Kitten Care
Proper care and grooming of your kitten will ensure that you have
a healthy pet that does not destroy your home! Here are some tips
we have learned along the way. Thanks to Kismet of FarOut Bengals
for providing us lots of help as we got up and running!
| Diet |
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Kitties can have sensitive stomachs.
A change in diet can mean a smelly box and even a nerve-racking
trip to the veterinarian. We feed our cats only premium cat
food such as Purina Pro-Plan, Nutro Natural Balance, and Royal Canin.
Though you may choose to supplement the diet with wet food or
even raw beef (ground defatted London Broil), kibble must be
freely available at all times. Kibble diets are formulated to
contain all of the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids
needed by cats. |
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Your new baby should eat kitten
food for the first year of life. This provides the extra calories
and nutrition to grow up strong. At one year, switch to an adult
food preferably of the same brand. If your kitten does not seem
to eat a lot of kibble, or always seems to be hungry or begging,
try to switch to a different brand; he may not like the first
one you chose. |
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Our spoiled adults love
canned cat food. The kittens go nuts over it too. Since kittens
have such voracious appetites, we provide canned food twice a day.
Bengals are extremely
intelligent; they know exactly what type of food to expect at what time of day. Do not
be surprised if you face a revolt should you dare run out of wet food. |
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If your kitten has runny stool
or diarrhea for more than a few days, please consult your veterinarian
to be sure that your kitten does not have parasites. |
| Water |
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Fresh water must be available
at all times for your kitten. Bengals love water; they can often be found
in your shower or kitchen sink. |
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We provide our cats with a recirculating
water fountain available at pet stores that has a fiber and
charcoal filter to remove any lint. We feel this is the healthiest
way for your kitten to stay hydrated. The flowing water keeps
their attention and is occasionally cause for splashy play! |
| Veterinary care (see also our Veterinary
Care Page) |
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When you take home your kitten
you have three days to see your veterinarian
for an examination of the general health of your kitten and
one week to return the kitten (see contract).
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Never allow your cat
to be anesthetized with ketamine or another injected anesthesia.
Choose only a veterinarian who uses inhaled (gas) anesthesia
(see Veterinary Care Page for more
details). |
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Find a reputable veterinarian
in your area with whom you feel comfortable. We can recommend
veterinarians in the San Diego area. Remember that this is your
pet, and you have the control over what treatment
is provided. You should NEVER feel pressured to conduct expensive
tests or have excessive vaccinations. If you feel uncomfortable
at all, PLEASE seek another doctor. We will be happy to share
our experiences with you. |
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Your kitten requires three initial
vaccinations for upper respiratory viruses,
called FVRCP. Your kitten needs vaccinations at 8, 12
and 16 weeks. You will be provided with health records and informed
of the necessary follow-up vaccinations. After these first three,
our veterinarian recommends a booster at 1 year (also FVRCP)
and then every three years after that. Your veterinarian can
discuss recommendations for other vaccinations; Bengals are
sensitive cats so it is best not to vaccinate for diseases they
are unlikely to contract since they are indoor cats. |
| Grooming |
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Proper grooming will ensure
that your Bengal and your furniture get along. When you pick
up your kitten, we will instruct you on how to clip their claws
every one to two weeks. This is easy to do and painless for
the cat; your cat will become used to it. |
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You must not declaw
the animal. This is inhumane and will definitely alter
the personality of your cat. It is traumatic and unnecessary.
Provision of scratching posts and cat trees will ensure that
your cat climbs in appropriate places. Bengals are part tree
cat, and they will climb as high as they can! If you have a
problem with scratching, please contact
us. |
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Cats love to be brushed.
Bengals shed very little compared to other breeds. However,
brushing can prevent hairballs, promote digestive health and
show off their stunning coats. |
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Tooth care.
Start early to keep your cat's gums and teeth healthy by brushing
his teeth. There are a number of good products with finger brushes
or small bristle brushes that will keep your cat's gums and
teeth healthy. This will hopefully prevent costly visits to
the vet for dental cleaning. Most veterinarians also carry a
chewable treat called CET, which is palatable and provides some
enzymatic cleaning. |
| Litter |
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We recommend a wood pellet litter
product. Many are available at horse/ animal feed stores for
around $5 per 20-30 pounds. This is very inexpensive and is
the healthiest option for your kitten. Cats do clean their paws;
use of a clumping or other stone-based litter can cause serious
digestive problems. Wood litter is also biodegradable and provides
excellent odor control. (More expensive pine versions are now
available at all pet stores; in our experience these are less
effective at odor and wetness control.) |
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You should have 2 litter boxes
per three cats in your home. Daily cleaning is essential. Bengals
are very clean animals and do not like to get near a smelly
litter box. You do not want your kitten to find a preferred
spot to go other than the litter box. |
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