Got a Bengal Kitten on sat.

Hi im new to the forums, We got our first cat on saturday a bengal kitten who is 14 weeks old,.He is beautifull brown spotted, since we got him he has been playfull and also quite loving towards us~ But he has been very quiet today and slept alot during the day- should i be concerned?
He seems quite healthy, is using the litter tray frequently, and eating well, he hasnt eaten as much today though and seems a bit down in the dumps.

How long do you recommend we keep him indoors for?~ He has his injections on tuesday, his first course then he has the 2nd lot 3 wks after so am i better off waiting til he has had them all?

Thanks everyone! Any other advice greatly appreciated we are from the uk.

Originally Posted by bengalsmum

Hi im new to the forums, We got our first cat on saturday a bengal kitten who is 14 weeks old,.He is beautifull brown spotted, since we got him he has been playfull and also quite loving towards us~ But he has been very quiet today and slept alot during the day- should i be concerned?
He seems quite healthy, is using the litter tray frequently, and eating well, he hasnt eaten as much today though and seems a bit down in the dumps.

How long do you recommend we keep him indoors for?~ He has his injections on tuesday, his first course then he has the 2nd lot 3 wks after so am i better off waiting til he has had them all?

Thanks everyone!

Any other advice greatly appreciated we are from the uk.

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Does the UK have a different protocol for vaccinations? Here in the US the kitten shots are usually completed or close to completion by 14 weeks of age.

How long do you recommend we keep him indoors for

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I would KEEP him inside!!! Both our cats are strickly indoors only.
As for being down in the dumps, he's in a new home and is probably a little depressed.He went from I assume his breeders home to yours.Which is away from his Mom and siblings.Give him time and before you know it......he'll be all over you.
We brought Nella home on Sunday and it took her until last night to really come out of the security of our bathroom and bedroom area.

Congrats on your new kitten, by the way.....and welcome to TCS!

Thanks. The vet did say they were normally vaccinated at least for the first half of the course by 14 wks so we are a little late but she said it would be fine.She said they are usually done around 9 weeks with their 2nd course by 13 wks.Will he be okay after the vaccination or does it affect them, will he feel ill?
I will also book him in for neutering when there as we are under an agreement but didnt want to breed from him anyway.
Nikki

hey, i'm from the uk too!

my cats were fine after their injections but some cats can feel a little under the weather though.

try to keep in contact with the breeder you got your kitten from as they will be able to answer many of your questions!

Originally Posted by crittermom

I would KEEP him inside!!! Both our cats are strickly indoors only.
As for being down in the dumps, he's in a new home and is probably a little depressed.He went from I assume his breeders home to yours.Which is away from his Mom and siblings.Give him time and before you know it......he'll be all over you.
We brought Nella home on Sunday and it took her until last night to really come out of the security of our bathroom and bedroom area.

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I would recomend as long as you can... I do understand that unlike the US indoor outdoor is common place

Originally Posted by sharky

I would recomend as long as you can... I do understand that unlike the US indoor outdoor is common place

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but being a bengal i'd be wary of cat-nappers.

I agree with Maverick -- such a distinctive, gorgeous creature would be at great risk of reappropriation. He's still so young... I'll bet he would happily adjust to being an indoor kitty.

We'd love to see a picture of your little one!

Heya
I am from the UK as well, and have a Kitten at similar age. I would suggest to keep him indoors for at least 3 weeks. Call his name very often, especially when you feed him. (just so he learns his name), and then it depends really, how far he can go. My cat can only go in the garden, as he is too small yet to jump over the 2m high fence, so I didn't wait for the second shots. This time of year, he doesn't really like it much out there anyway. I would also suggest to let him have manual access to the outside for a couple of months rather than a cat flap, at least until spring or until he is neutered (which should be around the same time). I don't believe in "indoor only" cats, but I can't fit a cat flap, so my cat will never be outdoors a lot, other than evening and nights. As we don't have coyotes, racoons or bears in the UK, most cats are pretty safe. I never had a pedigree cat though. I guess I would be a bit worried someone might take him

Congratulation on your new bengal . They are wonderful creatures.

I know in the UK its generally accepted to allow the cat outside but I agree with everyone else...people will be tempted to take such a beautiful cat. I often have people ask me if my girl is a little leopard or an ocelot (??). So be wary of people thinking there is an escaped wild animal...

Also make sure your breeder allows it in the contract (sometimes they don't but again in the UK the outdoor policy is different). In the US most breeders will require their animals to be indoor only.

Don't let him out until he's been neutered. Personally I keep all mine indoors so I know they are safe.

How about a compromise? I've been walking lots of cats for lots of years. Get a harness that not only goes around the neck, but also down around the tummy (little piece connects the neck strap to the tummy piece along the back). He's less likely to strangle or escape that way... dogs have much stronger necks! Then, without the leash itself connected to the harness, just attach the harness so it fits well, which means tight enough so you can just get a finger under both parts, but no more (and it won't catch on anything, and he's less likely to slither out.. they're good at that!). Then just let him wear it for increasing times every day in the house... 10 mins, 20 mins.... til he forgets about it. Once he seems comfortable wearing it, wait for a nice day at a quiet time during the day, sprinkle a little catnip just outside the door but reclose it, bring him to the door and casually (quickly) clip on the leash, open the door and take him out with you. Put him down but don't go anywhere and leave the door open behind you. Being outside is likely to make him forget all about the leash, and he may immed. want to go back in, or else crouch and sniff all around him. Let him be the first one to go anywhere, and follow, don't lead. If he goes nuts the first time he's out, let him back in before he gets out of the harness. Do it all over again later in the day, and the next, but if after 2-3 tries he's really not interested, be glad you have a house cat! You don't want to end up having him like it so much that he wants to be out all the time and yowls at the door all day, never mind the chance, however small, that something (cars, etc.) scare him enough to get out of the harness and never come back.

debates about indoor/outdoor cats aside, here in the uk there has been a recent spate of animal kidnapping. its big buissness here as they can charge hundreds or even thousands for the pets safe return.

all the people i know who have recently purchased pedigree cats have had to sign contracts saying they will keep their pet indoor only for this reason.

bengals are fairly rare here which would make your baby an even bigger target

i really wouldnt risk any very obviously pedigree animal outside as there are horrible people about.

Welcome to TCS!

We just got a six month old Ocicat female 3 weeks ago. She flew(Delta Air Cargo) in from AR(to Atl, GA) and didn't eat or drink for 48 hours or so. She's completely turned around now and eats, plays, etc.but she too sleeps quite a bit during the day. I think your Bengal(my second favorite breed ) kity will be fine.

Dan

Originally Posted by maverick_kitten

but being a bengal i'd be wary of cat-nappers.

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yes we have an ocicat and were told to keep ours indoors because of their very friendly and curious nature. they could get themselves into a lot of trouble or hurt. also many purebred cat nappers in the UK. they love walks outside though! ours has a harness and a extender leash so she can chase the bugs. be very careful how far you let her loose though with dogs around. i work at a vet practice and we have had kittens and cats come in very injured and sometimes don't make it from this.

Hi bengalsmum Your new furbabe sounds adorable. Where did you get him from that he wasn't vaccinated? I only ask because no reputable breeder would sell an unvaccinated kitten - it goes against all the guidelines for breeders. The main reason why breeders don't sell them til 13 weeks old is because the governing bodies recommend they are vaccinated before they go to their new homes.

As far as letting him out, most people I know recommend that they aren't let out until they are neutered at least, as young kittens don't have any road sense. I would think carefully about letting him out to roam free as he'd be a prime target for catnappers. Could you enclose your garden or build an enclosure so that he can have outdoor access but stay safe? I have a somali and although I didn't have to sign anything saying I would keep him indoors, it was recommended I do. I would never let him out as Somalis are so inquisitive he'd just head off over to whatever caught his eye and never mind the traffic.