The Beautiful Bengal Temperament

Bengals are, in my opinion, even friendlier than most other cats. Because of the Bengals' wild heritage, special attention has been paid to temperament. So only the friendliest, most predictable and stable specimens are paired, hence improving any short comings with every generation.

Most kittens are subject to being scooped up by children at first sight... Which is not really the best way to introduce each other! Children should be taught to make special time for spending with kitty. Taking things slowly is a better route for introduction. Sit quietly on the floor and let kitty come to the child the first few times. Sometimes young children get excited and forget that the kitty is already nervous about being in a new place! First impressions are the most lasting ones! Try to make your child's AND your Bengal's first one a good one!

The best thing to do is...

Before you bring kitty home, have a small, quiet room already prepared with litter/litter box, clean water, and the same kind of food your new kitty had been eating at the cattery.

The best place is usually the bathroom, provided it isn't carpeted. They are small, easily cleaned and secure quarters. If you have other pets, then you should keep your new kitten in this "isolation" room for about 3 weeks. The bathroom is good because it gets a lot of traffic and babies get a lot of hugs!

However, if the kitten is to be an only child, a couple hours in the bathroom with all the necessities should be quiet sufficient. After a couple of hours or so OPEN the bathroom door and leave it ajar for kitty. He will come out often and each time he'll go farther and farther as he finds his way around and back to the food and litter box. If baby starts to meow frantically, put him in the litter box! He has to go! (unless you're in the kitchen making a snack!) These kitties are used to being lugged around.

Once they become your buddy, you'll have a friend for life!

Bengals will:

• eat with you

• sleep with you

• read the paper with you! (well, eat it really)

• help with the dishes

• make dinner (they think)

• they love to watch television.

• They'll even ride in the car with you!

What other companion will go to the potty with you, and even join you in a nice warm bubble bath? They love to help you load the dryer and take meat out of the freezer for dinner.

The Bengal is an energetic breed

They are constantly running and climbing and stalking their prey, (your other pets) and they attack at any opportunity! All in fun, of course!!

They love to wrestle and race up and down the cat pole, chasing each other in and out of boxes, bags, bookcases, computer file cabinets, waste-baskets...sorry. I got carried away there.

They always climb as high as they can see! Why? Because they can! They can jump higher than most cats and make it look effortless. You should see them spring straight up into the air and spin around when something startles them! They are a riot to watch. They're cheap entertainment, and they definitely take your mind off the big things!

By the way...you'd better hide the paper towels and toilet tissue!

Um...One little thing I should probably mention:

Before you operate your appliances, be sure that kitty is not still inside. You know what they say about curiosity!

Which leads us to our next topic. . .Safety:

Child proof your home - Never leave drapery cords dangling. Wind them up into a tied bundle and then loop them over the top of the curtain rod, out of sight. Keep electrical cords out of reach. I nearly learned the hard way once. Frilly bedspreads with looped fringe on the edges should be avoided. Yep, almost lost one that way too!

Never leave the toilet seat up!  While it is a fascinating thing for your cat to use the john, he also will drink from the same bowl. Not recommended, for obvious reasons. Don't leave buckets of water around. Especially if there is a cleansing solution in it!

Be careful with the dishes. Kitties will sometimes climb up on the counters or the sink and the first place they head to is the faucet for a drink of water. Sometimes at the end of the night we don't have the energy to wash the dishes and so they soak. As long as you keep watch that kitty doesn't drink the water or lick sharp knives... Instead, just rinse the dishes out or merely dump them in the sink, then turn them upside down and stack them in the sink like that. As long as no food or liquid is pooled they will leave them alone. Always collect dishes from snacks or treats, unfinished food... Don't invite disaster. Prevention is the key to a happy kitty relationship!

They live up to 23 years sometimes, you know...That's a lot o' catnip!

Be sure to maintain your kitty's medical care with regular check-ups at your local Vet.

Oh, and... Don't let your kitty outside alone if you love him!