Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q's)

For other information on cat care and cat-related tips, advice and articles, please visit the Cat Care and Tips section of our website.  Thank you!

Is there any special feeding required?

Bengals eat any regular premium quality cat food. They also enjoy a bit of canned food and some raw meat is excellent for their digestion and adds the enzymes missing from a highly processed diet. We feed and sell Royal Canin which is an ultra premium quality meat based food that already has enzymes added, so if you continue to feed Royal Canin, no meat or canned food is necessary.  For complete information about Royal Canin, please click on the link below to visit their site.

Do I have to get them checked out by a vet right away?

All kittens could be vet checked within 72 hours so that you and your vet are happy that the kitten is completely healthy.  It is also a good idea to set up a schedule for any remaining vaccinations, get a health record started and to make an appointment well in advance for spaying or neutering.

How regularly should they visit a vet for shots and general care?

After the boosters and rabies vaccinations are completed, a one a year visit for annual vaccinations and a check up are all that is required.

What items will I need for my new kitty? (litter, food, dish, litter pan etc)

A Royal Canin kitten kit will be supplied with the  kitten, but you should have waiting a new litter box and litter (preferably rabbit or wood pellets, Swheat scoop, etc. for a kitten under four months), food and water dish, scratching post, and a quiet place away from other pets, children and the hustle and bustle of the household. 

What techniques can I try to train my cat?  (leash walking, using a toilet, playing in water etc)

Bengals naturally are drawn to water and seem to be natural retrievers.  Walking on leash and using a toilet can be taught with a little patience and a lot of perseverance.  (Please read the article "Harness Training Your Cat", as well as keep an eye on our Cat Care page for upcoming training articles.)

When my kitten arrives home, how can I help it maintain it's litter training?

Kittens are well established with their litterbox and scratching post when they leave.  If you have the correct kind of scratching post waiting (the sisal kind) and keep the kitten confined to a small area for a few days, you should have not furniture scratching or litterbox problems.  Litterbox problems arise when people allow a small kitten free run of a large house that only has one litter box in an out of the way place...or, where a kitten is expected to use the litterbox of an existing cat.  The kitten can use an out of the way litter box when it is well established in the household and is used to the comings and goings common to that home.  Until then, one litterbox per floor is the rule and one litterbox plus one for each cat in the household.  For the first few days, the kitten should be kept in a bedroom or small room in the home with its food bowls, bed and litterbox, unless someone is watching its every move and then be taken to the litterbox every half hour or so.

Can I let my cat outdoors?  What if I keep him/her on a leash?

No cat should be allowed outdoors without supervision.  It is preferable to keep cats indoors only, but if you want to allow a little excitement in your cats life, a trip outdoors on leash (or in an outdoor enclosure) will be a refreshing change of pace.  Keep in mind that kittens should always be carried over the threshold (never allowed to run out) and that once you start this wonderfully exciting activity, your cat will pester you to take him out when he wants to go.  (Please read the articles "All Cats Should Be Indoor Cats" as well as "Harness Training Your Cat".  Both are found in the Cat Care section of our site.) 

What is involved in showing my cat/kitten?  Can anyone do it?

Ask your breeder if your kitten is eligible for showing.  In some associations, purebred kittens can be entered into the household pet category regardless of colour or faults.  Please visit the TICA or CCA site and go to the section on showing for more information on showing your cat.  Most people find cats shows either completely addictive or completely boring...if you love to talk about your cat then it is most definitely for you.

In the future, I might want to try breeding cats.  Is it hard?  Can anyone get into it?

Breeding cats is not for everyone.  To do it properly takes learning...about genetics, animal husbandry, etc. and takes a lot of time and money.

Whole  male cats must have facilities that they can spray to their hearts content and not ruin your life.  (Please see the "Our Cattery" page for further information about our facilities.)  Many female cats will spray when they are having heat cycles and must also be confined.  Both males and females will "call" incessantly when they become sexually mature if they do not presently have a mate.  Females will sometimes require cesarean sections to deliver kittens and this is a risk to the queens life. These things can be avoided by having your cat spayed or neutered before sexual maturity.  If you are interested in breeding, I am happy to help new breeders, but be aware that there are inconveniences involved.   Breed cats only if you have a passion for it ....the improvement of the breed as a whole must come first.

Should I have my cat declawed?

NO.  Bengals are specifically bred to have large, long feet.  they need these large long feet to support an extra muscular body inherited from the ALC.  To remove a third of their toes and reduce the size of the foot would be like amputating a portion of the toes from a ballerina...putting aside the pain if the procedure you are ruining the form and function of the foot.  I know of several people who had this procedure performed regardless and the cats then tried to leap from one object to another (as Bengals WILL do) and fell and broke a leg or hip.   Bengals are incredibly intelligent and can easily be taught to use a scratching post.  Bengal kittens from our cattery are already trained to use a scratching post when they leave and have never seen a cat use the furniture. (Please read the article "Why You Shouldn't Declaw Your Cat" found on our Cat Care page.)

Why should I spay or neuter my cat?

The best reason to spay or neuter your cat is to keep it alive and healthy.  Following that would be avoiding habits such as urinating around the house, spraying, calling, roaming (they WILL get outside if their hormones are raging enough), the risk of being hit by a car (Bengals have no fear of cars or strange dogs) or stolen, the risks associated with pregnancy and delivery and to avoid conditions such as ovarian cysts, pyometria, etc.  In boys, their is less risk of urinary tract problems in neutered males.  (Please read the article "Cat Spaying and Neutering" found on our Cat Care page for more information.)

Will this cat/kitten get along with kids?  Other animals?

Bengals seem to be drawn to children and think of them as toys.  They don't seem to tire of playing with children and will squirm away when necessary rather than retaliate to over exuberant play.  They also have no fear of dogs and have been known to begin playing quite happily with the family pup within a day or two.  Being a playful but non-aggressive cat, they tend to conform to the household cats as kittens...they do tend to eventually end up being the boss though. :)

What can I do to prepare my home so that my new pet will adjust better?

Kitten proof your home by checking for tempting wires, small spaces such as plumbing holes under the sink, small spaces beside the dryer, etc.  Put away the breakables and don't leave a tub full of water unattended.  Keep the toilet seat lid down if you don't want your kitten playing in it.  Don't coddle your kitten by not running the vacuum or dishwasher or any other activity that is normal to your household.  Don't pick up your kitten every time he meows or you will end up with a very noisy cat.  Bengals are extremely intelligent and if you pick up a new kitten (which will meow for a day or two) every time he cries, then he will quickly associate attention with the noise.  Wait until he is not meowing and then pick him up.  (If you'd like more information regarding cat/kitten care, please visit our Cat Care page of our website.  Thank you!)

Is there any precautions I should take when bringing my new pet home?

Please keep the kitten confined to a small area and follow all written instructions.  They are given to ease the adjustment to your home. Please do not bring your new kitten into your home and immediately put the carrier in the middle of the living room for the dogs and cats to sniff.  This will traumatize your new kitten and he will lose his trust in you.  (For more information regarding how to welcome a new pet to your home, please read the article "Two Cats Can Live as "PURRR...FECTLY as One" found on the Cat Care page of our website.)

This information is for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  It is Copyright of Natureworks (Tracey Semchison) and may not be reproduced without permission for commercial purposes.

Have a question that's not answered here?....please email us at the address below and we will be happy to try to answer it for you.