of wet food. The food needs to be a high-quality food that mom should already be accustomed to. Make sure it is specified for kittens or all life stages and the ingredients are things you can actually read. It is always best if the first ingredient is meat like turkey or chicken and not a byproduct. With Savannahs, we recommend a high protein food but all cats are obligate carnivores so more protein will never hurt any domestic cat. The kittens will watch and learn from their moms when it comes to eating wet food. They will mock what she does as she is the best teacher.

Spaz-tastic

Kittens are very rambunctious and their balance is much better now. They are running and playing with all of their litter mates and mom even joins in on the fun. They are very curious and are getting into anything and everything. Kittens also are trying everything they can get in their mouths so it is important to have any harmful substances put away. This would include any cleaner or chemical, small objects as well as any clumping litter. Don't forget that the kittens need to have a natural litter that will not upset their bellies if ingested.  

See Me Now

Week five the kittens eye sight is completely developed. They are stabilizing on all four legs and using their tail to balance them out. They can now retract their claws at will so make sure you start playing and massaging their paws so they are used to nail trims. They are about 18-20 ounces now and their premolars are starting to come in making it much easier to chew that new solid food. Socializing the kittens is still very important and should have playtime for at least 2-3 hours per day. 

What type of kitten food do you feed your babies?

Until Our Next Cat Convo

-Amanda

Growing Kitty Week Four

Week Four 

Week four has loads of growth. We are growing in size, our senses are completely developed, and we can walk with our tail up!

All Our Senses

During week four, kitten's senses are said to be completely developed. Their eye sight is now as good as their mothers so they can see the world around them. Bright lights do not tend to bother them as much as they venture around to new places.  They can also hear much better which means they do not get startled as easily and can detect a playful sibling about to pounce. Sense of smell is such an important part of a cat's life and during this week they can smell what's cookin' on the stove... well in our case what's cookin' in the bowl. 

Up Up and Away 

Kittens ears are now fully upright big and tall. They can play and pounce a bit more gracefully now while holding their own tail up! During the fourth week, the kittens are usually weighing in at around a pound but expect a big growth spurt. Their teeth are coming in nicely and will start using them more and more every day.  Momma's are starting to leave their kittens for longer periods of time. They are learning to groom themselves but mom always comes in to add the final touches.  You can also introduce a small bowl of water for them to play in..... I mean drink from. Kittens are very curious at this age, they are busy exploring and working out the details of their surroundings.  

Play with Me

Again, during these weeks, it is extremely important to socialize and interact with the kittens. This is when they learn that this big giant thing, we call humans, is nice and fun not frightening. Laying or sitting on the floor with them is a great way for them to come to you on their terms. It builds their confidence around each other, you, and new fun toys. By the end of the play date you end up being this super awesome kitty jungle gym and the kittens can't get enough!

Have you ever experienced being a kitty jungle gym?

Until Our Next Cat Convo

-Amanda

Growing Kitty Week Three

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Welcome to Week Three

Week three is full of exciting things and a big leap for the kittens. In week three we can hear, smell, walk, play, and potty on our own! 

Potty Time

In week three mom get a little "me" time. Their work with the kittens is becoming easier and easier by the day especially when it comes to potty training. Kittens digestive systems are developed now and this allows them to defecate on their own. Now, mom still helps out when needed especially in the grooming department. Mom shows the babies everything they need to know and that's including bath time. By watching their mom groom herself, and their litter-mates the kittens pick up on this activity which teaches them how to clean and groom themselves. At this time, you should start introducing the kittens to their litter box. You should ALWAYS use a non-clumping, natural litter when they are kittens. Think about it... Since mom is teaching them to clean up after themselves, they know that after being in the potty box they need to clean up, including their paws. Now, if you have a clumping litter + kittens cleaning their paws = clumped litter in their bellies! This is NOT something you want your kitten to go through, it is much easier to get a natural litter like pine pellets or non-clumping clay to keep your kitty happy and healthy. 

Can You Hear Me?

Kittens ears are now standing in the upright position and their ear canals will be completely open. Your kittens are hearing new things for the first time and they may get startled by loud noises since their hearing is yet to be fully developed. Try and keep it down a notch so the kittens feel comfortable in their environment. 

Let's Play

The little fur monsters are now starting to move about and play with their litter-mates. Their movements are still wobbly and aren't completely stable but this will improve throughout the week. This is the time to start socializing. Starting at week three, to week seven, is the most crucial time for socialization. It is recommended that you play with all the kittens for a few hours out of the day to ensure they are getting the most out of that human interaction. The babies LOVE toys so get stocked up and play with them as much as possible. Although kittens still cannot retract their claws, you never want to use your hands to play. They don't stay little forever! This will teach them the bad habit that your hands are toys, and as they grow its not so fun for you anymore. Toys are for playing, hands are for feeding and petting. At week three they can even start to purr so don't be surprised if you hear a little something when settling down after playtime. 

Changing Appearances

Kittens bodies are also changing a bit at this time. If you notice your kittens beginning  to chew on things you may consider some plastic chew toys. Their teeth are coming in and the chewing helps ease the discomfort. You can also tell the gender of the kitten at this time, so if you do not know how to tell GOOGLE it. HAHA just kidding. The males will have what would look more like a colon ( : ) they have a hole instead of a slit and it is farther away from the rectum. Most male kittens will not have visible testicles this young but that doesn't mean they won't. The females will have more of an upside-down colon ( ; ), sorry I can't figure out how to make it upside down but you get the idea. Their vaginal opening is more of a long slit rather than a hole and its much closer to the rectum. But for real... if you can't figure out just google it.

Another thing that changes is their fur, especially in Savannahs. The kittens go through what we call the "Fluffy" Stage. All kittens fur will get fuller and fill in but Savannahs they get really fluffy and their spots are disguised and often have a grayish color on the tips of the fur. We believe they get this trait from the Serval. In the wild, Serval kittens develop much like the domestic cats and at week three they start to roam and play about. Their coat changes to that fluffy grayish color to disguise them from nearby predators while playing outside the den. When the kittens are about six months old their mothers have taught them how to hunt on their own and can protect themselves from nearby danger. During this time, their coat loses the fluff and becomes more pronounced again. Savannahs are very similar in this aspect. 

Do you have any special techniques to help socialize your kitten?

Until Our Next Cat Convo

- Amanda

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