Hello everyone, so glad to have found this forum!

I am getting a 15 weeks old bengal in 6 weeks, and although I have informed myself as much as I could until now through the internet and other owners, I have some wonderings on preparing my home for my new friend. Also she will be flying with me to her new home, so I want to make extra sure she has a safe place to arrive to. I have had cats most of my life, but never a bengal. So here some things I'm wondering

I will of course make sure I have more than enough toys/ climbing things for her ready when she comes.
I live in a 3 bedroom apartment. Should I keep her in my bedroom only when she first gets here?
Should I cover plugs or any other things that could be dangerous for her?
What is a 'normal' time for a bengal kitten of this age to feel confident around me and her new home?

Thank you so much, and ANY other tips (maybe some people have encountered problems?) would be appreciated!!

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The little monsters 3

Welcome to our forum and congratulations your upcoming kitty. Brian gives top-notch advice on this forum. Thank you, Brian! It's wonderful you are anticipating everything prior to your baby arriving. Gosh a plane ride to start off with. I'm guessing she will be in the cabin with you? Hopefully, you will get a secure carrier for her and do not take her out of it, no matter how much she may cry or yowl. She is going to be quite stressed out to say the least. Some cats behave very well. Mine would yowl at the top of his lungs the entire trip.

You will want to "cat proof" your house. Get on your hands and knees and crawl around so you are seeing things from her angle and make sure she can't get behind things like furniture or holes she may not be able to back herself out of. One member here thought she'd lost her kitten but heard it meowing from behind a kitchen cabinet.

I already know she will be spoiled beyond belief. Bengals are loyal and social so she will want to be with you much of the time. A safe room is simply a place for a cat to decompress after the stress of leaving mom and siblings and coming to a whole new environment and human. Some cats deal better with it than others, but you will be able to tell. So, just use your own judgment. You can't go wrong either way. Bengals also love to sleep with you, so be prepared to share your bed. Note that not all bengals love being held, carried around, or sleeping on laps. Many do -- but a lot will depend on the socialization of this kitten.

My advice to you is to simply be patient and let her settle in at her own pace. Time is your friend. Good luck.

Thank you so much guys, this is super helpful!! And yes I will get on my hands and knees to check everything before she gets here! All the advice I can get is appreciated, thanks so much and yes I will post some pictures!
And by the way I am looking forward to sharing my bed with my new best friend!

Thanks again guys, please let me know if you think of aaanything else, as I hadn't though of a few of these things.
xx

And they can slip through the smallest spaces. Our cat tree condo has a small "diamond" shaped opening and Raiden crawled through it the other night. Never did that before and I wasn't sure he would fit, but he squeezed through it.

Looking low to the ground is a good thing for their first month or two. After that though, you gotta look *up*. I think that was one of the biggest difference between the bengals and other cats I've had. Their desire to get to the highest points of the home, play up there, and then find a way down causes a lot of problems.

For example:

1. Jumping from floor to counter to top of refrigerator to top of kitchen cabinets (like 2ft from a high ceiling) and then running amok up there.
2. Jumping from floor to top of audio cabinet to top of wall system/cabinets, then having a problem getting down from there (until I installed the hicat and shelving)
3. climbing the curtains, getting all the way up to the curtain rod, running across the curtain rod and climbing down to the top of a tall bookcase.
4. climbing to the top of a tall cat tree, then leaping from there to the top of a bookcase
5. jumping from the floor to the bathroom counter, and from there to the top of the walk-in shower. Impressive since the shower wall is like an inch thick, so it's like walking a tight-rope up there.

One of the biggest problems of each of these examples, is they get themselves in situations where it's pretty difficult to get *down* from there.

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The little monsters 3

LOL Brian ... you speak of experience!

Oh my gosh that's crazy! I have really high ceilings so I have bought a few very high cat trees (nearly 3m each), so will be interesting to see how she reacts! Hopefully will be able to get down by herself haha!

Also, does anyone have bonding tips for bengals? I'm a huge cuddler and of course would like my bengal to be too. I know I can't push personalities 180 degrees but if you have any advice I'd love to hear it

thanks again everyone. Can't wait to ger her in 6 weeks!!

There are a lot of bengal cuddlers. Yours is young, so it will depend on the bond and the companionship you present. Spending lots of time with your baby. Personalities are definitely different. A lot may depend upon the socialization by the breeder. Just know that bengals show love in different ways.

The key is not to force the kitty into cuddling. Lots of petting and you can entice her on your lap with treats and toys.

Bengals do cuddle and crave companionship. They just don't do it quite like other cats. Or perhaps they just do it more intensely. It is a matter of finding the kind of touch that they like, and they will come back for more and more and more! If I stop paying attention to Oberon, he yowls in protest. and sometime does a soft chew on my elbow or wrist to get my attention.

He was adopted from a shelter at age 9, and was neutered at that time. I have watched him learn how to play (and not run off with the toy/prey). We have taught each other the touch that he likes. Petting his fur and patting his back (actually heavy thumping that borders on spanking). Scratching ears and neck. Sometime even belly rubs. He does not lie on laps laps, but will lie on the couch pressing his bod up against me. Recently has started laying on my legs and lap when I am in bed. He struggles and whines when I pick him up, but quiets down and relaxes if I reward him by thumping him.

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The little monsters 3

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The little monsters 3

With Raiden, the wheels don't turn. He just jumps.