4 Ways to Care for a Savannah Cat (2024)

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Co-authored byMelissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Last Updated: January 20, 2022References

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   Consult your vet. Make sure your cat is up-to-date with its vaccinations and shots. Your cat will need rabies vaccinations and perhaps other shots as well. Make sure to check your local regulations as each U.S. state has different laws regarding pet vaccinations. Additionally, take your cat to the vet at least once a year for a routine check up and dental maintenance.

   • Ask your veterinarian about the Savannah cat’s nutritional, grooming, and health needs in order to keep it at its optimal health.
   • In general, this is a healthy breed. However, make sure to purchase your cat from a breeder who can guarantee its health in the form of a written statement.^[1]
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   Brush it once or twice a week. Use a metal comb, and brush in the direction of its hair growth. Make sure to brush its entire body, including its abdomen and chest. Additionally, rubber brushes are great for removing dead hair from shorthaired cats.^[2]

   • As your brush your cat, run your hands over your cat’s fur and feel for lumps, bumps, bald spots, and/or swelling. If you notice any of these signs, then take your cat to the vet since these are common symptoms of a skin infection.

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   See Also

   De Savannah: Een Exotische Kat Met Een Bijzonder Karakter  - Kat.nlSavannah kat: Prijs, karakter en meer over dit bijzondere rasSavannah kat: alles wat je moet weten - PetrebelsFull Guide to Savannah Cats: Traits, Care & Comparison

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   Keep its nails trimmed. Trim its nails every 10 to 14 days. You can either take your cat to a professional groomer or trim its nails yourself. If you choose to trim them yourself, you will need to acclimate your cat to having its nails and paws handled first. Do this by:^[3]

   • Massaging your cat’s toes and paws with your fingers for a three-second maximum. Do not squeeze or pinch its paws if it pulls away. Once your cat is calm, take its paw again and press the pad to extend the nail. Then give your cat a treat for good behavior.
   • Clipping a piece of macaroni near your cat’s ears as you press the pad to extend the nail. Then release your cat’s paw and give it a treat. This will get your cat used to the sound of its nails being clipped.
   • Only clipping the white part of the nails. Do not clip the pink part of the nails, i.e., the quick. This part of the nail contains nerves and blood vessels and it will bleed if it is clipped. Keep a styptic stick or powder nearby in case you accidentally clip the quick.
   • Trimming only one or two nails in one sitting until your cat is comfortable with the process. After trimming one or two nails, make sure to reward your cat with praise and treats.
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   Observe its ears. You should check your cat’s ears once a week. Look for debris and wax, and make sure there are no signs of an infection. Make sure there are no bald spots on the outer ear, and check to see that the inner surface is light pink and clean. Gently fold back your cat’s ear to inspect its ear canal.^[4]

   • Its inner ear should be free of debris and dirt, have minimal earwax, and have a healthy pink color.
   • If you need to clean your cat’s ears, use a damp cloth or cotton ball to wipe away any dirt and debris. Never stick anything into your cat’s ear canal to clean it.
   • If you notice a large amount of wax, swelling, blood, or smell an odor, then take your cat to the vet to see if it has an ear infection.
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   Brush its teeth often. Try to brush its teeth at least three to five times a week. If not, then once a week is fine. Make sure to use specially formulated cat toothpastes and toothbrushes; do not use a human toothpaste or toothbrush. Clean your cat’s teeth at home by:^[5]

   • Touching its gums with a Q-tip or by gently massaging them with your finger. This will help acclimate your cat to getting its teeth brushed. Practice this for one week.
   • Applying a small amount of toothpaste onto your cat's lips. This will help your cat get used to the taste of the toothpaste. Practice this for a week as well.
   • Introducing the toothbrush to your cat. Gently push its lips back and touch the toothbrush to its teeth and gums. Practice this for a few days.
   • Applying toothpaste to the brush. Then gently scrub your cat’s teeth in a downward motion to remove plaque and tartar. Make sure to reward your cat with praise and treats for good behavior.
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   Keep its litter box clean. Check your cat’s litter box once, if not twice, a day for cleanliness. As a rule of thumb, check it in the morning and evening. If you see waste, make sure to remove it immediately. Re-fill the litter box with fresh, clean litter after you have removed the waste.^[6]

   • Try to wash its litter box every 10 to 15 days with hot water and mild soap. Do not use cleaning products that contain ammonia, deodorants or scents (especially lemon).

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   Feed it age-appropriate food. When your cat is a kitten, you will need to feed it kitten food. Make sure to check the food’s label to see if the food you have chosen is age-appropriate. After one year of age, your cat can eat adult cat food.^[7]

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   Choose a high quality, brand name food. Make sure the food you choose is high in protein, since Savannah cats require a high-protein diet. Check the ingredients list for quality. Make sure the first three ingredients are a named meat like chicken, beef, salmon, or veal. If not, then choose a different brand.^[8]

   • You may feed your cat both dry and wet food.
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   Feed your adult cat twice a day. If your cat is a kitten, then you may need to feed it three smaller meals per day. How much food you feed your cat depends on its age, activity level, and health. Therefore, make sure to consult your vet about your cat's diet. Your vet will be able to come up with diet plan that meets your cat's lifestyle needs.

   • For example, if you and your cat are very active, then you may need to feed it more food per day.
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   Provide it with fresh water daily. Dump out and re-fill your cat’s water bowl with fresh water once, if not twice, a day. Additionally, make sure to rinse the bowl and remove any debris and dirt before re-filling it with fresh water.^[9]

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   Place cat trees and perches around the house. Savannah cats love to jump and they can jump very high. Therefore, place two to three trees and perches around the house to provide it with enough vertical space.^[10]

   • Additionally, place scratching posts, like rope posts, around your house to prevent your cat from sharpening its nails on your furniture.

   See Also

   What Is The Savannah Cat?
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   Teach it tricks. Savannah cats are very intelligent. To keep their mind stimulated, try teaching them how to fetch, come, sit, spin, and shake. For the best results, use a clicker to train your cat.^[11]

   • Teach your cat tricks in 10 to 15 minute sessions, and only teach it one trick at a time.
   • When training your cat, use reward-based techniques. Do not train your cat by punishing it for not performing a task correctly.
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   Provide interactive toys. Interactive toys like food puzzles are a great way to keep your cat physically and mentally stimulated. Also provide a variety of toys. However, make sure they are safe and very sturdy since Savannah cats like to chew.^[12]

   • Some great choices for toys are Nylabones or DuPont nylon products, stuffed toys that are designed for heavy chewing, tennis balls, paper bags, cardboard boxes, and crumpled paper.
   • Do not give your cat plastic bags, feathered toys, toys that have cords/strings/ribbons, small foam balls, or soft plush toys that contain small pieces that can be easily chewed off and ingested.
   • Make sure to remove and throw away any damaged toys.

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   Child lock cabinets. If not secured, your Savannah cat can open and get into cabinets. Therefore, make sure to lock and secure cabinets that you do not want your cat getting into; for example, cabinets that contain household cleaning products and other items that can harm your cat.^[13]

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   Secure electrical cords. Savannah cats, especially kittens, love to chew. Prevent your cat from chewing on electrical cords by spraying them with apple-cider vinegar. You may need to re-spray the cords once or twice throughout the week.^[14]

   • Take care not to let the cider run down onto the walls or flooring, as it may stain these items.
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   Do not let it go outside alone. Instead, leash train your cat so you can go outside with it. Besides car and animal dangers, your cat may be in danger of being stolen if left outside alone. Therefore, always have your cat on a leash when you are outside and supervise it at all times.^[15]

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   Remove toxic plants. You may find your cat chewing on your household plants. This is because many Savannah cats regard plants as toys. Therefore, make sure your household plants are non-toxic.^[16]

   • Some common household plants that are known to be toxic to cats are lilies, oleander, azaleas, and African violets, to name a few.
   • Examples of household plants that are safe for cats are bamboo, golden palm, blue echeveria, Christmas cactus, button fern, spice orchid, pony tail palm, and lamb's tail.^[17]

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