What to Expect When Expecting a Bengal
What to Bring When Picking Up Your Baby:
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Cat Carrier with small blanket or towel
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Final Payment Balance - Cash
*unless previously paid by certified cheque or email money transfer*
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Bringing Your New Kitten Home:
As part of our contract, if you have other pets, you are required to separate the kitten until it has been health checked by your veterinarian. We highly encourage you start your new kitten in one room of your home. This room should contain food, water, litter, bed, toys and cat-tree (if possible). This makes amenities easy for the kitten to find (avoid accidents!) and settle in quicker. By doing this, you can leave the house and have peace of mind that your kitten will not get lost in your home and not know where their bathroom is!
Slowly introduce your new kitten to the rest of the home. Allow the kitten to walk from its room to other locations of the house, so it can mentally 'map' it out.
Encourage and gain trust with your new kitten by feeding & playing with it, showing affection with pets & talking to it using kind words. If your kitten is hiding or scared/shy don't be discouraged. It can take 2-4 weeks before a kitten is completely comfortable in its new home and with its new family.
Don't leave your kitten to hide all the time! Take time several times a day to find the hiding kitten and scoop him/her up in your arms and pet, talk to, feed, and play with them. They will quickly learn that you are loving and kind, fun to play with, and they will forget to be shy! Keep in mind, kittens are still babies and need some alone time to sleep and recharge their batteries, just like us.
Keep in mind, new kittens will often cry during the ride home and the first week or longer while they get used to their new surroundings. They are calling to see if anyone they know is around, but will settle in and the crying will turn into "chats" to their new family.
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Food:
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If you would like to feed something other then what they are currently eating, slowly introduce the new food by giving them a bit more each day and reducing their previous food. Switching to a different brand of food WILL give the kitten soft stools, so doing it slowly is the best way to transition.
Cats are considered obligate carnivores and do well eating an exclusive meat/organ/bone diet with only a VERY small amount of added fiber.
Check out this information on what it means to be an Obligate Carnivore.
More awesome cat and raw diet info found here!
Litter
We use non-clumping Pine Pellets, found at Canadian tire or other home stores - most pet stores will also carry. Starting with this type of litter will ensure your kitten understands where the new bathroom is. Litter can be changed by slowly adding a different kind over a few weeks. We do not recommend using dusty litter since it very harmful to them.
We use litter boxes without lids. To start your litter box should NOT have a lid, this makes the litter box easy to find and less scary to use. Make sure there is a litter box on each level of your house that the kitten has access to. This will help to minimize accidents. When using pine pellets you only need a very small amount in the litter box, about an inch (just enough to cover the bottom). It will expand as your cat pees in it, the pellets turn to sawdust.
Recommended Toys & Items for Your Bengal
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All Bengals are so different, but below are a few items we highly recommend to keep our kitten happy and healthy.
Cat Trees
Having a cat tree that is at least 3 feet tall with at least one level and a space for the cat to sleep. They will scratch, play, and sleep on them. Cats recognize cat trees as their own 'special place'.
Try to locate it in a place where the family is frequently, but in a lower traffic area (corner of a room vs right beside a busy hallway). As an added bonus, try also putting it near a window where they can sun bathe.
Cat Exercise Wheels
As mentioned Bengals have lots of energy so an exercise wheel is an excellent investment. Using a cat wheel is a great way for the cat to stay in shape and it also provides entertainment throughout the day. Wheels have proved to curb bad behaviours and give you a happier Bengal.
Sometimes you can find used wheels online, or you can order from a company online as well!
Interactive Toys
Balls for fetch, cat teasers, toy mice/other animals, and a cat tunnel are just a few things to have around to keep your kitten/cat entertained. Try rotating the toys in and out, so that they don't get bored of them as easily!
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Here are some great suggestions as well:
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Your Time
Probably the most important item on here! To ensure you bond with your new kitten, try to spend as much time as you can playing, talking, or just being around them. They love your attention and will appreciate your time!
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