Although Bengals are known for their benevolent attitude to people, they usually have a bright and not always malleable character. Therefore, the education of a Bengal cat kitten should begin in a timely manner. The new owner of a mini leopard cat is better to learn this process even before the pet appears in the new home. An experienced breeder will take care to instill useful habits, but they will have to be developed consistently.
How to raise a Bengal kitten
Socialization of the little Bengal begins almost from birth. He learns to interact with his mother cat and his brothers and sisters, the same inexperienced babies. After a while, his circle of interest includes people. Experienced breeders perform a procedure called handling, accustoming the baby Bengals to human hands.
The kitten is gently and very carefully picked up and held for some time. Tactile sensations received at an early age are perceived by the cat as pleasant and natural. This is one of the reasons why purebred kittens respond much more calmly to human contact, unlike stray individuals.
A good tip on how to tame a Bengal is to continue to pick him up often with his new family. This practice will help you quickly make friends with your pet. Despite the presence of wild blood, Bengals are very friendly and sociable. If the kitten is raised correctly, a situation where he does not go to his arms should not arise. Cats from Yurovsky
The breeder knows how to raise a Bengal cat. He has to work hard to instill the right habits. The kitten is taught to eat solid food and drink from a bowl. He is taught how to use the toilet. By three months, the pet is completely ready to move into its new home, but that does not mean that the new owner can relax and reap the benefits of training that the new family member received earlier. Several tasks will have to be solved:
- prepare the home for the kitten’s arrival;
- to alleviate stress;
- to preserve the acquired skills;
- correct the behavior of the kitten;
- to teach the kitten the command “no”.
A kitten grows and her behavior changes. There are stressors that are not obvious to people, but are important to the cat or cat. Not to forget the temperament, which affects the behavior. What to do in this case? Experienced breeders recommend continuing education, the result will eventually appear.
Bengals are very musical cats. At an early age, they begin to sing and scream, expressing their feelings. If the owner is confident that the kitten is fed and healthy, he may just need attention and comfort. To soothe the kitten, it is enough to take it in your arms, hold it, and warm it up.
First days in a new home
The responsible owner begins preparations for the arrival of the kitten in advance. There should be:
- bowls;
- toilets;
- food;
- filler;
- house;
- cosmetics;
- brush for hair care;
- toys;
- contacts of an experienced veterinarian;
- a complete first-aid kit.
Young mini leopards are inquisitive and nimble creatures. Even on the first floor all the windows must be closed with bars, so that the pet does not escape. Cables of any kind must be hidden in boxes, under the baseboard, i.e. get as far away from the kitty as possible.
When a little Bengal is brought to a new home, the owner’s actions should be clear:
- Pour the food recommended by the breeder into the bowl.
- Pour fresh, clean water.
- Put some litter in the litter box and add some old litter (obtained at the kennel) so that the kitten will recognize its scent.
- Place the carrier on the floor and open it.
- Stand a reasonable distance away.
- Wait for the kitten to leave the carrier.
- Allow him to explore the house on his own.
- Make sure he eats and drinks from his new bowls and visits the toilet.
Only after this you can cautiously approach the kitten, establish first tactile contact, try to pet him. The desire to immediately grab your treasure, to shower him with kisses, to scratch behind the ears is understandable. But this behavior can only scare the bengal and increase stress.
Toilet problems: causes and solutions
Even if the process of adapting to the new place is done according to all the rules, it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Often the kitten refuses to use the litter box. The animal may choose the most different places for relieving himself: the corner behind the toilet, surfaces covered with cloth (upholstered furniture), the shower tray.
If all the unsanctioned places the pet chooses for the sake of privacy, it means that the use of the available litter box causes him discomfort or stress. Some purebred kittens prefer to use the litter box as a litter box, the open litter box is not suitable for them. You need to buy a new device, fill it up and add some of the old litter box litter so that the kitten will get its own scent.
Sometimes the cat’s Bengal breed baby cat is not suitable for the litter box. Many breeders recommend choosing wood or other “rustling” options for litter trainer training. Not all kittens like the gel version, although it is more convenient to use. One more thing – bengals are amazing cleaners. The filler has to be replaced after each visit. Some owners provide the kitten with two litter boxes at the same time. It will take experimentation to find the right filler.
Another reason why the kitten poops in the wrong place is the desire to mark the territory. It is a character trait that will take a long time to combat, and success cannot be guaranteed. Experienced Bengal owners advise to get rid of upholstered furniture that does not have removable covers, or to buy such covers in advance. Medical mattress covers or other absorbent materials are placed under them, which will protect the furniture from getting wet.
It happens that the adult cat stops tagging, starts to use the litter box faithfully, but then the problem occurs again. It may be that the animal has already peed all that it wanted. Owners have cleaned the furniture from dirt, and got rid of the characteristic smell. The faint feline vibe remains, the cat feels it, but the human does not.
Professional Internet communities are full of advice from experienced cat people, but their effectiveness may be questionable. Here are some interesting tips that helped to accustom the kitten to the toilet:
- Smear orange or lemon essential oil on places not allowed to defecate, cats don’t like the smell of citrus;
- Use vinegar or a special spray for the same purpose;
- Keep an eye on the kitten and put him in the litter box at the first sign;
- Reward it with a treat for each time it goes to the litter box;
- Clean up the “wrong” place with a cleaner, put food there, cats don’t crap where they eat.
The result depends on the character of the individual kitten. Some are so disgusted by the smell of bleach that they purposely go to a thoroughly cleaned place to get rid of the hateful aroma. Others will not shy away from relieving themselves on rustling dry food. Many kittens love to dig in the litter, throw it around.
If you want to wean kittens from this habit by all means, you will have to patience. The amount of the filler is reduced very slowly, the process takes a year or two. The tactic worked not always, losing the opportunity to enjoy digging in your favorite filler, kitten is looking for a replacement. Often he uses the rustling surface of upholstered furniture for digging, the struggle for adequate use of the litter box has to start again.
“If a cat or cat has become actively marking the territory, it does not hurt to consult a veterinarian. Sometimes it’s not the tags, but a sign of a developing disease.”
Some change in the kitty’s routine or other reasons may be the reason for the disruption of the litter box. A kitten may poop in the wrong place after a vet visit or other trip. It is also not uncommon for this to happen during heat. Even rearranging furniture sometimes causes the problem to escalate. No need to worry, the pet will cope with the stress and behave properly again.
A cat or cat’s own smell is equivalent to a “I’m home safe” signal. If the signal weakens or disappears, the pet becomes anxious. For example, a kitten gets nervous because of a sudden noise. There have been cases where the cause of stress was an automatic air freshener installed near the litter box. It goes off with a faint hiss, you can barely hear it, and the kitten gets scared.
“Bengals are very smart. Many owners have been able to train them to the toilet using a special plastic nozzle.”
How to punish properly
Parenting must be consistent. If you can’t climb on the table in the kitchen, this rule should be extended to all tables in the house. Cats do not understand human logic, for them there is no distinction between the kitchen table and the computer table. Harsh training is unacceptable, you will need attention and a lot of patience.
Any violence: blows, shouting, poking your nose at the “school” in training the kitten is completely unacceptable. Yelling is useless, such tactics can do serious harm, completely destroying the trust between the owner and the pet. The punishment should be understandable to the kitten and not traumatic. Breeders use two educational methods: hissing and splashing water.
The kitten remembers her mother hissing at him when he misbehaves. When it hears a similar sound from the owner, it will know that the behavior needs to be corrected. The owner’s job is to explain exactly how. Therefore, hiss should be made when the little bengal is caught doing an unauthorized action: swinging on curtains, trying to chew on a cable, walking on the table, etc. At other times hissing will be unhelpful and disorienting.
“Training cats is a useless activity; even the famous Durov agrees with this statement. “Breaking” the character of a cat, especially a Bengal, is a thankless task. Owners will have to accept the fact that part of the household will have to be adjusted to the pet.”
The water jet is used in the same way, only at the moment the “crime” is committed. A bottle with a spray nozzle or a water gun is used as an “instrument of retribution.” They must contain clean, cool, boiled water, which must be replaced periodically. It is advisable not to show the weapon to the pet, so that the jet of water at the moment of the crime will be a complete surprise to him. At this point, the word “no” should be spoken clearly. Over time, the pet will memorize it, and saying the word will be enough to stop the unauthorized pranks.
“Bengals are usually very fond of water, so shooting a water pistol may even appeal to them. “The ‘shots’ should be sudden and the training should be regular; in time it will have the desired effect.”
