That is one unhappy sounding cat.
A couple of weeks ago on Animal Planet show, My Cat From Hell, with Jackson Galaxy, the problem cat was a Bengal. Jackson got things sorted out for the owners, but they will always have a lot of work with that cat.
Jackson insisted that they take the cat on a walk every day, a long walk. The cat also needs serious play time with a feather toy because he loves to jump and can jump higher then most domestic cats. And he brought them a cat wheel and taught the cat to self exercise on it.
Not the cat for the faint of heart, for sure.
Twenty years ago I had friends that bred Bengals. At the time the breed was trying to get recognized. I remember F1’s were out and out banned from the show ring. F2’s I think were allowed to show…but they were so very hard to handle. I wouldn’t touch a F1 or F2 with a ten foot pole. Three or more generations, yea maybe. No matter what, they are a high energy very vocal cat. Beware.
I confess I don’t understand people who are enamored of purebred or exotic cats. There are SO many cats and kittens and they are all basically the same. The purebred ones have different looks, but personality? A cat is a cat. They all hearken back to Rudyard Kipling: “The Cat Who Walks By Himself.”
Different breeds of dogs I understand because they are for different things (retrievers, herders, etc), but I really don’t get fancy cats.
True.
I would not have the fancy cat if she had not moved in on her own.
[QUOTE=Guin;6100303]
I confess I don’t understand people who are enamored of purebred or exotic cats. There are SO many cats and kittens and they are all basically the same. The purebred ones have different looks, but personality? A cat is a cat. They all hearken back to Rudyard Kipling: “The Cat Who Walks By Himself.”
Different breeds of dogs I understand because they are for different things (retrievers, herders, etc), but I really don’t get fancy cats.[/QUOTE]
I, too, suffer from this sentiment. I suppose there ARE responsible breeders of purebred “fancy” cats, but cats are such prolific breeders in the wild, and go so quickly feral that it seems nonsensical to me for 99.9% of people to own anything but a shelter or rescue cat/kitten.
These are all great comments and I did find out that the owners of the cat are the breeder. They are coming to my brother’s house to see if it is a ‘suitable’ environment for the cat. Because of it’s age, 6 months, they have discounted the price, but I don’t know by how much.
My brother is converting a bedroom in his house to the cat play room and is making carpeted platforms so the cat can jump and play away while he is at work. I’ll have to mention the cat wheel. Maybe feather thingies hanging from the ceiling will be fun for it too.
My brother is single and is really excited about this cat, he can’t wait to take it for walks and teach it fetch like in the YouTube videos he’s been showing us.
I’m thankful that my dogs don’t require a ‘play’ room.
There is a difference in exotics and purebred domesticated cats. Purebred cats are no different than purebred dogs, and really, how many people who have purebred dogs use them for their intended purpose? Not many. Most get them for their looks and temperament, and it’s no different for cats.
I would not have an exotic or exotic hybrid, but I loff my purebred kitties. I have a Siamese and a Balinese (the old fashioned kind; not the modern alien looking ones). And also a rescued stray plain old short hair kitty. I bought the purebreds from a reputable breeder and I got exactly what I paid for. Loveable, laid back, very smart kitties with great temperaments. And I admit, I am a sucker for those little pointed faces. Meanwhile, my rescued DSH is none of those things, but I loff her too, anyway. 
So, yes, rescuing is always good. But buying a purebred cat is no different than buying any other animal.
[QUOTE=Effie1221;6100405]
These are all great comments and I did find out that the owners of the cat are the breeder. They are coming to my brother’s house to see if it is a ‘suitable’ environment for the cat. Because of it’s age, 6 months, they have discounted the price, but I don’t know by how much.
My brother is converting a bedroom in his house to the cat play room and is making carpeted platforms so the cat can jump and play away while he is at work. I’ll have to mention the cat wheel. Maybe feather thingies hanging from the ceiling will be fun for it too.
My brother is single and is really excited about this cat, he can’t wait to take it for walks and teach it fetch like in the YouTube videos he’s been showing us.
I’m thankful that my dogs don’t require a ‘play’ room.[/QUOTE]
What is he going to do if it doesn’t want to walk or fetch? Will he be neutering? Poor kitty…
But unlike dogs pure bred cats still have no other purpose than your run of the mill alley cat. :lol:
Most people do nothing with their dogs, but there are enough people out there that choose dogs for a specific activity to which - oh wonder - the dog was originally selected and bred for.
Anyhow, that is taking things too far off the topic.
To the OP, I wish your brother the best of luck. I hope it turns out alright for him.
I think the exotic cats are gorgeous… for about 30 seconds. Then I remember how unhappy they are, and how much more difficult and aggressive they can be, and I realize that I’m perfectly happy with my 4 DSH rescue cats. They all have diff personailites, and are all special in their own way.
The only purebred cat I would ever buy is a actually a breed reject… i want a scottishfold that didn’t fold! We call them the Scottish un-folds, and they are by far the cutest and sweetest cats’ we have treated. OMG loff them, and would totally have one, when my herd of rescues diminsihes!
Katherine
Vet Tech
[QUOTE=RedMare01;6100485]
There is a difference in exotics and purebred domesticated cats. Purebred cats are no different than purebred dogs, and really, how many people who have purebred dogs use them for their intended purpose? Not many. Most get them for their looks and temperament, and it’s no different for cats.
I would not have an exotic or exotic hybrid, but I loff my purebred kitties. I have a Siamese and a Balinese (the old fashioned kind; not the modern alien looking ones). And also a rescued stray plain old short hair kitty. I bought the purebreds from a reputable breeder and I got exactly what I paid for. Loveable, laid back, very smart kitties with great temperaments. And I admit, I am a sucker for those little pointed faces. Meanwhile, my rescued DSH is none of those things, but I loff her too, anyway.
So, yes, rescuing is always good. But buying a purebred cat is no different than buying any other animal.[/QUOTE]
But what is the purpose of a cat other than to be a companion? Is there anyone that buys a purebred cat for any other reason than to ensure to the best of their ability that they will get a good companion (well-suited to their lifestyle)? Obviously, aside from show (which I suppose I can understand, though the 2 cat shows I’ve attended have been pretty underwhelming)…
I guess you have to be a “cat person”? But Alagirl is right- this is definitely derailing the thread.
I, too, hope the OP’s brother is well-prepared for however this cat turns out. It is my understanding that frequently, the only option for this specific type of hybrid when it isn’t well-suited to a home environment is the type of rescue that is designed specifically to handle undomesticated breeds of larger cats.
I have a pure-bred Scottish un-Fold (as horsegal called it) who I adopted from his breeder as he had been returned to her when his original family could not keep him. I wanted a pure-bred cat for the same reason why people want a purebred dog…predictability in traits.
I was looking at folds and Burmese because both breeds are small-voiced, sweet cuddly, playful cats. I have adopted a cat before who once she settled in after about a month had the loudest voice ever that she used whenever she wanted petting, food, toys, etc. Later we found out she also hated dogs which meant we were not able to own one until after she passed.
Purebred dogs were bred for different purposes but most people get them because they tend to come with certain personality traits and looks.
Oh wow!
I too played the audio portion on that website with the growling cat. My numerous, sweet kitties all jumped up, their eyes grew huge with concern and fear, and several immediately fled for the lower level in the house. Scared is an understatement!
It looks like my brother may get the cat this weekend if the weather is good. The owners/breeders are driving in from another state to deliver it. He’s been sending photos of his house and work on the play room.
My brother is real excited and needs a companion that will get him moving. He is a quiet guy so maybe walking this cat around the neighborhood and parks will open some doors for him socially.
Or maybe drive him crazy…all I know is he is really excited and wants the rest of the family to welcome this cat like we would any other fur-baby. He is in another state and we my go visit him over the summer (but stay in a hotel).
He acts like he will bring the cat home for Christmas but that is a long way off and a lot can happen between now and then. I have to admit, Savannah cats are beautiful.
My good friend has a Savannah cat and she is just a cat! Typical cat behavior. she is a little more dog-ish in her play, i.e. will fetch a toy and walk on a leash, but otherwise just a cat. Friend lives on a farm and we rescued a 4 week old feral kitten in the barn. Savannah cat growled and hissed and at first would not come in the same part of the house as the kitten. And if we had handled the kitten she would smell our hands and growl and walk off. After a month they are best friends. My friend had another Savannah, a huge ocelot-looking male, who she said was a total lovebug. He got sick and died last year. I’ve never known this cat (Kiki) to be sick. She is very domestic-acting, and she is really lovely to look at with huge turquoise eyes.
I am NOT a cat person though and cannot imagine anyone paying thousands of dollars for one when the shelter is full of just-as-pretty and really needy adoptees.
To me it sounds like the OP’s brother should get a dog since he wants to go for hikes and walks! I’m really not wrapping my head around this wild cat obsession. 
Good luck, OP, to you and your brother!
[QUOTE=Effie1221;6100405]
These are all great comments and I did find out that the owners of the cat are the breeder. They are coming to my brother’s house to see if it is a ‘suitable’ environment for the cat. Because of it’s age, 6 months, they have discounted the price, but I don’t know by how much.
My brother is converting a bedroom in his house to the cat play room and is making carpeted platforms so the cat can jump and play away while he is at work. I’ll have to mention the cat wheel. Maybe feather thingies hanging from the ceiling will be fun for it too.
My brother is single and is really excited about this cat, he can’t wait to take it for walks and teach it fetch like in the YouTube videos he’s been showing us.
I’m thankful that my dogs don’t require a ‘play’ room.[/QUOTE]
Uh, that’s not going to be enough if it’s anything like a full-blooded exotic.
Let’s get something straight: this is not a domestic cat. It’s a crossbred exotic/domestic. Exotic cats are NEVER 100% tame or trustworthy, big or small. A crossbred is no different from owning a wolf hybrid–if you don’t know what you’re doing and remain on top of things, it’s goign to walk all over you. And wolves, at least, are canines and can usually get worked into a heirarchy. Cats, not so much.
Best-case, he will spend all his time trying to keep it exercised and entertained (and PLEASE tell me it’s going right to the vet for gonad removal as if you think domestic cat spray stinks…I loved the ocelots but my god their holding area stank.) Worst-case, he’s going to have a destructive, bored animal with claws and teeth. Definitely do NOT trust one around anything small enough for it to construe as prey.
Geez my friends Savannah must be generations away from its exotic ancestors - I have never seen anything “wild” in her behavior!
Moonriver, thanks for posting. I think you are the only one that has actual experience with a Savannah Cat.
My brother does not like small barking dogs and although he owns a house, it has a small yard so this may be the perfect choice for him. It seems these cats’ energy is in their jumping and playing attributes.
I’m hoping he gets it neutered and I’m hoping the young tom doesn’t already have the habit of spraying furniture!:no:
