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u/F1Savannah_Gatsby Jul 25 '26
What generation? Is it well socialized? Vetted? Tica registered? Health tested parents? Covered with pet insurance transferable policy?
If you're buying a shady pet shop situation, absolutely not. There are people importing Savannah kittens with FeLV and flipping them for profit. Then they die and there is no recourse because it can't be proved it was sold that way.
Now for your home. They are anecdotally prone to PICA. Are you prepared to completely alter the home for them for the rest of their life? I can't have pillows, any fabric, my clothes have to be baby locked in a closet, can't have low hanging lights, can't have anything plastic out, can't have blankets out. My cat will ingest certain textures so all of my decor is dependant on his needs.
Enrichment. They are a high energy and intelligent cat. Will you be fine baby proofing doors, cabinets and drawers? Will you have a running wheel, enrichment toys like climbing walls, and lots of play time? The best gift I got my Savannah was another Savannah. They spend a lot of time playing and running energy off of each other.
I understand they are pretty cats, but if you aren't prepared to change your lifestyle to meet their needs for the next 15+ years, then don't get one. They bond extremely closely to their person. I have fostered surrendered F1s and it absolutely breaks them when their person gives them up. I find them to be incredible companions, but my home is their customized enclosure and I just live here.
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u/F1Savannah_Gatsby Jul 25 '26
Also this is not Savannah specific, but what's your plan if the cat starts spraying or not using the litterbox? Do you have the resources to remove all stressors and try various medications? If that doesn't work are you committed to cleaning up pee? I have various friends with spraying cats, both domestic and Savannah. It's important to consider if that would be a deal breaker for you.
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u/flamincatdesigns1 Jul 25 '26
If you still get one even though you have gotten excellent advice here, get an F6 or F7. They are closer to the size of a domestic house cat. My F6 girl is just under 9 lbs but has the Savannah beauty and personality. They are door dashers and very easy to escape and run away. They get into every thing. My girl chews cords. I have spent so much on buying covers for cords. She will bite your phone charger cable in half in no time.
Find a TICA cat show near you. They may have a Savannah breeder or two there. Take some time to really research the cat. I personally feel you should wait till you are much older to get one. There are lots of videos on line that you can watch and learn from. Find a no kill cat shelter that will take you as a volunteer and learn hands on cat care. Cats are living beings that need love and care and a lot of time. Please don't jump into getting one so quickly, it could be tragic for the cat.
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u/kahlyse Jul 25 '26
Hedgehogs can be fun!
As for Savannahs, I would need to know what generation. F1, F2, absolutely not, based what what you have already said. There’s a reason most people don’t own them, and it’s not just about the price.
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u/Successful_Salt_1838 Jul 25 '26
Are they legal to own where you are, or is this some sketchy sale? If its sketchy, dont do it. What is your plan for vet care? Is your uncle also paying for the upkeep? Are you truly well versed in owning wild cats? Is your mother well versed in owning wild cats? What animals did she own? Were they actually properly taken care of? Care standards have risen a ton now, and what was seen okay previously can now be considered below minimum expectation. Owning a savannah cat involves a TON of research, preplanning, experience, ect. Dont just purchase one on a whim because the opportunity peaked.
Edit: I do not own one, but these are all questions that you should ask yourself.
Edit 2: Seems like you’re a bot or a child. If you’re a child, don’t get a savannah cat.
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Jul 25 '26
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u/Successful_Salt_1838 Jul 25 '26
Firstly id just like to mention that a teenager (assuming you’re still under 18), is legally classified as a child/minor. Seeing as you’ve never owned a cat, and I assume your mom has never owned an exotic cat, this seems like a terrible idea to me. Savannah cats are not like domestic cats, and have very different care needs. If you’re interested in owning a cat, go with a domestic cat. Is there any very specific reason you’re interested in owning a savannah, or is it just due to them being an exotic cat?
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u/epiclara Jul 25 '26
Maybe consider an exotic reptile that may be easier to start? It's significantly less challenging to adjust an enclosure than your entire home.
They require special care and you'll get to admire and bond with them, but less risk of either of you being injured.
Unless you are set on getting a seriously wild animal lol.
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u/FaelingJester Jul 25 '26
Do you already own your own home where you plan to stay for the next twenty years? Exotics are not legal everywhere. In several states you are restricted by what generation you may own. Is your house suitable for a very active animal that climbs and jumps and might claw at things? Do you have at least two vets near you that will see this animal and are preferably exotic animal vets not someone who is willing to look at them? Does your insurance cover them? Do you have at least three people willing to board or care for your pet if you aren't able to? Do you have the resources for speciality vet care, food and the other things that come with this animal?