Bengal Kitten Care Guide

High Quality Bengal Kittens With Some Of the Finest Lineages in the World

Preparing For Your QuantumCats Bengal Kitten

A Bengal Kitten is not your average kitten. In fact, they are considerably unique and different from any other domestic cat breed. This is due to their wild ancestors blood in their DNA, The Asian Leopard Cat. A Bengal Kitten is more active, energetic, vocal, playful and primal than your standard domestic cat. They require a higher level of attentive care than other kittens. Before you bring your new kitten home, you will want to be well prepared. Between gathering supplies for your new kitten, choosing a veterinarian, bengal cat proofing your home, and understanding the importance of a transitionary safe room – there is lots of research to be done in order to be fully prepared in bringing your bengal kitten home.

Choosing a Veterinarian

You should have a good relationship with a veterinarian that you respect and trust. A well educated vet (we recommend a holistic or naturopathic veterinarian) whom has a very clean and experienced clinic. We highly recommend they have experience with Bengals and even better if they love them just as much as we do! You will want your veterinarian to be on the same page as you are in regards to vaccinations, nutrition, preventative medications and emergency care procedures. We recommend connecting with a holistic veterinarian well before you bring your kitten home. The level of care offered from them is so wonderful. They support, educate and guide you in raw nutrition, natural medicine and have conscious awareness of the kittens health as a whole – which aligns more with how we intend our QuantumCats Kittens be cared for. Many holistic/naturopathic veterinarians offer and distribute raw food for purchasing, which is super convenient!

Have a list of Questions Ready When you Call or Speak with the Staff and Veterinarians

Do they have experience with bengal cats?
Do they support raw nutrition?
What kinds of testing do they offer?
What are their protocols on vaccinations?
How do they typically treat common cat illnesses and do they ever have to refer out to other places for anything?
In the case of an emergency, do they have an on call doctor or a phone line to call for assistance?
How soon would you be able to be seen in the case of an emergency (are they a fully booked practice?)

These are just *some* good questions to ask your potential veterinarian during your interview. Any question that comes to mind write down, and jot down the answers they give you – comparing clinics. Remember that YOU are hiring THEM, not the other way around, and if it ever doesn’t sound or feel right, look elsewhere. Have your appointment booked with the right veterinarian well ahead of bringing your baby kitty home. You want your first appointment booked for within 3 days from picking up your bengal kitten. This way they can give you another clean bill of health during the 3 day mandatory quarantine window, which is outlined in our contract.

Supplies You Need for your Bengal Kitten

Cat Carrier

Get your Bengal Kitten a cat carrier that’s going to be big enough for them to use for the rest of their lives. Large or giant is preferred. The kind that can open from the front and the top is important for vet visits. I recommend you leave the cat carrier open in their safe room, the room they will first spend time in during the adjustment and quarantine period. Keep it in that room available to them and open as a cozy nest they can go in and out of freely. This way they develop a positive relationship with the cat carrier and it will be easier to take them to the veterinarian or on road trips when they enjoy being in it. Always try to let them enter it themselves while offering little treats and toys inside, with of course a comfy blanket or padding.

Litterboxes & Mats

Its very important you dont switch your bengal kittens litter or food – at least during the transitionary period of 3 months or so. We use pine pellets for litter for our kitties. You can typically find it at your local feed store, garden supply store, etc. Call around and see who offers the best price, you are just looking for simple big bags of pine pellets!

We use this for many reasons. It’s all natural. There are no fragrances, perfumes, aromas, added chemicals or ingredients that will affect a cats health (or yours) Cats are especially sensitive to any chemicals, fragrances and aromas. You really want to limit their exposure to toxins in every way. The pine pellets come in a medium to large pellet form that is considerably less messy than those tiny granulated types. The tiny granule litter brands also can get stuck in a kittens nasal passages, and the dust that’s created isn’t healthy for neither you nor your cats. Clumping litter is fatal to a kitten when swallowed, and they love to lick it off their paws since it tends to get stuck in between their paw pads and nails. A Bengal Cat loves to paw around, dig and kick in their litterboxes. The size of the pine pellets are also easy to sweep up! When they urinate, the pellets in the area where they peed disintegrate into a soft pile. It’s really easy to scoop, you don’t want to use a scooper with big holes because the urine soaked pellets may fall through. I use a stainless steel scooper with a thin slit backing.

It’s also very important that you scoop your cats litter daily and it’s much easier to keep up with this way. Scoop poops and pees daily. Once a week completely empty out your litterboxes, spray them out with vinegar, baking soda, and hot water, dry, and fill with fresh pine pellets. You will need to replace each litterbox every few months. Cats are very scent-oriented and it’s very important to keep an abundance of litterboxes available, 2-3 per cat minimum, in each big room. If you have a big house you want to make sure they can’t travel too far without a litterbox being nearby. The more the better, especially when they are kittens. When they are kittens you want to have extra litterboxes setup and eventually you can take one away if you need to. Its better to leave them all and choose permanent spots in the house that they will frequent. A chosen area or corner for them to keep their scent. This way they don’t end up spraying or marking in other areas of your house. If you keep their boxes clean, they will be clean and respectful (typically)

By the time your kitten is coming home to you, they will be able to jump into a high sided litterbox. I recommend 3 large or giant highsided litterboxes (more if you have a big home) filled with about 2&1/2 inches of pine pellets.

When I say high sided litterbox, I do NOT mean the kind with the enclosed top (like a litter robot), but just the high sided kind that goes vertical on the sides. We don’t reccommend the enclosed style of litterboxes because they tend to get really grose, trapping ammonia, bacteria and can cause litter accidents outside of the box if they dont feel comfortable going in there. They like a nice depth to dig and cover their waste. The high sides are important to keep the mess level down and catch all the flying litter. I love these litter catching mats I will link here, they are large enough to actually trap almost all the litter that’s kicked away and it has a super cool pocket you can easily pour all the litter out from. Deep clean your litter mat weekly as well, getting all the litter off, a good scrub with hot vinegar water, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, finished off by spraying off with the garden hose. Do this at the same time as when you do your boxes!

Food

We highly recommend you continue our natural rearing methods which includes raw nutrition. Your Bengal Kitten craves raw meat, for it is it’s biologically appropriate diet. If you are new to raw feeding, starting off by asking your holistic veterinarian what they offer is good. You can also make your own very easily with a little research (and it’s extremely affordable) We can help you every step of the way during your raw feeding journey. There are many brands of pre-prepared raw food. You can choose from different proteins, and it will typically be a grind which includes the necessary balance of raw organs, muscle meat, and bones.

There’s fresh, frozen, freeze dried, all sorts of options depending on you and your kitties preferences. The most important thing is that it’s formulated for kittens which has a higher protein and fat content than an adult blend. Your kitten will come used to a wide range of meats and blends. We rotate between chicken, duck and turkey, with sardines and aquatic creatures as a treat every once in a while(think shrimp, oyster, salmon, tuna, fish etc) We love giving our cats bone broth treats too. You can freeze them in silicone molds for a cool summer treat, and even add in a meat grind to make it extra tasty and nutrient dense for them.

Feeding your bengal kitten raw is so important to keeping them healthy. Commercial brand kibble and wet food is so bad for them for various serious reasons. It can cause dehydration and contains carcinogenic fillers which affect your kitties longevity and overall health. The nutrient content is incomparable to raw, and they digest raw food much better as well. Cats aren’t meant to eat cooked meat, vegetables or grains. To read more about the importance of raw nutrition vs commercial brand food, click here.

If you don’t plan on continuing raw nutrition – which we really reccommend you do for a whole long list of reasons – at least make sure to continue the raw food they have been eating for 3 months following bringing your bengal kitten home, so that they can transition without any irritations to their digestive process. If you switch their food too early, it can lead to weakened immune systems and diarrhea. Continuing raw food will also make them feel more comfortable in their new home environment.

Dishes & Mats

Stainless steel dishes are the way to go. You can also use ceramic or glass but plastic is a big no-no. It harbors bacteria, causing chin and facial acne in cats, among other health issues. It just isn’t sanitary. Stainless steel dishes are my favorite because they actually get fully clean and can’t break, which is such a biggy with Bengal Cats! Stainless looks nice too. Get the ones with the grips on the bottoms, Bengal Cats like to slide their dishes around making all sorts of a fun mess! Make sure you scrub under the grips if they are removable because moisture can get trapped in there and it will mold!

Its extremely important to give your kitty FRESH Purified Filtered Water everyday, being sure to clean their water dish well with hot soapy water. Even better, have a rotation of water dishes and each day give them a fresh one, fully sanitizing the previous in the dishwasher after that initial good scrubbing. If you work from home you may even want to pour out their water mid-day and refresh it. Cats are very sensitive to the freshness of water, they can detect the oxygen levels in the water molecule to sense how fresh it is. They are more likely to drink water when it’s consistently fresh and in a sparkling clean dish.

If you don’t wash your cats dish everyday, it will get a filmy stick substance coating on it which harbors bacteria and will cause a wide range of health issues.

Another favorite are the drinking fountains. Bengal Cats love moving water and will drink more if its in fountain form. They come with filters which need replaced more often than you think – about twice a month. The fountain still needs scrubbed with hot soapy water daily. Purified Filtered water is important compared to the water that comes from the tap, which contains heavy metals, harsh chemicals, and many known and unknown toxins, pollutants and contaminants. Just as you wouldn’t drink water from the tap, your animal babies should not have to either. We love over the sink purification systems like reverse osmosis.

You will want to have a large food mat with sides that flip up or are lipped, so that any water and food that is spilled is caught and can be cleaned up easily. Your food mat should be washed and scrubbed daily when you wash their water dish. Feeding raw, you should pickup and clean/soak their old raw food dish when you serve them their next fresh one, so having an abundance of stainless steel dishes on hand is a must with bengal cats. Lower sides on the dishes are preferred. The dollar tree is a great place to find them!

Toys

A Bengal Cats energy level is high! They are very active, strong, silly, a bit clumsy sometimes, curious and have a high prey drive! They are little primal hunters and it’s in their blood to hunt, chase, and bite anything that moves!

Having a wide range of toys is a must in order to keep your bengal kitten satisfied and fulfilled enough. They love little soft mice that they can randomly pounce on. Making sure there’s no plastic, metal or other chokable materials that could be pryed out from the center (like a bell)

Bengal cats thrive when you do house hunts and explorations with a long toy. Hold it and trail it across the whole house for them. Drag or quickly swipe the toy across the floors, bed, their cat trees, the couch, through the house and each room, high and low.

Bengal cats need a good workout and play session at least everyday, if not twice a day plus. Giving them your undivided attention for at least 10-15 minute high energy play sessions will do wonders for their health (physical and mental), as well as your connection and bond.

Make sure you follow their cues and when they flop down on their side, exposing the their belly, or pant, they are signaling to you they are satisfied and you should let them rest.

Supervision is key with many toys. You want to keep toys with bells, long strings, feathers, etc – put up when not in use. They will chew them up pretty quickly and you don’t want them to swallow anything like that. One of the most tried and true favorites of my kitties is the 2$ cardboard and wire toy that springs around when you drag it. They LOVE it.

Those automatic toys where they swat the balls in the plastic tower are a big hit too and are really great to have for their independent play. They love tunnels they can run through, with little hanging balls to swat. Crunchy toys are so much fun.

Laser pointers can be a lot of fun but I like to stay away from them when they are younger because they can be over-stimulating and addictive – but if you have an adult Bengal Cat that’s making mischief, play sessions of 5 minutes or less with a laser pointer, in addition to the standard play sessions, can help get your cats play needs adequately out. Dabird is another feather favorite, the way it ripples in the air they just absolutely love. Just be sure to keep that toy out of reach when not playing with it, the material the string is made of is a choking hazard. You can also teach them to play fetch with tiny mice or balls they can pick up with their mouths, they are a very intelligent breed.

Cat Trees & Cat Wheels

Bengal Cats are avid climbers. It is essential to have proper vertical space your kitten can explore. A Bengal Cat will find a way to climb high whether or not you provide something dedicated to them, so the more areas they have that are set up for them to climb, the less mischief they will get into above your kitchen cabinets, fridge, curtains etc. But they more than likely will climb there anyways, so expect it, and catproof those areas. Bengal Cats need the tallest and sturdiest of cat trees. Once your Bengal Cat is full grown, depending on gender, they may be heavy enough to shake the cat tree when they jump on it, so make sure it has a nice wide sturdy base for support.

You want at least 2 cat trees and depending on the size of your house, even more. The key to a happy Bengal is making sure that as they walk through the house, they have continuous stimulating and fulfilling areas they can enjoy. A Bengal Cat craves heights, and one of the greatest things you can do for them is to build ledges for them to climb, all throughout your house. Pick nice sunny spots they can bask in the sunshine from up high – but not too hot of areas – they do need spaces to cool off as well. There’s some amazing ideas of designs all over the internet. Anything from modern sleek ledges, to more natural looking logs and wood mounted beams that they can climb. You can even visit the beach and find good sturdy clean logs to bring home, sand and fix up for them. Its so much fun providing an enriching environment for your Bengal Kittens.

Remember that this is no ordinary kitten, it is a hybrid kitten created from the Asian Leopard Cat, and should be nurtured as such. Having a Bengal Kitten is all about embracing their wild nature & giving them the life of their dreams with fun things for them to explore.

Bengal Cats also LOVE cat wheels. They have such high energy that most can go and go all day. Providing your Bengal Kitten with a cat wheel to exercise on is so good for their mental and physical health. Once they are acquainted with it, they will hop on whenever they get that urge to run, and it’s so beautiful to watch them. You can use a laser pointer or a long feather/string toy to help them get the hang of the cat wheel. Wiggle the toy towards the upper end of the wheel, and watch them pounce onto it and start walking. Keep the toy high and slightly out of their reach so it’s as if they are chasing it. Remember to always let them actually get the toy so their hunt feels successful and they are happy. Let your Bengal kitten grab the toy, bite it, back legs kick it, & even grab it and run off with it. This is all so good for them. It gives them a sense of control and fulfillment for proper mental release. You can even train your Bengal Kitten to bring the toy back as if it’s fetch, if you are persistent. There are many brands of cat wheels available today but out of all of them we recommend the ziggydoo.

Make sure you do your research, reading reviews, sifting through online Bengal groups, because some are much better than others, and some are downright unsafe for your kitty AND your home (cue wheel flying off base and everything goes flying – NOT safe)

Cat Beds

Having cozy places, beds and pillows for your Bengal Cat to sleep and nap on will make them feel right at home.

Nesting areas, like the cat house boxes, are amazing dark cozy places that simulate the caves that The Asian Leopard Cat rests in. As much as your Bengal Kitten loves to play, jump, chase and climb, they also need adequate resting areas to plop down, nuzzle and knead into.

I love the cat beds that are circular with cushioned pillow sides, because it’s as if they are getting nice warm hugs, reminding them of their life when they were at home with their mama and siblings, nursing in a pile. Have at least 2 per cat if not more, again depending on the size of your house.

Scratching Posts

Scratching Posts are a must – in addition to all the other cat furniture I have listed. Placing scratching posts in each room is highly recommended so that whenever they get that urge to scratch, they have their post readily available to them. This helps with scent distribution as well. There needs to be an adequate amount of their scent present for them to feel secure. Making sure there is an abundance of scratching posts, toys, trees, beds and litterboxes will help your bengal kitten thrive and keep them nicely satisfied.

Why we Don’t Recommend Collars

Collars are cute. They serve a purpose in dogs, because dogs go outside and there’s the risk of them running off. Your Bengal Cat MUST be an indoor only cat. We do not sell to any anybody who intends to keep their cat outdoors, or a combination of indoor outdoor, which is stated in our contract.

This protects your cat from a wide range of dangers lurking outside. Predators, cars, harsh chemicals, being stolen, being targeted and hurt (there are crazy people out there) There are so many bad things that can and do happen to outdoor cats. They have a shorter life span than indoor only cats. They are more unhealthy being exposed to many unknowns, coming home with wounds, bacterias and illnesses. People tend to feed them and you don’t know what they are feeding. Therefore, there is ~no reason~ to have your cat wear a collar because they will be exclusively indoors. In addition, collars are choking hazards for both kittens and cats. Even when properly fitted, they can get their lower jaw stuck in the collar and die without you even hearing a sound. Many times when your cat is found with the collar stuck, it requires surgery to remove, if they survive that far. Also, collars with bells will overstimulate your cat. The constant chiming of the bell as they walk, play, scratch and groom is not healthy for their minds long term.

Nail Trimmers

It’s very important to establish a positive experience when it comes to trimming your cats nails. You should trim all of their nails every week. More than likely, unless you are really fast and experienced, it will take you 2-3 days to get all nails trimmed. You want to get your kitty used to the feeling of you touching their paws by petting them and ‘playing’ with them, separating the toe pads with gentle massage during cuddle and nap times. Then once your kitten is used to you doing this, you want to discreetly and quickly trim the nail. If you time it right during a good sleep, they won’t even notice and you may be able to finish them all. They may start to stir, if so you can pause, continue to pet normally (or not) and let them fall back into a deep sleep before continuing. If they fully wake up, just wait to finish until next nap time. Offer them some yummy raw treats to create the absolute most positive experience for them!

You want to be very careful, making sure you don’t trim past their quick. Only trim down the white tips of their nail, you can see through the nail and there’s a blood vessel – that’s called the quick which you want to stay far away from. IF you do happen to trim the quick, have your bottle of styptic powder (which stops bleeding) right next to you – essential to have. Open it up and dip the nail in, or grab a finger full portion and stuff it on there, applying gentle pressure to really get the powder into the area. Paper towels will be handy to have right next to you before starting too, because if this happens, it will be bloody. You must make sure the bleeding has stopped, apply more powder a second time if necessary, and if the bleeding is not stopping or was a really bad deep cut, seek emergency care immediately. Put your cat in their carrier with a towel, get in the car and start driving to your emergency clinic. Have another person with you if possible, who can sit with kitty helping apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

The best nail trimmers you should use are the small animal nail trimmers. They look like small scissors, with rounded tips, and a small curved blade. Do NOT use any type of human trimmers, dog clippers, mechanical trimmers or dremels, or really anything other than these “small animal” nail scissors. There are many trimmers marketed to cat owners that are not safe or appropriate. These small nail scissors are the most gentle, can get right in there for precise cutting, and are easy to hold. They have a quick clean cut which is important, because you dont want the nail to fray, breaking apart, which can lead to bleeding or infection. You want a nice sharp clean quick cut. Familiarize yourself with this process. Take deep breaths before hand, go slow. Its better to get one or two properly than to try and rush it, your cat can feel your energy and stress – you don’t want to make this a stressful, bad or painful experience for them.

I like to groom them with my hands a bit first, rubbing their chin, cheeks, working my way all the way down to their paws, as if im cleaning them like mama. Its very important you do their nails weekly, it gets them used to it, gets you used to it, becomes no big deal, and having short nails is more healthy and comfortable for them. And you! A Bengal Cats nails are thicker and sharper than a standard domestic cat due to their Asian Leopard Cat DNA. Having too long of nails traps bacteria when they use their litterboxes, and they can get so long that they grow into their paw pads which will require surgery.

You really want to be the one to trim your cats nails. You have the strongest bond with them (it strengthens your bond, too) and they are most comfortable in their home environment. Taking your cat to the vet for nail trims should be absolute last resort. Vets have to take precautionary measures to prevent cat bites and attacks during nail trims. They hold the cat down and often “net” the cat, trapping it in a net before holding it down. It’s extremely extremely stressful for your cat. Bad things can happen to your cat and to the employees. They are on a time crunch and the whole thing is not in the best interest of your cats experience. Theres also lots of germs at the vet office, so going there should only be when they are sick and need to be seen for healing.

One of the top things you should do as a prospective Bengal Cat owner, is fully accept the responsibility of trimming your cats nails, and become very very comfortable with the process! Treats are fantastic to use if your cat wakes up after the process. Give lots of love, and offer some wholesome raw food treat goodness! The more positive associations you can make, the better!!

HairBrush

Brushing your Bengals coat is a wonderful way to bond with them. Brushing them helps them with their grooming process, and pulls out any loose hairs wanting to shed. I like to use a soft bristle brush. If you have a short haired Bengal Cat, this is all you really need because there wont ever be any tangles or matting. Many times they make double sided cat brushes, get one of the smaller versions. They will naturally be curious about the brush and try to chew on it. They may think it’s a toy and swat at it. Get a few brushes in and put it away, giving raw treats after. You dont want them thinking it’s a play thing. Brushing them at naptime is best, when they are most relaxed. Bengals have the most gorgeous soft glittery coats and brushing in the sunlight is a fantastic way to witness this beauty. Dont overbrush them. A few times a month or once a week max will do them good.

Toothbrush

I recommend getting a toothbrush for your cat! Some of you may be thinking, what did she just say?! Dental disease is a huge, painful, and unhealthy issue that costs a fortune. Your precious baby Bengal would have to undergo surgery for plaque removal and/or extractions.

Feeding raw is a great way to help prevent dental diseases. Whole prey is even better because the bones they chew on help to remove plaque.

Regular toothbrushing is also essential, and if you start young, and do it frequently, it will get them used to it and be a fun experience for everyone. I use just water with a toothbrush that has a very small head and soft bristles. I found a dog toothbrush that I use and like a lot because its double sided and one end is the perfect small size for a cats mouth. Let them chew on it, and try to move it around to various areas, very gently. They will love to chew on it, so let them. Do not push it back into their throat, be very careful. You don’t want to choke them and make them gag and throw up. Also, don’t do this right after feeding, because they are more likely to upchuck if they have just eaten. Give plenty of time to digest their food before attempting a toothbrushing session.

Make it fun, laid-back and frequent enough to get them really used to it. Brushing your Bengal Cats teeth is truly one of the best things you can do for their health and longevity.

Harness & Leash Recommendations

Having a Bengal Cat is sooo much fun. They are the most active, athletic, curious, vocal and intelligent breed of cats. Taking them outside for walks, or on adventures while hiking or exploring the forest, is so enriching and exciting for both your Bengal Cat and you.

If you are wanting these experiences together, it’s super crucial to get them used to the harness and leash young. Start by putting the harness on your kitten and letting them go whatever they want in your home. They may act totally normal, or they may flop down and act like they can’t walk. They may try to bite and kick at it, or they may walk confidently and want a good play session through the house, followed by a nutritious raw feeding!

We will get your kitten acquaintanced with the harness experience so that they are already familiar with the feeling of walking with a harness on! After you have put it on and let them get used to it around your house, through feeding, play and naps – of course removing it when unsupervised – once you feel they are super confident in it, attach a leash to it and practice walking around your house together! Once they (and you) are very comfortable and confident with that, then you are ready for outside exploration.

Make sure your harness is properly fitted, tight enough, but not too tight. Be sure the leash is a sturdy one that won’t slip open where it attaches to the harness.

There are so many brands of harnesses and leashes, and some from each style can be good, just read lots of reviews to be sure.

We love and highly recommend butterfly cat jackets because they go over the body like a piece of clothing and it’s very secure. It’s tailored to your Bengal Kitten or cats size and is the least likely to slip off your kitten.

Make sure you practice a lot in the home, pulling the leash while walking in different directions so you can see what their pull does to the harness and leash. Even use a feather toy and drag it up your cat tree while holding the leash so you can see how climbing and jumping hold up! Many times they are interested in climbing trees or chasing birds, or even may run from a dog. So it needs to withstand some pull. You don’t want your precious baby running off!!

Cooler

Bring a small cooler for your raw food portion you will be taking home upon picking up your new Bengal Kitten

High Quality Bengal Kittens With Some Of the Finest Lineages in the World