Welcoming a new Bengal kitten to your family can be a really exciting moment. But before your new furry friend arrives in thier new home, there are some important things you should know to make this new adventure a great experience for you and your kitten.

 

STEP 1 : BE PREPARED FOR THE BENGAL KITTEN’S ARRIVAL

We always suggest isolating your new Bengal cat in a small, calm and stress-free room as soon as they arrives. Make sure you ‘kitty-proof’ the room before bringing your kitten home. In this room he will need:   water food & toys.

A secure place to hide (his pet crate or a box with a blanket inside for example. (Cats love hiding and comfort!)

Littertray

Scratching post/s

Make sure his food is ready to serve on arrival (raw or dry kibble). We give raw meat meals three/four times a day to most of our kittens. 

You may find many different brands in a pet store near you or online. 

When we feed raw, we mix the  meals with a little bit of water and may sometimes add some wet food (about 20%) to make it all tastier. You can integrate the dry food gradually afterward (if the kitten is on a raw diet only). If you immediately give dry food without transition, there is a good chance that your kitten will develop diarrhea.

 

 

By isolating your kitten in a quiet room, you make sure to reduce stress due to moving or traveling. Give him the opportunity to get used to his new environment, new smells, etc. This acclimatization usually takes a few days. Your new Bengal kitten can meow for the first few days, which is perfectly normal. During this period, there must be no contact between the resident cats/pets and the new kitten. Keeping them in a small room also means avoiding pee or poop outside of the litterbox

 

STEP 2 : MAKE EVERY MOMENT WITH HIM THE BEST MOMENT OF THEIR DAY

 

As your new Bengal cat gets used to their new room, you will also have the opportunity to meet and get to know each other. Your kitten may feel lonely the first days, so your mission will be to make every moment the best time of their day. Introduce some games that you can play with them, like a feather stick, for example. Bengal cats are totally crazy about this particular toy. Give your new Bengal kitten all the attention and love you can give. Petting them and making them purr will quickly make him more comfortable.

 

Please do not rush step 2. Respect your new Bengal kitten and let them come to you. This will make the connection between you stronger. Your new Bengal friend will come to you when they are ready. Also, be calm every time you enter there space. If you have young children, make sure they stay calm and respectful at all times. Avoid as much as possible sudden movements and screams.

 

Reaching the bonding step can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Each kitten or cat is different. Some will take longer to adapt and others will arrive in their new home as if nothing had happened. Make sure your Bengal kitten is completely comfortable with you before taking him out of his room.

 

STEP 3 : EXPLORING THE SURROUNDINGS

Once you have a relationship of trust with your new kitten, you can let them out of the room for a small excursion into the house. They will probably be scared at first, so show them one room at a time over a short period of time.

 

After each discovery, always bring your Bengal back to the small room for the first few days. When they come out, keep an eye on them to avoid any unwanted behavior. When you sleep or leave for work, make sure they goes back to there room as well. This process must take the necessary time. If your Bengal kitten is comfortable in the house, finds the litterbox and does not hide every time they hear a sound, you’ll know their ready to stay outside of there room and enjoy the new loving home.

 

If you complete step 3 too quickly, there is a good chance that your kitten will miss the litterbox.

 

STEP 4 : MAKING YOUR HOME THE CAT’S HOME

It is important to make your home a safe, fun, and interesting place for your Bengal cat. Here are some tips to make you both happy:

 

Scratching Post:  Since all of our Bengal kittens and cats leave our home with their claws, make sure to place a few scratching posts and cat trees around your cat’s living space. This will prevent him from scratching your furniture or other unwanted items. All our Bengals learned to make their claws on a scratching post before leaving. They have had access to them since birth.

 

Littertray: Depending on the size of your Bengal’s environment, you might need more than one littertray. If you have a big house, your furry friend might have some issues finding his tray. Make sure you place at least 1 on every level and show them where each one is.

 

*Keep in mind: Do not place the littertrays in noisy areas such as the laundry room. The kitten or cat might be frightened and may develop undesirable behaviors due to the stress caused by a loud noise when using the littertray. We use covered littertrays with breeders celect. 

 

Cat Exercise Wheel: 

Some Bengal cats will have a lot of energy to spend during the day and sometimes, their regular toys won’t allow them to do so. Keep your precious Bengal cat happy and healthy, purchase their own cat wheel today

 

STEP 5 :  INTRODUCING YOUR NEW BENGAL TO YOUR OTHER PETS

You might be impatient and excited to introduce your new Bengal to your other four-legged family members, but this step will require patience and time.For the first few days or weeks, keep your kitten and cat separated. It's okay if you want to let your older cat sniff your kitten through the carrier before bringing your kitten to her "safe room." But in general, it's best to let them get used to each other's scents and sounds in a safe, controlled environment where they each have their own space.

 

Feed them on opposite sides of a closed door at the same time and see how they react to each other's presence. Once they're calm, use a screen to separate them so they can see each other while they eat. Watch for any signs of stress, like growling, hissing, a puffy tail, body posture close to the ground, or ears held flat.

 

It might also be helpful to "switch rooms" from time to time, so they don't feel too territorial about their spaces. At the very least, switch some bedding around, so they're exposed to each other's scents.

 

Once they're both calmly eating on opposite sides of a screen, you can graduate to giving them short, supervised visits together. If you notice one cat getting stressed about the other, distract the stressed cat with a feather wand toy or a treat.

 

Remember that sometimes, if your kitten pushes a boundary, your older cat might hiss a little or even give a gentle swat.2 Don't be alarmed; it's just a cat's natural way of setting boundaries. Still, you want to pay attention to their interactions to ensure it's a gentle reminder and not a tense encounter that escalates into a fight. Once your cat and kitten get along better, they might even "play fight" from to time.

 

Even if they're getting along fine, give them treats to solidify positive associations. Slowly increase their time together until they're no longer kept separate. Some pet owners might prefer not to leave the adult cat alone with the kitten unsupervised until their kitten is older.

 

STEP 6 : ENJOYING YOUR NEW LIFE COMPANION!

The last step of welcoming a Bengal kitten into your home is probably the most exciting! Now is the time to fully enjoy the beautiful moments with your new furry friend and give them all the attention, love and affection they needs. Your new companion will bring you countless exceptional moments, joy and love for many years to come.