I have decided it would be a great idea to post some general questions and answers that I find are very important when thinking of adding a Savannah Kitten to your home. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like. I will post the question and the answer here.

How do I pay for my kitten:
We require a 20% nonrefundable deposit to hold any kitten. Deposits must be received within 5 days of the time you say hold the kitten. Should you decide not to purchase a kitten after you have paid your deposit, we would be happy to apply it to a kitten in the future. Final payments must be paid in full 2 weeks prior to shipping or delivery of the kitten if paying by check. We do not accept credit cards as final payments.

We do accept personal checks, bank checks, money orders and bank wires. Should you need us to hold your kitten longer than 1 week after kitten is ready to ship, (excluding weather delays) we will charge $3.00 a day to cover extra expenses we will have in keeping the kitten. Should it be longer than 1 month, buyer will be responsible for next set of shots and vet work as the kitten gets a shot every 4 weeks until the series is complete.

How do I get my Kitten?
The kittens will be ready when they are 10 weeks old. We don't allow early pick up.
1) We offer shipping on Delta Pets First. The shipping costs are $350.00 which covers all vet costs for health certificates to fly, crate and a pet bed that will go in the crate for comfort in flying.
2) You are welcome to come here to pick up your kitten. We don't allow tours of our cattery but will meet your new kitten in a special kitten play room so you can spend some time with it before leaving.
3) We are willing to drive to meet you. We will charge our gas expenses of course but sometimes it is much easier on the kitten than flying.

UPDATE: I think I NEED to emphasize more the value of following rules when bringing a new savannah kitten home for the first time.

DO NOT bring the savannah kitten home and immediately toss it into the home without the kitten getting to know you and it's surroundings.
DO NOT allow children to carry it around without first getting to know it's surroundings and the children.
DO NOT toss the savannah kitten in with another cat until the kitten feels comfortable.
DO NOT change the savannah kittens food without letting it get to know it's surroundings first and be well adjusted to it. 
Then I suggest a slow change. Even the flavor of the food can change the digestion. I realize your excited about the new savannah kitten, but cats are strange and wonderful animals that can get upset just like us. Most savannah kittens adjust very well, however there are sensitive kittens too that do not adjust well. This can lead to many health issues just because you were a little over excited. So please follow the rules, we are only looking at your savannah kittens best interest and want to make it a fun and rewarding experience of having a new savannah kitten, not a medical nightmare.

Q: How large will my Savannah Get?
A: No one can say the size of any kitten as an adult. Much of it will depend on the care and the genetics. Many times the largest kitten can turn out to be the smallest as an adult simply because they didn't get the proper food growing up. Naturally the males are larger than the females. Keep this in mind when deciding if size is important. Don't let the size be a factor in picking out a new pet. I get asked this question all the time, how much does the kitten weigh. Ok, a savannah is a long legged animal. They are not bred for weight so it is impossible to compare weight. I have seen a cat that weighs 25 pounds and only stands 12 inches tall, then I have seen savannahs that weigh 15 pounds and stand 18 or 19 inches tall. Servals are sleek and tall. Everyone wants a "big cat" you need to figure out what your definition of "big" is. Is it weight? Is it tall? I realize the size is important to many people but as I said we can't promise your definition of "big" When I look at my potential F1 females, there are far more considerations that come into play than "big" The ears are awesome. The spots are wonderful. The eyes are super. The personality is top priority. Will the kitten get along well with people and other pets. Those are truly the points you need to be asking. Not just the size.

Q: Should I have my kitten spayed or neutered if it is going to be a pet?
A: Absolutely! The females will have heat cycles and can become really annoying. Not to mention they can get pyometra if they cycle and do not get spayed. Pyometra is an infection that can kill your pet very quickly if not treated immediately. The males? Well we don't have to say how males can act. Trust me, have the males fixed too :)

Q: Why are many Savannah Breeders so picky about where their kittens are placed?
A: Savannah Cats are a wonderful breed. But they do bond very tightly with their new owners. When they are placed in shelters or re-homed they will not immediately be happy. They can hiss, they can bite if pressured, they can be stressed to the point of getting physically sick. Many people do not understand they do not do this because they are mean or bad cats. They are simply frightened. If a shelter gets a savannah there is a good chance it will be viewed as a vicious cat and we don't need to say what will happen to it.

Q: Should I feed my Savannah Cat a raw meat diet?
A: I do not feed a raw diet. I know what everyone has said about the cats having raw meat in the wild, however this isn't a direct kill in the wild unless your a chicken farmer, of course. This is meat that has gone through a processing plant and exposed to who knows what. It's a matter of choice. I personally will not risk the bacteria. Well, that worked until Story decided she wasn't going to eat until I gave her raw chicken as part of her diet. I have now concluded finding a good chicken farmer is the key...

Q: I am taking my kitten home today, is it ok to bring my friends and family over to see it?
A: NO! Not right away. Give your kitten time to settle down and get to know you first. It's very stressful for them and they can get sick. Relax the kitten will be with you for many years to come so everyone will get a chance to see it.

Q: Why don't you allow visitors to your cattery?
A: If you know anything about Savannahs which I hope you have done your homework and already know this, but Savannahs can not have a vaccine for FELV or FIP. It works in the opposite, instead of protecting them against it, it will actually cause them to get it. FELV is a very common disease. Many cats carry it. If you have visited many catteries or shelters or even a vets office you can pass it to our cats.
Since there are few breeders around our area that breed F1's or F2's people are interested in seeing them. They don't mind risking our cats health just to feed their curiosity. You must realize we have invested thousands and thousands of dollars in our cats and their health to take silly chances like this.
Our kittens are not shown to our own family members until they are at least 8 weeks old and have had their first shots. We just do not run risks when it comes to our cats well being. We have had a couple families say they wouldn't purchase from us if they couldn't visit prior to the purchase and that's ok with us as we feel a decision like this is simply lack of knowledge about the breed and wonder if it would be the right home for the kitten anyway.
We have never visited 1 cattery or felt the need to after talking to the breeder many times. We respect their cats health and well being. We do get to know the breeder by asking them many questions. We do encourage an open communication between us and our new homes long after the kitten leaves here.
We certainly offer references and all documentation pertaining to our kittens and adult cats.

Q: Do the higher generation Savannahs get along well with small children?
A: Savannahs are not like other cats. They can be demanding and they will do what they need to to get what they want. We have all seen pictures of the F1 Savannahs with the small children. As long as you teach your children how to handle them, I don't see an issue. But children sometimes do not understand how demanding a savannah can be and that can cause issues. They tend to play a little rough and many times children can ge scratched, but I think that's true with any cat if the children do not understand.

Q; Do Savannahs really like water?
A; Yes, they do. Don't try the water bottle method for correcting them. I find my cats think it a really cool new game and have a blast with it. Also, forget about a relaxing bath if your Savannah is in the bathroom with you. Unless of course you want a dual bath.

Q; Will my Savannah play fetch and walk on a leash with me?
A; My kittens will be used to wearing a harness before they leave here so they do not freak when you put it on them. I would suggest you practice walking them inside prior to taking them outside. But yes they can walk on leashes with a harness.
A; My kittens seem to pick up playing fetch naturally. Keep in mind they are not like a dog though, dogs tend to be food driven when teaching them. Cats do it because they want to play with you. I have never found using food for much of anything to work with my cats.

Q; Should I declaw my kitten?
A; I have actually blogged about this. NO! I never suggest doing that to an animal. I understand you don't want your furniture destroyed but there are other solutions available. I see no reason to remove them. If it is that important to you, then possibly there might be a better choice of a pet out there for you. So, again. No, I do not want to see that.

Q: What if my Savannah Cat doesn't work out?
A: If for some reason your Savannah kitten or cat doesn't work out, the first call you should make is to your breeder. Many breeders will find suitable homes for older cats and kittens. DO NOT take the cat to the local shelter. Many breeder contracts state you must return the Savannah back to them if it doesn't work out. It's not some secret conspirancy for a breeder to make money, it's truly for the well being of the animal. While it may be your kitten or cat, it started out with us. We were there when it took it's first precious breath and we will always love that savannah kitten, no matter what.

Q: What if my new kitten gets sick?
A: Well, I didn't think I needed to say this, but I will anyway. Take it to the VET! Kittens are funny and can get upset. Usually it only last a day or so but if they stop eating and drinking get them in. Most contracts require a 3 day vet check anyway. So follow through!

Q: What Questions should I ask when finding a vet?
A: First ask if they have any experience with Savannah kittens. Ask if they are willing to work with you, meaning if I say I want this shot and the vet says blah blah blah... RUN! Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Just find someone else. While big cat vets are awesome, don't brush off your typical vet. Big cat vets are big cat vets and don't always understand the savannah either. Just make sure your vet is willing to listen to you. After all, it is your cat and you should be allowed to make the decisions on what is good for your cat. My first vets office was a nightmare. I won't go into that, but I will say I have a whole team of awesome vets now. They were so excited to get the savannahs they started researching them. I know they make the best choices for my cats and I have never had to question them from day 1. That's the vet you want.

Q: Can My Savannah Kitten play with normal cats toys?
A: There are some toys I won't give my kittens. If they are really small I tend to pass them by in the store as they can get them caught in their throat. I leave the string toys alone too. Nothing worse than a cat swallowing strings and getting them caught. But these things are truly common sense, I think. Use your own judgment.

Q: Is it true Savannah Cats bond very close with their families?
A: Absolutely! Yes they do. I have had my savannah hiss and growl at strangers just like my dogs do. I have had cats get very upset if I am not feeding them and spending time with them. I have had cats and kittens wait for me by my door. They follow me around like I am carrying a pot of gold talking the entire time. My boy Henry has me on a schedule, if I miss it he gets upset and you can see he is upset as she hisses at everyone until I am back. He knows when I am not here. He will simply stop eating until I am back. Needless to say I do not take a vacation, EVER! So, yes they do bond very tightly with you. It's truly an amazing bond and it's kind of cool to know your savannah loves you and will always need you :)