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PostPosted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:51 pm 
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Bengal Kitten

Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:17 am
Posts: 2
Hello all,
I have experience with Bengals, and Bengals mix kitties. My sister brought home a cashmere Bengal female while we were both still in high school nearly 20 years ago. That cat was allowed to have several mix liters before she was finally spayed. I kept a long haired female who was one of the few kittens that displayed rosettes, but several years later she was stolen from my yard. My sister then rehomed her normal short haired tabby looking brother to me. He is now approaching 17 yrs old and has been diagnosed with a tumor in his sinuses. He is receiving steroid treatments to slow the growth, but I know our time with him is limited.

After he passes I have really been considering looking for another cashmere bengal because I love the breed both in looks, and personality, and the long haired ones are some of the softest things you can dream of petting. However I also remember how active Bengals need to be to be happy. I would not want to allow the kitty out doors, because of my previous experiences, but worry that the kitten would not be able to get enough exercise and would pester our other cat until he is driven crazy. We also have an 11 yr old declawed rescue cat. He came to us with significant scar tissue covering his back and hind legs from a raccoon attack. He is unable to run or jump and although he is very tolerant of other animals there is no way he could be the playmate a kitten needs. I'm weighing the pros and cons of getting two kittens, but having two VERY high energy cats confined solely to the house worries me.

I am a stay at home mom so I would be around to play all day, but I remember our old guy in his youth and can't help but feel trepidation at all that energy having little outlet. He would play fetch for hours, had the power to take down full sized rabbits with regularity, and once took down a goose. He would also sometimes go swimming in the bay we lived on and would scare the wits out of me. I have no idea what F generation his mother was, but I know that if I had another cat with a similar energy and power level a standard sized catio would not be enough. All that being said he is also the sweetest lap cat you could ever imagine, and has always been amazing with small children. I did bottle feed his litter starting at around 3 weeks so that may play a part in his temperament.

I've been looking at different systems to do a larger enclosure using our existing fence, but so far I haven't found one that would both keep our kitties in and other animals out.

I also worry about the level of socialization any potential kitten would receive before coming to us. Often breeders give great blurbs on their websites about the socialization they give their kittens, but that turns out to be far from the reality. I'm hesitant to put down a deposit on a kitten I haven't met in person, but it seems a lot of breeders wont let you meet the litter until after you've put money down.

Any advice or suggestions are welcome
Thank you!


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 4:08 pm 
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Asian Leopard Cat

Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm
Posts: 9217
Welcome. Since you want a cashmere, you will have to find breeders who specialise in this. I'm not sure where you are located, but 14karat, Adelhills, and Towanreef come to mind.

As for something to keep the kitties in and critters out-- the Purrfect Fence offers pivoting tops. If you get the double. critters from the outside would not be able to get over. They do make a topper that fits on existing fences. However, know ONE thing. If a cat can't get OVER, they will dig UNDER. So make sure there are no holes or any way they can get under. The problem when they get under and out is they don't know how to get back in. Some companies also make "rollers" that prevent a cat from getting traction to get over. These are not cheap options. Google "cat enclosures" or "catios" and you will find hundreds of images of what other people have done. Some are free standing, others are attached to the home. We have a 12'x12' enclosure on our deck for our two kitties. Again, these are not cheap. Portable enclosures are available, but they are small and must be supervised when the cat is in it.

Most would recommend getting TWO kittens from the same litter. Would they leave your other kitty alone? Probably not. It would take time to adjust for their co-existing with each other peacefully. Your other baby is unable to run or jump to get away from high energy kittens wanting to play. The possibility of behavioral issues in your older baby could crop up. But ... one never knows until the situation presents itself.

Back to the breeders -- unless you can visit in person and see the cattery operation, you aren't going to know much about the socializing of their kittens. True, most breeders do not allow visits unless you've put down a deposit on a kitten. Testimonials on their websites or Facebook page don't mean a whole lot, but, in general, you can find out a lot just by reading their websites or Facebook pages. Since you want a cashmere, you are severely limiting your breeder options.


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