Caring for your exotic little furr-ball....
- For the first day or two, keep your kitten confined in one room separate from any other household pets, this will give all the pets a chance to get used to each other's scent . Be sure that your kitten has access to his/her water, food, and litter box (it is best to keep the litter as far away from the food/water as possible to prevent contamination.)
- You want your kitten to feel safe and secure, with lots of attention and re-assurance that he/she is loved. We suggest that you wait at least one day before inviting people over to see your cute little bundle of exotic furr, so he/she has a chance to acclimate to his/her surroundings, it can be a scary thing leaving its familiar surroundings, it's mommy and all its brother and sisters. Due to the environment change your kitten may be a little cautious at first. Encourage him/her to explore his/her surroundings.
- Bengals are a very social breed and can try to assume the "Alfa" roll no matter the size of their opponent which can cause a bit of upheaval with your already resident animals who may be territorial, so it is always best to stay close and observe while introductions are being made.
- Put your kitten in the litterbox every 15 minutes or so and let him/her walk out of it on its own. That way he/she will learn where the litter box is in relation to the room.
- After the first day you can let your kitten explore the rest of the house, as he/she gains confidence, introduce one new room for inspection at a time, careful not to overwhelm your kitten with too big a space to explore.
- Feeding your cute little bundle of exotic furr. Leave a bowl of dry food and a bowl of water out all the time. Then on a plate or saucer put a few tablespoons of canned food out, 2-3 times a day. Kittens will eat more one day than another, they seem to eat more just before a growth spurt. It is important that you feed your kitten premium cat food his/her health, coat, and activity level will be much better on good food. The kitten will actually eat less food because it is more nutritious. Also, don't change foods suddenly or they will diarrhea. If you have to change the food do it gradually, by adding a little of the new food to the old so your kittens belly can adjust slowly. Cats love fresh water, Pleasd be sure to clean and refill you kittens water dish at least daily. If you don’t wipe it out, it will get slimy on the bottom and you may find your older kitten seeking water in the toilet or sink and refusing the water in the bowl. Your kitten may show a desire or even love for milk but please avoid giving to him/her because milk causes diarrhea in cats.
- It is not uncommon for kittens to sneeze a lot when they are new to a house, the reason for this is they are coming in contact with new allergens than the home they were born in. Your kitten is growing so his/her eating and sleeping habits will vary , one day eating or sleeping tons and the next the opposite, this is normal.
Some things to watch for: 1) If your kitten seems very lethargic for prolonged periods of time while awake and refused to play, that is not normal. 2) If your kitten starts missing multiple meals, along with the lethargic behavior, this is cause for concern. 3) Another sign of sickness is if his/her nose is running and his eyes puffy or crusty, then something is wrong. Take his temperature if you know how, otherwise ask the vet to show you how. Sometimes this is the only clue you have to whether the kitten is sick. At times your kitten may have loose stools. 99% of the time it is something he ate. It could be a food he/she isn’t use to. - Any kind of string is very dangerous to cats. Cats have little barbs on their tongues, which point backwards, and help push everything down their throats. If they start to swallow string, they can’t spit it out again.
- Boarding vs. a pet sitter? Cats don’t adjust to new places as easily as dogs do. If you take your cat regularly to grandmas, or your friend’s house, and he/she is comfortable there, then that is fine. But for the most part, cats are happiest at home so a sitter is the best choice.
- Bengals are not your normal lap cat, laid back, couch potato, sleep all day kind of cat. They are highly active, highly intelligent, and constantly on the move. They need lots of social interaction and are very vocal about it. They will search out high places in your home to climb to. Some bengals are fond of playing in the water, so don't be shocked if he/she joins you in the shower or tub or you find puddles around the water bowl.
- Most bengals are trainable like a dog. They love to be outdoors (in an enclosure or on a leash) to do the favorite feline pastime, bird watching. Bengals are happy and entertaining cats who need lots of attention and human interaction. Bengals do best with a person who spends a lot of time at home and are willing to play, train, walk and interact with them.
- Bengals short coats are easy to groom, by weekly brushing you will encounter minimal shedding. Trim or have their nails trimmed as needed.