Status / Details
2019, Adopted
Additional Info
About Tempe
This is such a fascinating girl kitty that it is hard to know where to begin talking about her. Well to start with her breeding, in the photos below you can see her little nubbin of a bobtail which is thanks to her Jungle Bob heritage. In most other ways she looks all Savannah. She has the long legs, long neck and the long lean body of a Savannah. Her extra big ears have the Savannah ocelli on their back. Ocelli are a fur pattern on the back side of ears that mimic eyes. They are meant to scare animals behind them. There is a photo below which shows these white patches. In the photo of her climbing down the tree branch look at how her toes splay out like fingers. This girl is built for traction and speed.
There is an intensity to Tempe that immediately grabs your attention. She is a hunter at heart. She goes completely still, intensely still, and then snatches a feather so fast you can hardly see it. She will fight like mad to hold on to that feather. She has grit and skill and speed and it is fascinating to watch her. At the same time it is also wonderful to accept her head bumps and other expressions of affection. She is very loving with humans who she knows and likes. The gift of her sweetness is huge.
Tempe almost died last month. She developed an infection at the site of her spay surgery. The E coli infection in her was so sudden and serious she had septic peritonitis which means among other things that the deadly bacteria got into her blood stream. Her surgeon knew he was losing her as he operated trying to get all the sticky bacteria off her organs. “She definitely saw the white light” (at the end of the tunnel) he said. Not expected to live she surprised them all by recovering quickly and fully. She showed them what a young Savannah girl was made of ! You can see her shaved tummy in some of the photos below.
While in the hospital she was separated from her true love Santos , a 4 year old melanistic (black) Bengal sweetheart. That separation was hard on both of them. Back in her foster home she had to have “cage rest” and wear an E Collar for two weeks while her 6 inch incision healed. She stayed in a huge canvas crate placed in Santos’ room. He lay on top of the mesh of the crate talking to her and giving her companionship during her boring convalescence. We gave her antibiotics which she considerately ate in baby food. She is highly food motivated which makes things easy for her humans. She and gorgeous Santos must go home together. He is a very social and affectionate Bengal who was the breeder’s pet. Tempe is shyer and less trusting since her young life in the cattery was caged and limited in scope. She is a growing girl, learning about the world.
I must admit I am very smitten with this girl. Tempe is a very intelligent and complex cat. She is super curious and with her high energy she will make her own entertainment. Savannah’s are mischief makers. She is also a lithe athlete who has a strong play and prey drive. Her new family needs to be experienced with Bengals or Savannahs. These are not sleep on the sofa Persians. I tell folks Bengals are a life style choice. It is like having children – your life has to flex to accommodate their needs. These cats need space, exercise, companionship, challenging entertainment and a deep bond with their humans.
So Tempe’s family needs to want to arrange their lives around her and Santos’ needs. Generally these cats fit well with active, high energy humans. Sometimes Bengal or Savannah families build their kitties an escape proof outside enclosure with lots of climbing opportunities to let their high energy kitties exercise. Savannahs have the longest legs of any cat breed, they are magnificent jumpers, so think about their space vertically. I don’t know how Tempe would be with dogs other than “in charge”. I would not suggest these active kitties for a family with little children or anyone who is unsteady on their feet. Santos and Tempe are cats who will need patience, compromise and dedication from their new family. For the right family what they give back in companionship and delight is beyond words.
Tempe eats grain free and by-product free wet and dry food and loves raw chicken tenders. These cats need high protein food.
Her foster mom is Harriet in Santa Cruz.
If you are interested in this kitty you can contact Harriet by email at harrietkitty@comcast.net. Please include at least your name, location, the name of this kitty and phone contact info. Harriet will get back to you as soon as she can. It you are seriously interested in this kitty it s a good idea to fill out an adoption application. If you are unable to reach Harriet , email us at Info@purebredsplus.org.
NOTE: We prefer families with children bring them to the adoption appointment. Why? This allows interaction between the children and the cat. This helps ensure they will be a good fit for each other. A mismatch between a child and a cat is not in anyone’s best interest!