Hello I have just got my 11 week old female kitten yesterday. She is already climbing on the furniture and cry's a lot looking for her sibling and parents. The breeder delivered her with her blanket and the food she has started eating. I wanted to connect with a community that understands this breed as it is my first Bengal and I want to train her properly.
I wanted to know if anyone has leash trained their Bengal and how long it took?

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your baby! It will take several days for the little one to settle in. It's a huge transition going from mom and siblings to a new human and home with all new unfamiliar smells. It's great that she is out and about as many of them want to hide under something as they are scared.

Many of us have bengals who want on a harness and leash! However, your baby is just a little too young for that right now. Know that once you start taking them outside, they insist on going outside and this is something you will not be able to just stop on a dime. Personally, I would wait until she is at least six months old.

Buying the proper harness is extremely important. Many on here recommend the walking jacket which is custom sized to your kitty. As your kitty grows, you will need to purchase larger ones. They fasten with velcro and the kitties are quite secure in them.

The H harness can be purchased through Amazon or at your pet store. It has two straps -- one goes around the neck and one behind the front legs. There are two separate clasps which prevent pressure on the neck. These are adjustable -- however, they may not adjust to fit a tiny kitty.

If you decide to leash train your kitty, you will have to make sure she's used to the harness/jacket before you ever take her outside. This can take a few weeks unless she gets used to it immediately. Many put the harness on and immediately carry the kitten outside and put it down and wait to see what happens. That is not going to work. If the kitty fights the harness and gets out -- you have a lost cat! You put the harness/jacket on the cat inside the house. Many cats tumble over and act paralyzed. Others try to fight and get the harness off. If either of these things happen, try to distract the kitty with play or treats. Once they realize they can actually walk wearing the thing, they are usually okay.

If your kitty simply goes crazy and you can't stop her, then take the harness off and try again later. Repeat and repeat. If you go several weeks with no success, then give up. Your kitty does not want to do the leash thing.

Bengals usually take to a harness in time and my bengal and I take two walks a day. He was an outdoor cat before I got him, so he took to the harness immediately. I'm sure you can have some wonderful walks with your kitty. Know that in the beginning, there won't be any walks. Your kitty will be sniffing everything in sight. As her confidence improves, she will walk further and further. Take a large towel with you so you have something to sit on while she stops -- and it can ward off other animals that might approach you.

Above all, enjoy the adventure she will bring into your life!

Welcome!

Sherry has given you wonderful advice.

The only thing I would change is that it is absolutely ok to harness train as early as you can. Even if you do not take your kitten outside, wearing the harness inside, in a trusted environment, imprints the feel of the harness so that it will be less strange and stressful when you do take him outside.

Quasar wore a store bought H style kitten harness on his way home from the breeder's, at 13 weeks of age, and doesn't even seem to recognize that he is wearing a harness. Now, when he hears the Velcro tearing, he runs to the back door and waits to have it put on because it means a trip outside.

I switched from the H style harness before trying to walk him outside because it was easy for him to get out of it. I bought a jacket from Mynwood Cat Jackets (mynwoodcatjackets.com) when he was about 4 or 5 months old. We up-sized it twice, as he grew.
The only time he escaped from it was when I did not have the Velcro fastened tightly enough.

You are in for an experience with your new friend! Bengal cats are a beautiful breed with behaviours like no other.

How bout posting a picture so we can all go, "Awwwwww...."?

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~ Kyenta

Hi. I just wanted to comment on the harness. When I got my Bengal kitty, she was too small for a regular harness. However a ferret harness fit her perfectly! She was about 10 weeks old at first and adjusted beautifully! We used to take her camping with us & Lilly would just hang out at the campsite or inside the RV.

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Snow Lynx "Jing-Li"

I agree with Kyenta that it is perfectly fine to get your kitty used to the harness inside the house. Venturing outside is another ordeal. I did not realize they have harnesses for ferrets! I just visualize 12 week old kittens as being teeny tiny. Maybe they are not! It's been a very long time since I've owned a kitten. Mine have always been strays that showed up.