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We have been told by a client that they had purchased a comprehensive pet health plan for a kitten they previously owned. The kitten was supposed to be taken in for vaccinations, deworming etc. which the kitten's owner did faithfully. The client was not informed at the time they purchased the health plan, nor at any time during the kitten being given follow-up healthcare that the kitten had been given the vaccination for FIP. The administering of this vaccine resulted in tragic consequences. Please use caution when signing up for comprehensive pet health plans. Be sure and find out exactly what vaccines, treatments, medications are being administered, and find out what the side effects are.

Bengal Kitten Care Guide

Spaying/Neutering:

Did you know that both male and female cats have the ability to spray? Best solution is to be sure and alter your pet prior to sexual maturity. Going by WEIGHT is a more accurate way to determine if your kitten is ready to be spayed. Our veterinarian recommends surgery at a weight not less than 4 pounds. Many vets are now running various tests prior to this surgery. Be sure that you have asked your vet for a complete pricing, and test relevancy before dropping off your pet!

Items you will need for your new cat or kittens arrival:
Food - We try to avoid any pet food products that include corn, wheat or soy. We feed our cats and kittens a 50/50 ratio of Exclusive® brand cat/kitten kibble, mixed with Evo® Grain free cat/kitten dry kibble as well as treating them to Chicken Soup Kitten and Eagle Pack Holistic Select® canned cat foods. While we still include Chicken Soup® brand kibble and canned in our group of quality, wholesome foods, CS is very like Exclusive, though Exclusive is somewhat easier to locate. Evo is a new addition here at Sovranty, and we are incorporating it as a result of recent studies indicating that the cat/kitten requires higher levels of meat protein in their diets than past studies have shown. If you are wanting to feed something different, please introduce it gradually over a period of three weeks. We do not feed "high heat" cooked meats, grilled (charcoaled) meats, smoked meats, raw pork or raw chicken meats. For an occasional treat, we feed small amounts of salmon (not smoked), or high quality, slow cooked rare beef (steak or roast), as well as some fruits and vegetables (again, TINY amounts). But do remember, anything other than a very small amount can throw your cat or kitten's digestive function off kilter!

Water - We water our Bengals with only distilled or boiled water. Check out some of the government findings on giardia and cryptosporidia and you will see why! We see that Pur now has a filter they advertised as "filters Giardia and Cryptosporidium". We have not data to recommend this or not, but it is worth checking into!

Feeding Dishes - Non-porous dishes that are not easily turned over. Run dishes through the dishwasher at least once per week.

Litter Tray - There are various kinds of litter trays available now a days. I would recommend one with a hood and if your Bengal Cat/Bengal Kitten will use it one with a door (like a cat flap). These stop the litter being thrown all over the floor. We use regular clay litter at Sovranty and litter boxes are cleaned morning and evening. It is also worthwhile noting that most Bengals do not like to have their litter trays moved about! Pick a spot that is good for you and leave it. Note that a new kitten or cat may need to have it's litter tray in a room that you are in so that he or she may bond with you, and also not have to search a new home for it's bathroom! Plain clay litter tracks the least outside of the box. Fine, sand-like clumping litter should not be used for young kittens.

Micro Chipping - It is fairly cost effective to have your cat or kitten micro chipped. Inquire of your vet.

Scratching Pad - This is MANDATORY for a Bengal! Especially as declawing a Sovranty Bengal is prohibited. We have many scratching pads lying about and have no trouble at all with our furniture. Remember, baby Bengals need to be supervised and taught, just as any other baby does! We use the sisal rope type scratch pads/posts. The cardboard ones tear up very fast, and there is a chance the kitten or cat could ingest the bits and pieces.

Toys - Bengal Kittens love to play and can spend hours chasing their toys about. Many of our Bengals will fetch, or carry about a "baby" and mewl and "talk" to it, or bring it to us to "exclaim over". Like small children, the Bengals will get tired of certain toys, so have a toy box, exchange the toys every month or so. The Bengals will think they have brand new toys after not seeing old ones for a month! Be sure and purchase plenty of small balls. Crinkle bags, tunnels etc. are also a lot of fun. Avoid purchasing toys that can fray, have strings attached, or feathers. The kitten could ingest these bits and pieces, possibly leading to intestinal blockage.

Cat Carrier - You will need to purchase one of these to bring your new cat or kitten home, and also for trips to the vet to get vaccinations. They are also handy on vacations.

Harness/Leash - Many Bengals are willing to take walks with harness and leash on (we do not recommend neck collars). They are quite easy to teach to do this, patience and reward is the key! (Our oldest daughter shown at left with her Bengal Cat "Lizzie") Sovranty Bengal cats or kittens are placed strictly as an indoor pet. Outside time should be on a harness/leash or in a contained area.

Going Home

Sovranty Bengals are allowed to go to their new home between 10 and 12 weeks. This allows time for their vaccinations to be working properly, eating regular kitten kibble, litter box usage etc. before being introduced into a new environment. Please insure that you are going to be home and able to spend time bonding with your new cat or kitten. Remember that he or she is going to be adjusting, they have just left everything that is familiar! Don't forget to keep your new kitten or cat away from your other pets until he or she can adjust. Give your Bengal time to feel safe and comforted with you, then start introducing new elements. Relocation to their new home is a form of stress to a kitten. Being warm and comfortable will reduce the effects of this stress so try to keep auto and home temperatures (at least when the kitten is present) between 76-78 degrees.

New! Upon Arriving Home:

It is important to remember that by the time you receive your kitten, he or she, is still very much a baby (note that taking a photo with the kitten in the forefront always makes the kitten look larger than in real life). Your kitten is still growing, learning, maturing etc. Your kitten will not know what to do in situations he or she has not been presented with before. Traveling, whether by auto or airline, and going into a new home, are both huge changes for a kitten. It takes time for the kitten to adapt and to "learn the routine". Their minds and emotions will be very busy processing all of this new information. During this time, it is best to make as few changes as possible. Designate a room for your kitten that is warm, dry, not too large, and contains everything your kitten needs...food, water, litter pan, bed, scratching pad, toys. This is the kitten's "safe" zone. The place where he or she can go to for rest, and downtime, and not be "on the job" learning all the new things there will be to learn in your home. If you bring the kitten out with you into other parts of the house, remember that your kitten is a baby. He or she is not going to remember where the litter box, food etc. is located. So after a reasonable amount of play or interactive time, take your kitten back to their room to check and see if they need to potty, eat, rest etc. Many kittens are over-stimulated the first week or two in their new home. This is normal, but they will need to have you restrict their schedule and enforce "nap time" so that the kitten does not over do things, and stress their immune system further. An over-stimulated kitten has a difficult time settling into a routine or schedule. Changing foods is only desireable when the kitten is allergic to the food he or she is currently eating. Consuming treats or any foods that the kittens young digestive system is not accustomed to will also result in diarrhea. Many people feel guilty leaving their kitten alone while they go to work. They shouldn't, because of the kitten growing, playing, learning, they expend a lot of energy. They, like other mammal babies, therefore spend much of their time sleeping. Contrary to common belief, this will not make the kitten "stay up all night", as the time spent with you when you get home is plenty of time for adequate stimulation, play and learning for the kitten to be ready to go to bed when you are. Cats are nocturnal by nature, but adapt quite well to constructive schedules, and in fact, do much better with schedules than without.

Prior to releasing a kitten to his or her new family, all Sovranty kittens are eating kitten food with enthusiasm (rather than wanting to nurse Mom), drinking water, using the litter pan (we actually test this). When we can see that the kittens are completely familiar with the litter pans in their own bedroom, we start letting them run about the house with supervision. It takes a little while for the kitten to create the memory path needed for them to be able to "relocate" the litter box, but they do. Bengals do not like to potty inappropriately-many of them appear embarrassed when this happens. Often, we can tell that a kitten is confused, and has lost his/her internal "road map" as they will start looking around frantically, while emitting a high pitched mew....Upon placing the kitten in the litter pan...relief is evident! We also try to move the kitten's litter pans about (with direct continued supervision) in order to increase their learning skills, memory and comfort levels. Again, this is done with supervision so that accidents do not occur and the outcome (kitten using litter tray) is guaranteed. If you do not have the time to spare for this training, then simply leaving an accessible litter pan in each room the kitten will be in, or "relocating the litter tray along with the kitten" will work just as well. Again, remember that the kitten still needs his or her "quiet room" as this is where they will be that they are not required to learn anything! Most people start out with the master bedroom bath as the kitten's quiet room. Then, when the kitten is obviously comfortable, adapting to new family members, eating, playing, sleeping, the adaptation process will be used with the master bedroom, then the living room and so on. This process works equally well with a new, grown cat that you may be introducing into your home.

Many people believe that cats do everything by instinct. This is not exactly true. Baby kittens learn by being taught, by example and repetition, reinforcement, just like other babies. The Mama cat spends time teaching the kittens, and the breeder spends time teaching the kitten. In the wild, the Mama teaches the babies, and when Mama is gone, the kittens learn by trial and error, many times with bad consequence (there is no breeder around to continue the training).

Again, many people think that bringing a new kitten home and putting him/her down to run in a large, strange house, full of strange objects, unfamiliar animals, people etc. is the kind thing to do. It is not. Kittens are babies and should be given a small, warm, comfortable place of their own to adjust in. From that comfort base, they will explore and adjust to other larger areas, unknown situations, and other pets.

Potential dangers to your Bengal kitten: Staircases with banister railings the kitten can slip through and fall. Open washer and dryers. Refrigerator door (especially the side of the door that is hinged. Kittens can try to slip through the door crack and get their heads caught. Other pets! Though many family dogs may get along with the family (grown) cat, this does not necessarily translate the same to the kitten! ALWAYS be very aware that animal interaction can be unpredictable and tragic. Riding loose in an SUV. Kittens can fit up inside of the dash, and then you have to take the dash off to retrieve the kitten! Fringed blankets, curtains, toys, pillows-Kittens will play with these and sometimes consume the small strings, leading to gastro-intestinal complications.

Grooming - The Bengal needs only minimal brushing or bathing. Their beautiful pelts stay clean and shiny with very little maintenance. If you do bathe your Bengal, be sure and use a neutral Ph shampoo that is very mild. We like to use Oatmeal shampoos.

Parasites - Though your Sovranty Bengal has been treated for parasites including fleas, worms, mites, prior to your taking him or her home, remember to keep up with the appropriate treatments. We use Frontline for the defleaing, and Drontal for deworming. Your vet can explain the advantages and timing to you. Coccidia and Giardia are becoming increasing problems found in the environment. Any of these parasites can cause severe diarrhea in your kitten or cat. These parasites are found to be a frequent cause of IBSl, you should have your pet checked for these along with his/her other routine parasite checks.

Vaccinations - Your Bengal will require updated vaccinations. He or she will have had a least his or her initial vaccination here at Sovranty. We DO NOT vaccinate against FeLV, or FIP and do not recommend these vaccinations for indoor/low risk pets as these vaccines are highly controversial (and, allowing these vaccinations for a Sovranty Bengal kitten would void the health guarantee). We cannot stress enough the high level of risk associated with the FIP vaccine! Do not allow this vaccine to be given to your cat or kitten! Please see links available on our website for more information on this. Note also that many veterinarians and animal medical universities believe that a yearly vaccination has negative impact and are now recommending a once every 3 years protocol for standard vaccinations.

Elements harmful to your Bengal

Small strings from fringed rugs, toys, etc. These may be swallowed and cause severe GI tract problems.

Plants - Many good references on University websites. Enter "poisonous plants" or "toxic plants" to search.

Automobile Antifreeze - Can be appealing to a variety of animals, but is toxic!

Disinfectants - All phenolic based disinfectants (such as Lysol) should be avoided as these are poisonous to cats.

Human Pharmaceuticals - Such as aspirin and paracetamol; note that some Kaopectalin versions have an undesireable ingredient.

Pesticides are obviously risky. Use with great care around your Bengal.

Foods that can cause problems -

Onions, Onion Powder
Corn
Wheat
Soy
Chocolate
Alcoholic Beverages
Yeast Dough
Coffee
Tea
Salt
Tomato Leaves and Stems (Green Parts)
Potato Leaves and Stems (Green Parts)
Rhubarb Leaves
Animal/fish bones

This list is by no means all inclusive, always seek your veterinarian's opinion if in doubt. Also, please feel free to call us if you have any questions! We truly love the Bengal Cat and are always happy to talk about them!

-Sovranty Bengal Cats