Dear Savannah . . .

"Last week I was introduced to this wonderful thing called “catnip”.  My humans sprinkle it in a box for me to roll in, but my favorite is when they stuff some in a sock!  I’ll grab the sock, rabbit punch it with my back feet and rub my face all over it.  I’m a drooling mess by the time I’m done.  Once, I even ate some!  Please tell me, am I a druggie destined for Catnips Anonymous (CA)?" 

Signed,
Feelin’ Good

Dear Feelin’ Good,

"Admittedly, I partake in a little catnip on occasion; however, it tends to make me act silly—not a good look for a matriarch—so I try to restrict myself.  But enjoy all you want.  Catnip is harmless and non-addictive—there are no CA meetings in your future.

There’s actually a chemical compound in catnip called nepetalactone.  It has a special affect on cats—even the big cats.  Interestingly, a reaction (or no reaction) to catnip is inherited.  Some cats can take it or leave it.  That would not be the case for Neko one of our cougar rescues.  If catnip were addictive, Neko would be the founding cougar of Catnips Anonymous.  He puts on quite a show!

By the way, was your photo taken before or after a catnip episode?  Regardless, your look is comically endearing."

Savannah

“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home."- Pam Brown

Dear Savannah . . .

My brother and I were just hanging out the other day, staring at each other between naps.  At one point, my brother yawned and I have to say a not so pleasant odor wafted my way.  Now I understand why that cute calico next door has been ignoring him.  Come to think of it, she keeps her distance from me, too.

Savannah, should we be concerned about our bad breath, and do they make a mouthwash for cats—maybe something cat minty fresh? 

Signed
Tux and Stash

Dear Tux and Stash,

Nothing puts a damper on romance more than tuna breath.  I suppose I should admit that even my breath is sometimes less than minty fresh.  Here’s the deal, all cats exhibit bad breath to a certain extent and it’s completely normal.  But if you consistently have particularly foul breath there could be an underlying problem—and a trip to the doctor would be recommended.

Glad I was able to answer you online instead of face-to-face.  No offense intended!

"Beware of those who dislike cats."  
- Unknown

Dear Savannah . . .

I actually have two questions:  My people seem to get so upset with my occasional gift of mice parts.  Why is that?  And they get frustrated when I reject the same food that I liked yesterday.  How can I let them know what I really want?

Signed,

Moxie, Princess Warrior Kitten

Dear Moxie,

Finding the gall bladder of a mouse on the kitchen floor does seem to put off most humans.  They need to understand that all cats enjoy an occasional rodent, but certain body parts, such as the gall bladder, are simply not palatable to felines.  Humans are the ones with weak stomachs—you know, don’t you, that they actually cook their food?  Crazy!  I would keep bringing the gifts, but try not to leave them where they’ll be stepped on.

Regarding your second question, since the beginning of time, cats have maintained the right to be finicky.  And how many humans do you know that would be willing to eat tuna twice a day, every day, for months on end?  Hold your ground, Princess Warrior Kitten.  Demand variety and quality.

Why?  If you’re fed a high quality diet you’ll stay healthy and save your human money in the long run. Finally, when you’re served a food you like, kick up the purring a notch and throw in a few headbutts and leg rubs—they’ll get the message.  

 

Bon appétit!

Savannah

“There are no ordinary cats”. - Colette

Dear Savannah . . .

My human is frustrated with me.  Occasionally she will find, on her carpet, the ummm . . . how should I say—contents of my stomach, along with some grass.  I suppose it is a rather unpleasant discovery for her—but to me it’s a relief!  Would you please explain to humans that throwing up is not something we take pleasure in—it’s a necessity!

Signed,
Hurly Girl

Dear Hurly Girl,

This is a favorite topic of mine—and so important!  Domestic cats are not the only ones who purposefully “lose their lunch” – big cats do it, too (your person would love cleaning up that mess!).

Humans may wonder why we eat the grass just to turn around and throw it back up.  Call it a sixth sense or just intuition, but we cats know that a little bit of grass goes a long way toward making us feel better. 

We eat grass for a number of reasons:  1) our human hasn’t been brushing us routinely which requires extra grooming on our part—the end result being too much fur in our stomach; 2) a mouse or bird had the misfortune of crossing our path—they are tasty but the fur, bones and feathers tend to bog down our system; and 3) I’ve heard reports from the feline community that eating grass may help relieve a sore throat! 

So, yes, we do eat the grass knowing it will come back up.  My resources say it comes back up is because cats lack the necessary enzymes to break down grass.  Bottom line—eating grass helps to clean out our system and make us feel better; however, when and where it comes back up is beyond our control. 

Heave Ho!

Savannah

"People that don't like cats haven't met the right one yet." 

- Deborah A. Edwards, D.V.M

Dear Savannah . . .

I have a dilemma.  Until recently, I was the only four legged family member in our home. I was top dog—toys, treats, attention—I had it all.  Then “she” came along—a cat!  All she does is purr and make muffins.  My family thinks that is so cute and now she’s getting all the attention!  I can’t purr or make muffins.    How do I get the attention back on me?

Signed, Jealous

Dear Jealous,

Of course you can’t purr or make muffins—that’s a cat thing.  It makes us irresistible (as if we need a reason).  You dogs wag your tail, jump on people or bark when you’re happy. It’s of no surprise to me that “Fluffy” is getting most of the attention—she’s new to the home and face it—cats are cool.  But don’t worry—things will equal out in a few weeks.  In the meantime, you need to play it smart.  That means no growling at the cat, no biting the cat, let the cat sleep on your bed, and it wouldn’t hurt to give the cat a friendly lick when the family is watching.  You never know—you two just might become friends.  And you can’t go wrong having a cat as a friend. By the way, do you have any serval ancestry in your pedigree?  Those are gorgeous ears. 

Good luck,

Savannah

"Which is more beautiful--feline movement or feline stillness?" - Elizabeth Hamilton

Dear Savannah . . .

(Romeo)

"I am a very handsome and loving house cat that was rescued by my Mom.  She and my brother, a very stately black cat, welcomed me with open arms and paws.  Last summer Mom brought us a new brother and he is not very nice!  He likes to jump on me and bite my neck. Even though I scream he doesn’t stop.  And sometimes he wakes us all up at 2 am with his antics—racing and yowling through the house.I know he was not treated nice at his other home, but here he is pampered with toys, treats and soft, warm beds. Please tell me what to do to get Buster to behave and get him off my back!  We just want him to stop biting us and calm down.  No one here will hurt him, even though he follows us around smelling our butts all the time." 

Super Sad in Stayton,
Romeo

(Romeo, Buster & Black)

Dear Romeo, "You know what they say—you can choose your friends, but not your family. Normally I would say Buster’s first display of behavior means he wants to be a “couple” – if you get my meaning.  But since you’re both males, it can’t be that—unless he’s confused.  Regardless, he is showing dominant behavior.  And the yowling and running around the house in the middle of the night could mean he is still trying to settle into his new environment.  He came into your family six months ago—but that’s really not a lot of time to settle down when you’re a cat—especially one that came from a dysfunctional home life. Here are a few suggestions for your mom to try. 1) She should have a spray bottle, full of water, handy at all times.  As soon as Buster jumps on your back, she should spray him in the face.  Trust me—he won’t like that and will back off.  2) An hour or so before you all go to bed, your mom should play with Buster—use feather toys, a  red laser pointer, catnip balls—anything to keep him running.  This may tire him out and he’ll want to sleep through the night.  3) Turn on Animal Planet or get him my favorite video—“March of the Penguins”—he may watch the whole thing and fall asleep.  4) One final option is to try a product called Feliway.  It is a pheromone-based diffuser that can have a calming effect on cats with behavioral problems. Good luck!"  

Savannah

• Note from Savannah’s attorney:  
Savannah is not a licensed veterinarian.  
Her advice should not be taken as a 
replacement for treatment from a 
licensed professional—if needed.

"Every cat is special in its own way."
- Sara Jane Clark

Dear Savannah . . .

"Help!  The other day I had one—just one—accident in the house, and now I might get the boot and be forced to live outside.  Honestly, the only reason it happened was because my litter box wasn’t clean.  Don’t humans know that felines are fastidious when it comes to hygiene? I don’t want to be outside.  Cars speed by our house, dogs run around the neighborhood and I might get fleas.  But what’s really freaking me out is, last week I saw the tabby next door come out from under a bush and he had a baby slug riding on his back.  Just look at my long beautiful hair—I’ll have a whole posse of slugs attached to me!  What should I do?"
Signed, (Please keep me) Slug-less in Seattle

 

Dear Slug-less, "I love living outdoors—but I’m a wildcat.  A domestic cat is always better off living indoors.  Whether you’re in the city or the country, living outside poses all sorts of potential danger:  exposure to other cats with health issues, lawn fertilizer, traffic—even raccoons!  Sure, their little masks are cute and it’s fun to watch them wash their food, but they can also carry rabies! So, I hear you loud and clear, my feline friend.  Hopefully your human will read this and reconsider.  Humans also need to know that a litter box should be cleaned at least twice a day!  And if there is more than one cat in the home, there needs to be at least one litter box per cat.  Now, if any of you other felines out there have had an accident—even though your litter box is pristine, your human needs to take you to the doctor for a checkup right away.  Sometimes “accidents” can indicate a physical problem."

Savannah

“For me, one of the pleasures of cats' company is their devotion to bodily comfort." - Sir Compton Mackenzie

Dear Savannah . . .

"I’m a young, sophisticated city cat in good health, but something odd happened yesterday.  I was enjoying the afternoon sun on the back of my sofa, when a bird landed on the window ledge of my apartment building.  All of a sudden I started emitting these strange sounds and my mouth chattered uncontrollably.  I found this to be embarrassing behavior that would normally be associated with a country cat—you know—the type that eat birds, rodents and such.   Perish the thought!  What’s happening to me?" 

Signed,
Preppy from Portland

Dear Preppy from Portland,

"City cat, huh?  First let me remind you that I live in the country and have, on occasion, eaten a bird or mouse that had the misfortune of entering my space.  Second, I make the same sounds as you when I see a bird—as do all the wildcats—including Kennewick, our biggest cougar.  Perhaps I’ll share your comment with him.  Watch it, Preppy! You’re no better than any of us, but I’ll forgive you this time because you’re young. 
What you experienced was purely normal.  Your inner feline instincts took control of your voice and your body.  It’s nothing to be embarrassed about—although humans do tend to laugh and point at us when it happens.  Interestingly, some humans have a similar reaction when they see a piece of double chocolate cheesecake coming their way.  Watch them—but don’t point and laugh—we’re above that type of behavior."

Savannah

“A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes.”  ~Indian Proverb

Dear Savannah . . .

"I've been told that I look like a little bobcat.  My people say I'm a Pixiebob and I've heard other folks say that I might have wild bobcat DNA - can this be true?  I love living in a house, wagging my tail like a dog when I'm playing, and snuggling with my human so I don't see how I can be half bobcat.  Please help me understand!"

Emma

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Emma,
"So you're a Pixiebob? - I've never met one, you are one  stunning girl, but no matter what people say, you are pure 100% domestic house cat! In order for your breed to be accepted into cat shows the DNA submitted shows that there is nothing wild in your genes. Not to say that you aren't wild at heart! The legend that Pixiebobs have bobcat ancestry is a fun story but its just that - a story.  You should be proud of your unique looks and enjoy the fussing that you get because of how beautiful you are. There are hybrid breeds where people have mated wild cats and domestic cats (primarily Savannahs, Bengals, and Chausies) and I think it's just crazy :( Why mess with Mother Nature? How can anyone improve on something as amazing as a Serval, if I do say so myself! Beside that, the hybrids don't usually do well living in houses with other pets. Plus with so many gorgeous cats in shelters looking for homes why the heck do breeders keep making more kittens? Makes no sense to me.  Anyway, you're NOT a hybrid, you are a beautiful domestic cat, so enjoy your people and your fabulous wild look!"

 
Savannah

 "An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language."  ~ Martin Buber

Dear Savannah . . .

"I’m freaking out.  My family is having me neutered.  What does that mean?  From what I hear on the streets, I’ll be coming home from the doc’s office with less than I had going in.  Tell me the truth—am I going to be less of a tom?  Will my meow change?  How do I deal with this?"
Signed,
Thom — asina?

Dear Thom — asina,

"Calm down.  Your tomhood will still be intact—well, at least in spirit.  You don’t really need those things anyway—they just get you into trouble and you certainly don’t want to contribute to existing overpopulation of cats and kittens!  Not only that, statistics show you’ll be healthier and live longer without your little doodads. My resources say that the procedure is a simple snip, snip and it’s a done deal—you’re home the same day.   

One last comment—the freaked out look has to go.  Remember, cats are always in control of their emotions—seriously, you need to maintain the mystique."

Savannah 

 “By associating with the cat, one only risks becoming richer."
 ~Colette 

 

Dear Savannah . . .

"I know you’re a wildcat (love your spots, by the way), but I’m hoping you can answer a question for this “mild” cat.  I’m a very happy tuxedo living in a wonderful home where I get lots of love and attention.  But I am quite the curious cat and tend to always be on the lookout for the next best toy to play with around the house. Well, a member of my family left a desk drawer open the other day and I hit the mother lode.  I found rubber bands, paper clips, push pins—I even found a button and a golf tee--wheeeee! But I thought I should ask—are these really good toys for me?"

Signed,
Cute and Curious

Dear Cute and Curious,

Fortunately, my wisdom (and significant resources), do extend into the “mild” feline genre.  But I must start out by asking—you have heard the saying about “curiosity and the cat”, haven’t you?  These are not items you should be playing with!  Folks here at the sanctuary are very careful about monitoring our space to make sure there is nothing we can find to hurt ourselves. Anything sharp, or small enough for you to swallow, is dangerous!  Sure a rubber band may seem safe, and some cats love to chew on them—but I’ve heard stories about cats who swallowed the rubber band and had to have surgery because it got caught in their intestines—meowch! If your human leaves any of these things out within your reach (which they shouldn’t do), please ignore them.  Don’t press your luck just because you have nine lives—stick with plastic balls and mice stuffed with catnip for your toys. 

Savannah      

"God made the cat in order that humankind might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger."
- Fernand Mery