Welcoming Home Your Bengal Kitten
Welcoming a new Bengal kitten to your family is going to be a very special day for everyone! To ensure a smooth transition, the new family must prepare for this very important and exciting day! Before your new little leopard arrives in his new forever home, there are some important steps you should follow to make this new adventure a great experience for you and your kitten.
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Step # 1
STEP 1 : BE PREPARED FOR THE BENGAL KITTEN’S ARRIVAL
To allow your new little leopard to adjust, it is best to isolate your new Bengal in a small, calm and stress-free room as soon as he arrives. Make sure you “kitty-proof” the room before bringing your kitten home. In this room, your new little leopard will need the following:
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Water
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Toys
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A secure place to hide (his pet crate or a box with a blanket inside for example. Cats love hiding and comfort!)
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Litterbox (uncovered box (at first) with clumping litter)
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Scratching post
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Make sure the food is ready to serve on arrival.
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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 two days, which is perfectly normal. During this period, there must be no contact between the resident cats and the new kitten. Keeping him in a small room also means avoiding pee or poop outside of the litterbox. If necessary, here are some steps to avoid or solve the litterbox issues: https://educhateur.com/en/errors-urine-outside-litter-box/.
Step #2
STEP 2 : MAKE EVERY MOMENT WITH HIM THE BEST MOMENT OF HIS DAY
As your new little leopard adjusts to his new room, you will also have the opportunity to meet and get to know each other. Your kitten may feel lonely the first few days, so your mission will be to make every moment the best time of his day. Introduce some games that you can play with him, like a feather stick, crinkle ball toss, laser pointer chase, etc. Bengal cats love playing with toys and you. Give your new little leopard lots of love and attention and love. Petting him and making him purr will quickly make him more comfortable and confident in his new home.
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Please do not rush step 2. Respect your new little leopard and let him come to you. This will make the connection between you stronger. Your new Bengal friend will come to you when he is ready. Also, be calm every time you enter his room. If you have young children, make sure they stay calm and respectful at all times. Avoid sudden movements and screams as these types of actions frighten kittens.
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Reaching the bonding step can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Every Bengal is different. Some will take longer to adapt and others will arrive in their new home as if nothing had happened. Make sure your little leopard is completely comfortable with you before taking him out of his room.
Step #3
STEP 3 : EXPLORING THE SURROUNDINGS
Once you and your new little leopard have bonded and built a trusting relationship, you can let him out of his room for a small excursion and visits around his new home. He will likely be skittish at first, so be patient and introduce him one room at a time over a short period of time.
After each discovery, always bring your little leopard back to his small room for about the first week. When he comes out, keep an eye on him to avoid any unwanted behavior. Remember, he is curious…just like a toddler. When you sleep or leave for work, make sure he goes back to his room. This process will take the necessary time to ensure your little leopard is ready for full access to their new home. If your little leopard kitten is comfortable in the home, finds his litterbox and does not hide every time he hears a sound, you’ll know he’s ready to stay outside of his room and enjoy his new loving home.
If you complete step 3 too quickly, there is a good chance that your kitten will miss the litter box.
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Step #4
STEP 4 : MAKING YOUR HOME THE CAT’S HOME
It is important to make your home a safe, fun, and interesting place for your little leopard. Here are some tips to make you both happy:
Scratching Post: Bengal have claws and should NEVER be declawed (please see the critical reasons why declawing should never be used in your Bengal Health section).
Bengals need to scratch for health reasons, so it is important to place a few scratching posts and cat trees around your little leopard’s living space. This will prevent him from scratching your furniture or other unwanted items. All our Bengals have learned how to use a scratching post before leaving our cattery.
Litterbox: Depending on the size of your Bengal’s environment, you might need more than one litter box. If you have a big house, your furry friend might have some issues finding his box. Make sure you place at least 1 litter box on every level of the home and show him where it is located.
*Keep in mind: Do not place the litter boxes 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 litter box. We use uncovered litter boxes with clumping litter.
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, by purchasing a cat exercise wheel.
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Step #5
STEP 5 : INTRODUCING YOUR BENGAL KITTEN TO YOUR OTHER PETS
When it comes to introducing your Bengal cat to other animals, there really isn’t much difference in Bengal than with other domestic cats, except that Bengals actually tend to be a lot more social than their counterparts. With that being said, often it’s a little easier for Bengals to hit it off with other cats and dogs.
THE INTRODUCTION PROCESS
You might be impatient and excited to introduce your new Bengal to your other four-legged family members, but “introductions” will require patience and time. Here are a few steps that can help you ensure a successful meeting:
Step #1:
Make the pets comfortable without seeing each other. This means an isolation period for the new cat, during which it will get used to its new surroundings and human, without meeting the resident cat or dog.
Step #2:
Prepare a bowl of very yummy food or treats for each pet, making sure that they’re hungry at the moment. Open the door ever so slightly so that the pets can see each other without touching. Keep a hand on the door to close it if necessary. A baby gate or screen can also be used. Place one bowl in the new cat’s room first, 1 or 2 meter(s) away from the door, then place the other bowl 1 or 2 meter(s) away on the other side of the door, for the other pet. If you’re not alone, assign one person per dog. The trick here is to remember the saying “when the appetite goes; everything goes.'' If all goes well, then both pets are enjoying their yummy snacks and you are ready for the next step. If either pet snubs the food, move the bowls further away until they are comfortable enough to eat. You can then move the bowls closer to the door. Repeat at least once or twice a day, moving the bowls closer with each success, as long as both pets are eating.
What you’re seeking to achieve here is to create a pleasant association: when your new cat sees the other pet, something good happens (hence why the food or treats must be delicious). Step #2 is over when both pets eat while facing each other through the slightly open door without growling, hissing, or batting.
Step #3:
Once the pets eat in front of each other with minimal stress signals, move the bowls back to the starting point and open the door completely. Allow the pets to roam around the home freely, under supervision, offering plenty of treats whenever they cross paths. This will strengthen the pleasant association with the other pet.
Put the new cat away in its room when monitoring is impossible (during the night or work hours) to avoid issues. As soon as both pets display minimal stress signals when walking around supervised, official unsupervised cohabitation may begin!
Step #6
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 him all the attention, love and affection he needs. Your new companion will bring you countless exceptional moments, joy and love for many years to come.
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Congratulations!