Hello all

I will be picking up my first bengal kitten this weekend and as it is a decent length trip home from the breeder, I will be stopping off at my parents place overnight before completing the journey home. I was wondering if the kitten will easily cope with two new environments (both have safe rooms) in 2 days or whether it may be too much for him?

I will also be going away for the weekend the week after I get him home, and thought it best to take him with me. I will be with him at all times and was wondering the best way to ensure he is comfortable with the journey and the two days that he won't be at his new home.

Any advice is very welcome :)

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The little monsters 3

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. Luckily they weren't a shock and obviously if my kitten is terrified, he will be my first and foremost priority. I suppose I just wanted some sort of glimmer of hope that there is a small possibility some kittens are able to handle that sort of thing (as the weekend away is for work and would prefer not to reschedule). I guess only time will tell!

Thanks again for your comments! :)

No I won't be working during the weekend, I literally have to be away from the kitten for a total of an hour over the weekend (which is for work purposes), so that is not an issue.

I understand it may be an issue for the kitten, but I unfortunately I may have no choice, hence the advice being required to make it as comfortable and least stressful as possible for the kitten. I will obviously try to get out of the weekend if necessary or perhaps pick up my kitten a week later, but I was just after advice in case those things aren't possible.

Hey,
I did the same thing when I had gotten Basil. I had to stop at parents house for the night before the journey home. He was fine, and didn't get very stressed, I kind of locked myself in the room with him stayed with him almost the entire time (except for dinner and bathroom of course). He explored the room but I only allowed him to stay in the room I was in at parents house, and did not let him roam their house. When I got him home, I also kept him in my room for 2 days before allowing him to acclimate to the rest of the house (there were no other pets living in my apartment around the time I brought Basil home).

Things are new for him, and obviously the more comfortable he is the better so try to just keep things in the room that will be familiar to him. For me, I gave him a toy when I first picked him up and put it in his carrier with him, I made sure he had it in my room at my parents house, and then in his carrier on the way to my apartment. I tried to make sure he has familiar things with him so that he may feel a little more confident. That was one of his favorite toys for awhile, until he totally destroyed it 5 months later.

As for you going away a week later, I wouldn't say its the best idea, and to avoid doing it if possible because the first few weeks are important bonding time, and I wouldn't want to miss that for the world. I think during that time he is trying to get to know you, and you disappearing may confuse him. Him staying at your house for a week and then having to travel again I feel may confuse him too because he's just getting use to an environment.
Do you live in your home alone? or do you live with someone? If there is someone there, I'd say that you and that person spend alot of time with him, and request that person spend alot of extra time with the kitten while you are away. Obviously its not the most desirable decision, but I think that if the kitten has someone familiar with him while you are away, and spends a lot of time with them while you are gone, he won't worry as much where you are for the short time because he'll have someone there for him.

I think that is a lot better of an option than taking him with you, because you will be exposing him to a lot of things (some that could stress him out physically as well) in all the different environments.