D I E T

• Start by feeding your kitten well. But don't feed it junk food. You want an adult cat that is healthy and well behaved. It may seem hard, but refrain from feeding it human food like chicken or beef until it reaches 4 to 6 months of age. During its youth, this will adjust your kitten to eating from its cat dish, without the impulse of eating from your plates. For my program, I feed my cats dry and wet food (canned). They get wet food no less than once and week, usually 3 times per week.
• NO MILK! Contrary to the thought, cows milk is bad for your kitten/adult. If you feel the need to serve up milk, then see your vet for milk replacement or search out milk in pet isle exclusively for cats. Yes you can find it in grocery stores. I see to it my kittens get some milk in their diet. The reason behind not giving your Bengal milk is that cats in general lack the enzyme needed to break down the lactose sugars in milk. Symptoms are digestive problems such as diarrhea (loose stool).
• No fish! Specifically tuna. Again, you will learn this is not good for cats. It's low in calcium. The injurious nature of fish is that it has too high a phosphorus level and may cause a vitamin E deficiency or yellow-fat disease and/or may increase your Bengals susceptibility to rubber jaw, a form of osteoporosis.
• Keep to the breeders diet for the first week. When you bring home your new addition, you may have you own favorite food to feed your cats, however, an abrupt change in diet can affect your kittens health. Stick to the breeders feeding program for at least 3 to 4 days at the least. Then change to the new food gradually.

  

• Fresh water! Keep it fresh for the same reason you wouldn't want to drink a glass that's been sitting for day.

You may have owned a dog as well as cat. You're dog probably travels well. Start you cat on that same path. Start young, and your cat will not be a scaredy cat. As a breeder I provide your new kitten with those first few car trips and socialization of the 'out of doors'. If you don't want to let you cat out of doors. That is your personal decision. I don't fear allowing my 'pet' Bengals out. I do let kittens play on the grass during the spring and early summer months. If you decide to allow your cats out, you should continue the pattern. Don't force your kitten inside when calling it in. Give it a chance to do so on it's own. The same goes for bathing your Bengal. Bengals love water, but let them learn on their own. Don't fear, soon you will be able to bath your Bengal cat without any worries of claws and hair everywhere.

Like your furniture? Get a cat tree. Buy it or make it. And your cat will provide you with hours of entertainment as well as solace in the knowledge that your good couch is not its scratching post.

H E A L T H   I N F O

You may want to learn more about your Bengals health by reading up on FIP, a deadly non-curable disease that inflicts cats of all breeds. We also would like you to be informed about de-clawing. Why you should not de-claw your cat. Equally important is Spaying/Neutering. Information about when and why to fix your Bengal.