How to Train a Savannah Cat: 5 Vet-Reviewed Tips & Tricks

As majestic as a wild cat and as friendly as a house cat, the Savannah Cat is unique and intelligent and has been described as having a dog-like personality because of their loyalty and playful energy. They have a wild side, given their serval ancestors, and are more active than other domesticated pets. Owning one of these beauties may lead you to question whether they can be trained and, if so, how toproceedt.

Savannah Cats are trainable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are easy to train. Motivation and intelligence are key factors when training cats, and savannah cats carry those qualities, along with being focused and energetic. These traits make it easier to train than other cats and will require patience and perseverance.

Let’s look at how this intelligent breed can be trained and the best methods for training them.

Before You Start

It is wise to note that training a kitten is a lot easier than training an adult cat. Adult cats can still be trained, so if you are rehoming or rescuing an adult Savannah, they are still trainable, but if you have a choice, kittens are always easier to train.

Savannah Cats are smart, but like most cats, they are also fickle. You may feel like training them issometimes impossibles, but perseverance is essential. Although they can be trained to play fetch like a dog, they were not taught to obey humans, so remember that you are training a cat, and a lot of patience will go a long way.

Before starting, you can test your Savannah’s intelligence by hiding their favorite toy behind your back and observing their reaction. An intelligent Savannah will look for the toy behind your back, whereas other cats can become confused. This is a great exercise to distinguish how easily you will be able to train your Savannah.

Image Credit: Kolomenskaya Kseniya, Shutterstock

Preparing to Train Your Savannah Cat

It is important to be patient and start the training process slowly. You don’t want to irritate or overwhelm your cat.
Keep a training schedule. Felines are creatures of habit and hate change
Train your cat in 15- to 20-minute sessions and, at the same time every day, teach only one trick at a time.
Use reward-based techniques and positive reinforcement, not punishment.
Provide a variety of interactive toys for physical and mental stimulation.
Never leave your Savannah outdoors alone. They are curious and athletic and can jump up to 8 feet high.

How to Train a Savannah Cat

Savannah Cats need lots of play and exercise because of their active and energetic personalities. They also need enough mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored. When Savannahs become bored, they can become destructive.

1. Clicker Training

Clicker training is a great technique because of the mental stimulation it provides for your intelligent Savannah. They respond well to clickers and can stay motivated. Before you begin clicker training, get your Savannah to learn the sound and how to respond by associating treats with the sound.

When you start training, make sure the environment has no distractions; savannahs are curious felines, so they are easily distracted, and you want the best results.
Once your cat has your attention, establish a connection by prompting the clicker sound and giving them a treat.
When the connection is made, hold a target stick close to their face and wait for your cat to sniff it. When they begin sniffing, sound the clicker and reward them with a treat. Repeat this, moving the stick further away until your cat follows.
Now that your feline knows how to follow, it is time to introduce verbal cues. Add the word ‘follow’ along with the treat and repeat the previous step until your voice can replace the clicker sound.

Once your pet is familiar with the clicker sound, you can use it for other tricks.

2. Leash & Harness Training

It may be hard to get your Savannah used to a leash and harness, but this is normal as they naturally don’t like to be restrained.

Introduce a leash and harness by allowing your cat to sniff at it and reward them with a treat. Reward them every time they interact positively with the harness, and this will make it easier to get them into it later.
Let your cat wear the harness for a short amount of time every day, gradually increasing the time each day while rewarding them with a treat each time they wear it.
It helps to play and interact with your cat while wearing the harness, and they will eventually forget they are wearing it and move around like normal.
Associate the harness with going outside, and your cat will eventually grow accustomed to wearing it.
Allow your Savannah to get used to the tension of the leash by walking them inside in different directions until they are accustomed to being

The more you walk your Savannah, the faster they will learn and understand what they can and cannot do.

3. Toilet Training

a-toilet-bowl-in-the-restroom — Image credit: islandworks, Pixabay

Toilet training depends entirely on the personality of your cat. Some like to stick to a litter box, while some can be easily trained to use the toilet. It is best to start training your Savannah when it’s around 6 months old, as you don’t want to risk your kitten drowning in the toilet.

Start by slowly moving your cat’s litter box to the bathroom, close to the toilet, but avoid changing rooms right
Open the lid of the toilet, leaving the seat down so that they can climb up if they want to.
Slowly move the litter box on top of the toilet.
Your Savannah will slowly start getting used to using the toilet instead of the litter box.

This process requires plenty of patience and can take some time, but it can be done! Cat toilet training kits are also available to help make this process easier.

4. Jumping Through a Hoop

A Savannah Cat naturally loves to jump because of their athletic and wild genes. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, which makes them amazing jumpers, so training them to jump is one of the easier tricks to accomplish.

Place a hula hoop on the ground with a treat in the center. This will get your feline used to the hoop.
You will then hold the hoop and treat in your hand and entice them through the hoop with the treat.
Gradually lift the hoop until they jump through it.
Just before they jump through the hoop, say the word “jump”, so they slowly learn verbal cues.
Reward your cat each time it jumps through the hoop.

5. Behavior Training

As much as we admire our cats, they can become frustrating when they do things that we may disapprove of. Your cat may be guilty of one or more of these actions:

Jumping on tables: Using positive reinforcement, you can direct your cat to another area or provide them with their own jungle gym or perch.
Tearing furniture: Naturally, your cat will want to sharpen their claws, so help them do it in a way that is less detrimental to your furniture by providing scratching posts of various textures. Clipping your cats’ nails can also reduce the amount of damage caused by scratching your furniture.
Destroying your belongings: Providing your cat with various toys will keep them entertained and stimulated. Playing with your Savannah will also help them expel energy through exercise.
Eating houseplants: Cats are always curious about houseplants, but some can be toxic, and it’s important to keep them away from your pets. Keep your plants in areas or pots that your cat can’t reach.

Final Thoughts

Savannahs are intelligent feline companions that are easy to train as long as you have the patience and time. Training can be a positive experience for both of you, and it can strengthen your bond with the animal. In time, you can enjoy an outdoor stroll with your furry friend.

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Sources

Featured Image: AJR_photo, Shutterstock

How to Train a Savannah Cat: 5 Vet-Reviewed Tips & Tricks

Before You Start

Preparing to Train Your Savannah Cat