Breakthrough!

The boy has finally come around!

Last night I was laying on the floor in front of them while they both played with the blue track thingie and some feather toys. Several times they bumped up against me when suddenly Ares came up to me and pushed his head against my hand (you all know how cats do that, asking to be petted). So I started scratching him behind the ears and he flopped over exposing his beautifully spotted belly! He's been putty in my hands since!

Heres a few pics of him playing just before he came around:









Dreamer is a coming around too, but she hasn't decided that I can pet her yet. That girl LOVES to play though. Bring out a toy and she's the first one there. She's very curious and very smart (and oh so pretty! LOL)

Very nice markings - unique. Did you get them for pets or for show?

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Very nice markings - unique. Did you get them for pets or for show?

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Thanks! They do have beautiful markings. No bullseye and good outlining on clear, glittered coats... (I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about! LOL!)

I got Ares to show, but it will be a while as I want to make sure he's totally adjusted. Dreamer, although she would do well at a show, I took as a pet because her breeder said she's got 'tude' and doesn't like being touched. That said, when I told my breeder about how Dreamer licks my hand and climbed on my lap to get food, she was amazed and said if I work with her I may be able to show her too.

The only thing is, I have to be very careful about this. Bengals are not 'allowed' to act up in the ring. Not like other cats. So I have to be absolutely sure they are both going to be OK with being handled. I may just take them to a show, but keep them benched just to get them used to it. At least for the first time.

But yeah, as far as looks and type, they are both show quality.

Heres a side view of Dreamer (after she pulled some bread out of the garbage can, so excuse the mess! )



And heres a side view of Ares:



And both of them showing very clearly:

To "condition" them - try taking them individually to Petsmart/Petco and have people pet and handle them. That's what I did with some of the rex kittens.

Also whenever you have family/neighbors over, get them to handle them too - even the kids

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

To "condition" them - try taking them individually to Petsmart/Petco and have people pet and handle them. That's what I did with some of the rex kittens.

Also whenever you have family/neighbors over, get them to handle them too - even the kids

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I'll do that. Thanks GK!

Congrats on the breakthrough Gorgeous kitties

They're absolutely gorgeous! I love your pictures of them. I don't think I know anyone with as pretty marbled bengals as yours and congratulations on getting through to them

I never had that issue with Nikita, she was asleep purring in my lap on her first day at home. Although like most young bengals she prefers playing over petting anytime.

Beautiful cats! Congrats on the breakthrough. It would be great if you could eventually show them both

Originally Posted by Siggav

They're absolutely gorgeous! I love your pictures of them. I don't think I know anyone with as pretty marbled bengals as yours and congratulations on getting through to them

I never had that issue with Nikita, she was asleep purring in my lap on her first day at home. Although like most young bengals she prefers playing over petting anytime.

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Thank you! When I learn to take pictures as well as you, maybe I can actually do them some justice in the pics!

Its so wonderful learning their personalities! Dreamer is definitely the curious, playful one. Ares is just a big fluffy purrbucket! He is SO sweet! He even goes up to Duke purring and rubbing against him. And Duke is like, "Dude, what are you doing?" LOL!

I don't think I mentioned it, but I spoke with my breeder about their shyness. She said that their whole line tends to be more like the F-generation cats and it takes a while to get through to them. They tend to be more shy but curious in the begining.

She said it took her two weeks of one on one time with Ares and Dreamers papa (http://www.rockybengals.com/sxnu.htm) before he came around but now he's practically attached to her ankles! LOL!

Ah ok, in my case as well I got Nikita when she was 14 weeks old and she was really trusting then and still in a kitten frame of mind thinking most new things were normal. By 6 months she was much more wary of strangers and weird noises and otherwise unusual things. And also I could pick her up from the breeder directly and the trip was just a few hours by car so that probably makes a big difference as well.

I've been taking photos for years and since I've got Nikita I think I've probably taken close to 3-4000 photos of her although only arond 7-800 are any good and ever fewer are really good, still I have a BIG backlog I can show here. It really made a difference having an SLR though, the less lag between pressing the shutter and the camera actually taking the photo makes a big difference. So does having control over depth of field.

I just clicked through and gosh their father is an absolutely STUNNING cat. Wow. I'm really looking forward to following Ares and Dreamer as they grow. Congratulations again on your gorgeous kitties

Oh my gosh!! Thats great! I am coming over to steal them now. lol just kidding, they are gorgeous!! I am glad you had a break through!

Sigga, is it a digital SLR or film? I have to be honest, I'm afraid of film! LOL!

When I got Duke, he was only six weeks old. He rode home in my lap and slept on my chest all the time:



Funny thing though, is that right now Ares is much more 'cuddly' than Duke has ever been. Duke only cuddles when he feels like it. Ares, I can just go up to him and start petting him and he'll flop over. Even when he's eating. It was actually funny this morning. I was feeding them all, and I started petting Ares, and he flopped down right in front of the feeding dishes so the other two had to back up!

That's a digital SLR mine is this one here specifically: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-.../dp/B0009GZANC although there are newer models out now. It's a very good camera. I don't think film would be any good for cat shots to be honest, you need to be able to take lots and then delete out the bad ones. Also it's so much hassle to then scan in the photos etc. I'm never going back to film.

Duke was such a tiny ball of fluff when you got him. Wow, look at that little floppy zonked out kitten He's got gorgeous eyes as well (judging from your sig).

It definately sounds like you've really gotten through to Ares now. Nikita has never flopped over just from me petting her. She'll purr lots and twine around my feet and sometimes if she's asleep somewhere I can "cat transplant" her to my lap and she'll stay but mostly she prefers to be around me rather than on me.

tiffanyjbt,

You are so blessed! They are absolutely stunning!! I know close to nothing about showing, but I can only imagine that they would do wonderful.