Hi everyone!
I'm new to the Bengal world and thought this would be a great place to get a feel for it. My husband and I are thinking about getting one but we're being careful about it. We both grew up with a variety of animals but as adults we know that being a kid and loving one is much different from all the adult responsibility of owning one.

At the moment we have a pet rat,Georgie that we love. So, we won't be getting a cat until Georgie's short life span is over..for his sanity and ours. This gives me plenty of time to prep for a cat. My husband and son (who's 5) have allergies to some breeds of cat, and not others so we're going to find a local breeder/rescue and see if they'll let us handle the cats before we commit to make sure they're aren't any issues. We'd hate to bond with a critter we can't love on! I've done some research into their special diet and that's not a problem, thanks to our last dog we're pros. on finding just the right food. We're also moving soon so we want to get settled before add a new family member. We'd be getting two around the same age so they'd always have a playmate.

I read that you can't declaw them otherwise they have some serious biting issues to make up for having no claws. I'm assuming that's part of their "wild side". Am I right? My mom always declawed our Siamese but that doesn't mean I'd do it to my cats if it would do more harm than good.

Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you got your cat??

Yep .... definatley get two ... oh, and it if it's breakable and you don't want it broken, put it away or nail it down

There is never ever, EVER anything good that comes from declawing a cat ... it has nothing to do with Bengals or their slight wild side, it's just a barbaric practice designed purely and simply for the convinience of people that do not understand cats and easy money for vets who are ignorant.

I think Georgie would make a fantastic mea ... erm, I mean playmate for kittykat .... I bet they'd get on like a house on fire

Youu have indeed found a fantastic resource .... Please, please, please .... read lots and lots and find a decent breeder! You will soo not regret it ....

Thanks for the replay. I'm not too worried about the declawing, it's not a deal breaker. Just don't want to do harm to the kitties. I have a very clear memory of one of my childhood kittens on the couch all sore and in pain with blood bandages on his paws..he looked so helpless I just broke down. My mother insisted it was "for the best"..pretty sure she meant it was best for her lovely pretty things, not the cat.

Georgie has a life span of 2-5 yrs..he's a year old so I have plenty of time to cat proof my house before the kitties get here and test it all out. For now I just want to get as much info as possible and feel out how life for others is with these lovely critters.. As for a breeder, I plan on being as picky as I have been with my past dog's breeders..very! (another reason to arm myself with info..I'm less likely to be dooped.)

Please excuse the typos..it's just been one of those days..should have stayed in bed.

I think you will find that nobody on here is a fan of declawing. It is actually illegal in many parts of the world due to the cruelty of the act.

Welcome to the Bengal forum... there is a wealth of information to be had from it

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Lollo

I've never really liked declawing, if they were to get out of the house somehow they'd be helpless. I do however, trim my cats nails. That way she still has use of them for the most part, but they're not needle sharp. My cat is a bit klutzy and there was a couple times when I first got her that she tried to jump onto my lap or shoulder but didn't quite make it so she used her claws to climb up the rest of the way. Got some nice scratches from that!

It's pretty easy and painless, you're just snipping off the clear colored tip. Just be careful to avoid the quick (the pinkish part in the middle of the nail). It will also cut down on destruction of furniture. A few well-placed scratching posts will go a long way too.

i used to breed fancy rats, miss them

when i had moggies, the ones that i had from kittens, never bothered with my male rats, infact they used to curl up and sleep together. Once a kitty has had a bite from a rat, they should wise up and leave alone.

been to A&E 5 times to have stitches

oh and hi and welcome x

Hello and welcome! I think you came to the best place ever to get knowledge of the Bengal breed it has helped me more than you could ever know! I think there is a few things that I would have liked to have known about before getting my girl. First you are doing the right thing by getting two, not only for the kittens but you as well they are addictive, second research research research breeders. I think that is one of the most important things testing for HCM and PK Def are a must ( dont let them tell you otherwise) there are a lot of bad breeders for every good one. Socializing a kitten the right way is another good thing I wouldnt want a kitten(or 2) from a breeder that keeps them in cages all the time. And last would be to buy cardboard scrathers. BB my Bengal LOVES them and I think most cats do we spent hundreds of dollars on the post scratchers and cat trees and come to find out she loves the horizontal cardboard ones. That is another thing buy a big cat tree to start off with! We bought a small one thinking she would be to small for a big one and soon found out that she out grew it in about 2 months! Good Luck!

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