Bringing your Bengal Home

Bringing your Bengal home

These are just a few items to consider when bringing your Bengal home.

  • Litter Box: The litter box needs to have enough room to prevent scattering litter around the house.
  • A litter Scoop
  • Litter: Please use the litter the cat is used to and make the transition slowly. You should have a clean litter box ready for when they arrive. If you have multiple floors in your home it is recommended to have one litter box on each floor. It is important to note that humans are prone to get an organism called toxoplasma from cat feces. For this reason, it is recommended to wear gloves while changing your kitten’s litter and always wash your hands afterwards. Pregnant women should avoid changing their litter at all times as this may cause severe birth defects. We recommend that a non-pregnant family member clean and change the litter box.
  • Food and Water Bowls: Try to buy bowls that won't tip over easily. Some are allergic to plastic so it’d be best to buy a stainless steel type of bowl. Get separate bowls as you will need to clean and give fresh food and water. Bengal loves freshwater. If you want to spoil your new Bengal kitten you can buy a water fountain. Make sure that your new kitten knows immediately where the food, water and the litter box is.
  • Bed: Don’t be surprised if your new Bengal kitten does not like their new beds. Don’t spend a lot of money on their bed until you know what they like. You can start by placing some old shirts with your scent and this will provide some comfort and make sure their new bed is always clean. Cats are very particular about where they sleep.
  • Scratching Post: You’d be surprised to know that cats use a scratching post to stretch out to their full length, clean away dead scales from their nails, and mark their territory, both visually and with their scent.
  • Collar, Harness, & Leash: Bengal Cats are some of the few cats that like to be walked. Therefore, you might want to buy a harness or a leash. It is not necessary but it is nice to have it as a training tool.
  • Grooming tools: If you are planning on grooming your cat yourself please invest in nail trimmers meant for cats. DO NOT use human nail trimmers.
  • Toys: Ah! The fun stuff. You will find your new kitten to be very curious and as such why not spoil them with some fun and exciting toys. Consider the following as ideas when shopping for their toys:
    • Table tennis ball
    • A regular cardboard
    • Teaser cat toy
  • Food: We recommend continuing the food used by Pure Bengal and we will provide you with enough food for 2-3 days. You are welcome to contact us for any tips on nutrition. If you decide to change their diet, please do so in small amounts while they are still eating the food Pure Bengal provided you. You do not want to upset their stomachs with a sudden change of diet.
  • Carrier: Let your new kitten come out of the carrier at their own pace. You may use some toys to encourage the kitten to come out.
  • Lay down so that you are at their level and play with them. Sudden movements might scare them and remain calm and relaxed. Animals in general feeds off our energy.

Please note that if you have other animals in your house do not introduce them right away. Give your kitten some room and space. This is a new environment for them and too much too soon can bring some unpleasant surprises. Have your dog smell you to get used to their scent. Once the kitten is comfortable in their space then you can introduce them.

 

Vaccines

DRCC/FVRCP Vaccination

Your new kitten will already have its first round of core vaccinations and deworming medications. Kittens are vaccinated at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks old. This will include a DRCC/FVRCP vaccination against Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia), Rhinotracheitis, and Calicivirus. It helps protect against upper respiratory diseases, herpes, and fatal viruses. It is recommended a single dose every year.

Rabies vaccine cannot be administered until at least 16 weeks of age and it is your responsibility.  

 

If your kitten will be an indoor-pet only then FEL/FIV is usually not necessary.

The Chlamydia vaccine is not recommended for cats at little to no risk of contracting the disease.

FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) is a viral disease that can be fatal. The vaccine creates has not proven to be effective and is recommended to high-risk cats.

Some other vaccines such as Dermatophytosis (ringworm), yellow fever immunization, Bordetella, and the giardia vaccine are not always recommended. Please speak to your veterinarians for further information and confirmation before deciding not to vaccinate your kitten.

 

Spaying & Neutering (Sterilization)

It is part of your contract to have your kitten sterilized by 6 months at the latest and have the vet paperwork of the procedure mailed to Pure Bengals in order to comply with TICA’s standards. Please consult your veterinarians as some vets can do this procedure as early as 4 months. This can also prevent a lot of behaviour problems.

Female cats that are spayed CAN’T get uterine cancers, breast cancer is reduced by 25% and they are less prone to urinary tract infections and hormonal changes.

Male cats that are neutered CAN’T get testicular cancer and they live 40% longer. If not neutered the male cat can become aggressive toward other cats and their desire to wander will be tremendous. They also tend to spray urine on walls, sinks, and other parts of your home and it smells, very bad!