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Caring for your kitten can be an overwhelming experience with innumerable decisions on the right food, water fountain, littering system, and so much more. Our goal is to make this process a little easier by providing information on these topics and to help you prepare for when your Bengal comes home!
Bengals are known as one of the most energetic breeds, and kittens can have three times the energy of an adult cat. Because of this we recommend having two kittens so they can entertain and play with each other. Kittens have highly demanding social needs when they have a friend they are better able to balance these needs. Kittens don’t stay young forever, they grow up into cats, and eventually senior members of the family. Bengals have an average life span of 12-16 years and become very attached to their family. If, for any reason, you are unable to commit the next two decades of your life to care for one (or two) of these amazing cats then the Bengal is not right for you.
Bengals are obligate carnivores. This means they depend on animal protein for the vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids they cannot synthesize themselves. Becoming deficient in any one of these could cause serious health concerns. Kibble and most wet foods contain Carbohydrates and plant matter that cats cannot properly digest and may cause obesity and/or diabetes mellitus.
Visit cat nutrition and obligate carnivores for more information.
Pet Perfect Bengals feeds a prey model raw (PMR) diet with NuVet Feline supplements which fills any nutritional gaps. The PMR diet consists of 80% meat, 10% bones, and 10% organs (made up of at least 5% liver) which replicates what your Bengal would eat in nature. Feeding cats meaty bones or whole prey (Pre-killed) helps with their overall health as chewing on raw bone provides an enriching experience and scrapes the tarter off their teeth.
Cats have many supplementary needs that, if left unfulfilled, could cause serious illness. From our own experience, we know that cats have softer fur and fewer vet visits when using NuVet supplements. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
NuVet Plus® Feline Powder Immune System Builder is the result of eight years of research and development. This nutrient-rich formula is designed to boost your cat’s immune system with natural ingredients while simultaneously fulfilling their vitamin and mineral requirements. Pet Perfect Bengals highly recommends using NuVet supplement throughout the life of your Bengal to combat free radicals, fill nutritional gaps, and assist with graceful aging.
Cats have a low thirst drive but eating Raw or wet food helps keep them hydrated. Dehydration according to Cornell Feline Health Center, “can cause a number of health problems, including decreased circulation leading to multi-organ dysfunction, an inability to control body temperature, cardiac arrhythmias, and neurologic dysfunction, to name a few.” Water fountains are another great tool to encourage hydration as cats instinctively feel safer drinking from running water. This is why many Bengals enjoy drinking from the sink. As well as water fountains make sure to place water bowls throughout your home. These should be placed in active and easily accessible areas.
Porcelain, ceramic, or stainless-steel water fountains and bowls are best, as unfortunately, most plastics contain a chemical called BPA, which is a known carcinogenic. Plastic products that claim to be BPA-free can be just as dangerous by replacing the BPA with an equally toxic substance. Most importantly, plastic will become scratched, and bacteria can grow in those scratches. This may cause health problems in your Bengal cat.
A thorough and regular cleaning of your kittens litter box can go a long way. Cats are clean animals, and they like their surroundings to be neat too. We recommend cleaning the solid waste as soon as possible and sifting the pellets once each day.
Keep in mind that you will need one more litter box then you have cats. For example, one cat should have 2 litter boxes, 3 cats should have four litter boxes and so on.
The quality of the litter also plays a vital role in your Bengal cat’s health.
Some criteria a good litter should fulfill are –
Kiln Dried Pine Pellets we use in our Litter box
Litter we use – This is only used while toilet training because it is flushable and septic safe.
Kitten attract: This can be used to encourage kittens to use their litter box.
Along with the correct cat food, supplement, water containers, and litter, there are other supplies and products you should purchase before bringing your new Bengal kitten or cat home.
We recommend these products:
Toys! there are many great options, here are just a few.
Because of how much energy Bengals have, an exercise wheel is an excellent investment and can help your cat be more emotionally and physically content. It is a great way for them to stay in shape and provides entertainment throughout the day. Having a cat wheel in your home is the most convenient and dependable way to offer your cat a method to regulate its own energy needs and curb bad behaviors, this will give you a happier Bengal.
There are 2 main cat wheels on the market: One Fast Cat and ZiggyDoo
Our recommendation is ZiggyDoo. The base seems to be constructed better and it’s wider so 2 cats can run at the same time. The safety of having the wheels tucked under the base is a plus so cats paws don’t get run over (which is a concern with One Fast Cat). It also is quieter which is great for nighttime runs. However, One Fast Cat is less expensive to purchase but it seems to last about one to two years before buying parts to fix it is needed. So in conclusion the most important thing about a cat wheel is to have one for your cat! If you are ready to purchase please use the links below to order
Please add ‘Referred by Pet Perfect Bengals’ to the comment section (bottom of the address page) when ordering or email elizabeth@ziggydoo.com
*After the 15th Referral our cats will receive a wheel to use in our Cattery
Meeting your new Bengal kitten for the first time is always a very exciting experience. But before you take your new Bengal friend to your home, understand that your kitten is going to a new place full of new people, pets, things, and smells; this can be overwhelming for them. So, to make this experience a good adventure and as smooth as possible, there are certain things you should keep in mind.
Please click here for Home and Pet Safety Guides
By the time you pick up your kitten, it already would have received two rounds of FVRCP vaccinations, deworming treatments, been spayed/neutered (if available), microchipped, and a thorough health check-up done by our certified vet.
Kitten Care Package:
What to Bring When You Pick up Your Kitten:
