A friend of mine just gave me a bengal.
He is 9 months old, turning 1 years old on 20/2.
He’s been with us for two days now and yet he is only staying in his safe room.
When i close the light and it is completely dark, he will start to explore. However, when the lights are turned on again he will rushed back in his hiding spot.
He is already used to my existence but not my other family members yet none of us are allowed to pet him. The closest he ever gotten to us was when we lured him out with some chicken treat..
All of my family members seems to have given up on consistently trying to break his guard but I am not a quitter. Would like to hear some tips and tricks on how i can make him open up to us more.
P/s: im also trying my best to make him got used to my smell? Will tht help?
P/ss: I managed to caught his interest to play with a toy but he only gave in for a few seconds before he turns timid again.. I just wanna love him lots :((

It’s two days since he’s come to you and your family members have given up on him, but you are proud of the fact that you haven’t???

IT’S 2 DAYS!!!!

You need to seriously reset your expectations. He’s not really a kitten anymore. He’s had at least two homes, and the fact that the last one chose to give him away means that’s he’s either traumatized from missing his old family, or from being treated poorly there, or both.

You and your family are trying way too hard, and it’s backfiring on you. You need to think longer term and not be so demanding of instant gratification.

He does not need to be poked or prodded or grabbed. He does not need to be tricked into coming out of his hiding place, only to be startled when he does, or to have other people’s smells forced on him. He can smell you just fine where he is.

What he needs is to know two things:

1. That you are non-threatening.
2. That you are a provider.

That means you get down on his level, you avoid loud noises, you avoid quick movements, and you prove to him in that way that you will not hurt him. When he does come out, let him come out and sniff you (universal cat greeting) and the quickest way to a bengals heart is through play.

Also, when you say “you wanna love him lots”, understand that you have the cat that you have, and he may or may not be a cuddly kitty. Many bengals are not. Fun and active? Yes. Cuddly and affectionate? Perhaps.

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The little monsters 3

A few things I've always done when any cat comes into my house.

Do not block exits from his safe spot. It's good to be visible, but do not make him feel like he has to go through you if he wants out ( trapped is not safe ).
Get low, I often lay down in sight of the kitty on my back with my arms crossed.
Do not use bait to draw him out.
Do not put food a great distance from his safe spot. Same applies to litter, position both so they can get back to their safe spot very quickly ( and have line of sight ).
Do not stuff food into his safe spot.
Avoid sudden noises and movements
Talk in a low volume voice to the cat. Let it know that things are ok.

There is more than that, but those are the basics I follow and have never had any issues with a kitty. Have patience, do not push him to accept you. Cats are intelligent animals, trust is mutual and sometimes you have to take the first step. As long as the cat doesn't show any aggression ( batting or hissing ) then I usually just find a spot that is visible to the cat, lay down and talk to him then have a nap ( never too old to nap ) or just watch low volume tv in a place where he knows where you are.

Great advice has already been posted. Know that it takes a while for a new baby to settle in. He is in a totally new environment with new smells and new people. He doesn't really know what just happened to him. It is natural for him to want to hide away. You and your family need to give him his space and let him acclimate to the new environment. In the coming weeks, you will see a huge turnaround in him. Have patience. You can try giving him treats or getting out a wand toy and try to engage him in play. You probably need to keep things quiet and calm as well. Soon, he will open up and give your the adventures of a lifetime.

That sounds like a Chili. I’ve only had her since mid December.
But she is 18 months and came from a place where there wasn’t much
attention or love. At least that’s what I gathered being there. She hid behind the toilet
for days. I would go in without the kids and just sit on the floor and talk to her lightly.
I never reached for her to pet or feed her. I would just sit and talk for 15 mins at a time.
Eventually she started to let us pet her. Once she was out of her safe spot, we left her to be where she was comfortable. Which was under the bed. I was anxious for her to like me too, but you can’t force it.
It was literally like not until 3 weeks or so ago hat comes out all day and meows and looks for attention.
She knows the routine every morning and night. She’s even great around the kids now.
She is still young but she’s also been other places before you. Let her know you are there for here and you will keep her safe by just being there. When she’s ready she will come to you. Chili even did something she has never done before yet. She jumped on the couch with me last night and slept with me and again this morning. She hasn’t sat beside anyone on the couch at all!!!! It takes time. She has to trust you and you have to be patient. In the end, your bond will be amazing. I have found my girl to be such a great companion and we’re still getting to know each other. It takes time. It’s so worth it. Hang in here. Don’t give up on her, the bond you will have will be worth it.

As an experienced rescuer, I can tell you that a cat who has been moved from a loving home is going to take much longer to be social than a cat who has been removed from an abusive home. They have to go through a grieving process first. Expect at least two weeks before he starts showing up in daytime, and many months of gradual adjustment.