Taking Care of Your New Bengal Kitten

Purchasing a Bengal kitten is one of the best things you’ll ever do, but it’s also a big responsibility. Be sure to consider carefully before taking on the challenge that these amazing bundles of joy bring.
Before you buy see the articles at the links below.
Is a Bengal Kitten right for you
Things you should know before getting a Bengal 
Bengal Cat information

Now that you have carefully considered the items above and made the decision to buy a Bengal, We will walk you through the basics of how to take care of that playful, purring bundle of energy.

Bengal kittens are so cute, it’s understandable that Bengal owners wish their kittens could stay kittens forever. This is the critical time when you, as the pet parent, lay the foundation for your cat’s future health and behavior.  It’s also the stage where you have to decide what food to buy, what vet to visit, where to place the food dishes and litter box. The good news is that all of your hard work during these first few months will be rewarded by years of love and enjoyment.

The first months are critical:
Your kitten will arrive from the breeder at approximately 10 to 12 weeks of age. Kittens have very specific developmental needs for the first 10 weeks of their lives in terms of nourishment, warmth, socialization, and socialization. For this reason, most breeders typically wait until their kittens are at least 10 weeks old before they’re put up for Sale. If you, by chance, find yourself in a situation where you need to care for an orphaned kitten under 10 weeks old, consult your vet for special instructions.

Find a Good Vet: This Link May Help
If you don’t have a vet in mind already, ask friends or the breeder that you got the kitten from for recommendations. Local dog walkers and groomers are also a great resource for Vet recommendations.

One of the first things you should do with your new kitten, if not the very first, is take him in for an exam. This trip is almost as important for the owner as it is the kitten, because it not only tests for health issues like birth defects, parasites, and feline leukemia, but it allows you to ask those all important questions including advice on litter box training your kitten. Please note that reputable breeders test all breeding studs and Queens for Genetic defects. See Bengal Buyers Checklist 

Get the Most Out of Your First Vet Visit: See also Bengal Cat Vet Visits

1. Have your vet recommend a type of food, how often to feed, and portion sizes.
2. Discuss kitten-safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
3. Learn about possible signs of illness to watch for during your kitten’s first few months.
4. Discuss how to introduce your kitten to other household pets.
5. Schedule future visits and vaccinations to establish a preventive health plan for your kitten.

Shop for Quality Food:
Feeding a kitten isn’t as easy as grabbing a bag of cat chow at the nearest convenience store. Growing kittens need as much as three times more calories and nutrients than adult cats. That’s why it’s important to find a good quality food designed especially for kittens. There are many in the Bengal community that believe Bengals in particular should be fed a Raw Diet. You will need to weigh you options, consult your Vet and make a decision. A name brand food, formulated for kittens, is the simplest way to ensure that your kitty gets the proper nourishment without supplements. Here at Bengaltime Cattery we feed a mixture of Raw, Canned and Royal Canine Dry Kibble, served separately in the morning and evening.  We leave food out all day for our Breeding Queens and Young Kittens.

Set Up a Feeding Schedule:
To keep up with your kitten’s appetite, you’ll want to establish a daily feeding routine. The best way to ensure that you’re not under or over-feeding your kitten is to consult with you veterinarian about how much and how often to feed. At 3 to 6 months of age, most vets recommend feeding your kitten three times a day. Once he’s reached six months, you can scale it back to twice a day. Keep stocking your pantry with kitten food until your baby reaches adulthood, 9 to 12 months old. In addition, don’t forget to keep his water bowl fresh and filled at all times. But hold the milk. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not nutritionally sufficient for kittens and can give them diarrhea. Your kitten should arrive from the breeder already litter box trained.

Prepare a Room: See Also Bringing your new kitten home
Before you bring your kitten home, it’s best to designate a quiet area where the kitten can feel comfortable and safe. In this base camp, you’ll need to put a few essentials like food and water dishes, a litter box (preferably one with low sides), and some comfortable bedding. Tip: Remember, cats don’t like their food and litter box too close together. So place the food dishes as far away from the litter as possible within the space.

Spend time with your kitten:  See Before your Kitten Arrives and When you get home.
Once your vet has cleared your kitten as free of disease and parasites, it should be placed in a small room with it's litter box and food to settle down and get comfortable with it's new surroundings.  A Bedroom is ideal.  BUT remember that the room you start with will be your kittens go to room for safety for a long time to come. We suggest that you allow your new kitten to acclimate in the safety of this smaller area for two weeks before allowing the full run of the house.  This allows the kitten to bond to you and get comfortable in it's new surroundings.

Now after your kitten is comfortable with you and it's new surroundings, it’s safe to let your kitten explore the rest of the house and other pet roommates. Handling and playing with your kitten at least two or three times a day will help him or her form a strong emotional bond with you. If you have children, monitor their introduction to the new kitten to make sure it’s a positive experience for both the kitten and child.

Get Ready:
We have put together a list of our recommended Bengal products at this link.
Here’s a list of some of the important items you’ll want to have before bringing your kitten home:

1. Quality food, specifically formulated for kittens
2. Collar and ID tags
3. Food bowls, preferably metal or ceramic
4. Litter box and cat litter
5. A comfortable, warm cat bed
6. Cat carrier
7. Scratching post and at least one cat tree.  Bengals like to be above the action.
8. Kitten safe toys, no small pieces that your kitten can swallow
9. Cat brush
10. Cat toothbrush and toothpaste (get him started at a young age) See Bengal Diet and how it effects their teeth

Watch for Early Signs of Illness: See Also Bengal Health
Relocating and being taken from it's mother and litter mates is stressful and young kittens are more susceptible to a number of illnesses, it’s always best to catch a health issue in its early stages. Contact your vet immediately if your kitten displays any of the following symptoms.

1. Lack of appetite
2. Poor weight gain
3. Vomiting
4. Swollen or painful abdomen
5. Lethargy (tiredness)
6. Diarrhea
7. Difficulty breathing
8. Wheezing or coughing
9. Pale gums
10. Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
11. Nasal discharge
12. Inability to pass urine or stool

​We hope you have found this article interesting and informative.

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For more Bengal related content and information or to find your purrfect Bengal kitten or Bengal Related Products, visit us at RegisteredBengals.com

See also, Things you should know before getting a Bengal.

"If it's not a Bengal, It's just a cat"
If you have one, You know it's true...