MPLSBENGALS
Bengal Kitten Checklist
§ Pet Carrier- I would recommend getting a large one so that once your Kitten is a full-grown adult you won’t have to buy a new one. Bengals are considered a large cat, especially if male, so expect your kitten to grow up into a large 8-15lb cat and plan accordingly. *Please don’t forget to put a blanket or towel in the carrier, don’t just show up with a cold hard empty carrier for pickup*
§ Pet Bed- A cozy bed is always important and I like to also have a little blanket be “The cat’s blanket” (once the kitten’s scent is on it, your cat will prefer to sleep on its blanket, wherever you might put it- it’s a good trick to keep your cat on one area of the couch and off of other areas; this same blanket will also help your cat relax when traveling in the kennel because its familiar scent and texture will be reassuring).
My cats all seem to especially prefer beds with raised edges and not beds that are completely flat. I would also stay away from buying “CAT” beds; they are often too small for a full-grown Bengal, “DOG” beds or “PET” beds work much better for a Bengal. (You can get a nice big one at TJ Maxx or Home Goods)
§ Food and Water Bowls/Dishes- Once again, the “cat” sized bowls sold in many stores are too small for a full-grown Bengal. Buy the largest available bowl in the cat section or just swing into the dog aisle and grab one of those! Or you could always find some “human” bowls not advertised as “pet bowls” and use those instead! *Please pour your cat fresh, clean, cool water every single day regardless if you have a fountain, dispenser or regular bowl-water MUST be changed daily! *
§ Collar and ID tag- Do NOT buy a breakaway collar unless they are very good quality!!! Bengals are too smart for this! They figure out how to get it off within a week and if there is more than one Bengal they will bite the clasps off of each-others collars to get them off! Always buy a collar that has a buckle and loop that a Bengal will not be able to escape out of. When it comes to the ID tag- try not to go to petsmart or petco and buy those heavy $20+ Id tags that they have at the register. They are, in my opinion, too heavy for a Bengal to wear often. Also try to refrain from getting odd shaped tags, Bengals will often try to catch them in their paws and with their teeth and they can be uncomfortable to lie in. I always get the small circles so that no sharp edges poke your cat. You can get a lighter-weight one at any humane society for under $5 and you can have a lot more information engraved on the tag or order an id tag online! The Engraving I always do (fits on humane society or online bought tag):
Front: (top) Cat’s Name, Your Cell-phone #, Owner: your name, please call!!!(bottom) Back: (top) House number & Street name, City, State zip, Home Phone # (bottom)
§ Grain Free Cat Food, Wet &/or Canned Food- The Kittens have all been free fed a diet consisting of Taste of the Wild (roasted venison and smoked salmon), Blue Wilderness Canned food, organic canned food (available at whole foods), Whole Paws canned food (also at whole foods), Natures Domain organic canned cat food as well as a few cutoffs and entrails from organic chicken, cooked organic chicken (boiled) and some organic eggs. As long as you transition slowly and gradually you can easily switch your kitten to a different food (as longs as it is GRAIN-FREE to prevent indigestion). Wet/canned food does not necessarily need to be fed to your cat daily but once a week or broken up into smaller portions daily or every other day would be ideal. Dry food alone is never a good idea!
§ Large Litter box- A large litter box with good ventilation (or no top/cover) is best for a Bengal because their noses are more sensitive to smell than other cat breeds and they will defecate/urinate elsewhere if the smell of their litter is overpowering or there is too much waste in the box. *Daily, if not twice a day, cleaning is a MUST* due to their sensory sensitivity. A great alternative to “litter box” from a pet store, is a plastic Hefty or Sterilite container with a good depth and width. A large one of those is $10-12 and it’s a much better “litter box” than a conventional tiny cramped and expensive pet store bought litter box! My cats love to hop in and out but I also have a little step stool next to it for easier climbing. You can also easily cut out an entrance on one of the sides.
-You will also need a Scoop for the litter box, we suggest a metal one instead of plastic (that you can get for a decent price on Amazon)
§ Cat toys- Cats love toy mice! They also love chasing the laser beam, and anything on a piece or rope or string. Bengals love to shred soft toy mice, so replacing their toys/ adding to their toy collection is necessary once in a while. Also try to keep your cat from getting bored and only put out some toys while keeping others hidden away and switch them out for others sometimes. Please avoid yard or sewing thread at all costs, any cat can easily swallow it and it is NOT a safe toy to play with.
§ Scratching Post- This is something that you will need because we prohibit de-clawing in our purchase agreements! You can easily make your own scratching posts with some extra wood and siscal rope, you can buy any size post at any pet store and many cat trees have a scratching post built in. (once again some great deals on Amazon for posts)
Other things to consider (and eventually acquire):
§ Cat tower/tree/climber- One with at least one “bed” which is a post that has a border around it so a cat can curl up comfortably inside of it without falling off. We have some pictures of an IDEAL cat tree for a Bengal (or multiple) on mplsbengals.com on our “All About Bengals” page. It is great because the highest spot is safe for them to sleep in without rolling off the edge and each step is also a bed!
We do not recommend petco or petsmart’s cat trees as they are very small and break apart easily. Try to find a local pet specialty store (We have a few in Minneapolis and St. Paul) and look for a bigger and sturdier cat tree.
§ A companion- A fellow Bengal, Cat, Small-Medium sized dog, Animal,
Who will keep your cat company when you aren’t home?
§ Outdoor enclosure- If you have the time and finances for it building your Bengal an outdoor oasis that they can spend time in is one of the best things you can do for your Bengal apart from getting him/her a companion. Add a few climbing accessories such as tree stumps, branches, cat trees. Make sure there is a covered area, which will provide shade, and ensure available fresh water and food (if free feeding). The best possible thing to add however is an access tunnel or opening that leads straight into the house so that your Bengal can wander in and out of the cat enclosure whenever they want.
*Please keep in mind that Bengals are able to climb over even “cat-proof” fences so an enclosure is idea.
MPLSBENGALS