I have been researching for a while and have finally decided to get a couple of bengal kittens! A brown and a snow :) They will be ready to leave in a couple of months and I can't wait!

They will be my first bengals so was just wondering if there's any first time owner tips that anyone has?

My new babies.. http://s824.photobucket.com/user/Claaar ... d.jpg.html

Ooh! They are gorgeous - So tiny!
There are loads of threads on here about new kittens and the things to be prepared for - From getting them home to safe rooms and settling in, etc. The thing to remember is - They will be missing their brothers / sisters and Mum, so you will become their 'go to' person. To them you will be a giant, so spend lots of quiet time on the floor, at their level, letting them get used to you.

They're adorable!

_________________
Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

Aww, your kittens are adoreable!

Welcome!

There are loads of threads on here for this kind of advice, so have a wee look through them if you have time.

Being fairly new myself I'm by no means an expert, but this worked for me when I took my kittens home:

Lots of "no pressure" quiet time is a good idea - let them come to you on their terms! I sat on the floor of the kittens room with a book for a while, just concentrated on that and gave my kittens time to get used to me. I also avoided too much eye contact with them at first, and spoke to them in hushed/gentle tones.

For the first few days (up to a week) try and dedicate just one room of your home for your kittens. They need to be able to find their litter, water and food easily, so make sure this is all in one area where they can see it. Also, whilst they need an area to "escape to" where you won't disturb them, try and make this a room without too many hiding places in it (you don't want them to disappear behind the bed/sofa/washing machine everytime you enter the room).

Once the kittens are coming to you when you enter their space, looking for food or affection and they are coming across a little more confident with this, it may be time to open the door and allow them to explore another room, but I would strongly advise against allowing them to do this until you are absolutely sure they are using their litter tray reliably and seem to be bonding with you. (You don't want to open up a whole host of potential hiding places for the kittens until they are used to you!)

Keep your kitten on the same diet as the breeder has given them until they are over the transition period and have adjusted to their new home. Also, use the same brand of litter as they are used to.

Allow quiet people to visit the kittens after a few days, the more socialised your kitten, the better off in the long run, but make visits short and low stress.

Lastly, an old jumper/blanked that smells of you will make a lovely bed for the kittens and they will get used to your scent and associate this with warmth, love and comfort.

Thanks everyone! I will definitely have a read through some of these pages :) Im too excited Im not sure I can wait 2 whole months!

SunnyChick has offered up some fabulous advice. If you've had cats before, throw everything you know out the window because Bengals are like no other cat. Read up on the breed itself as you'll learn a lot. Don't expect lap cats -- unless you're really lucky. Don't expect them to sleep a whole lot -- they have a ton of endless energy and they will demand a lot of attention down the road -- well maybe because you have two of them, they will entertain each other. They may also be very vocal, and by vocal, I mean, they will cry endlessly. Mine cries unless you're tickling his belly, playing with him, feeding him, walking him, or he's sleeping! Oh, and he's quiet in the litter box. LOL.

What I will tell you is that having a bengal is a wonderful experience. They are amazing creatures and will entertain you. Make sure you eventually get a cat tree as these cats love to climb and be high above the ground. Most come with scratching posts that cats love.

Your babies are just beautiful! I know you can't wait to get them, but at least you have enough time to learn everything you can about the breed.

My tips for a soon-to be bengal ower:

* The way to a bengal's heart is definitely through play. Getting two will help a lot, but make sure you set aside plenty of time to play with them.
* Bengals are super-athletes, so "bengal proofing" is pretty challenging. Expect them to be able to get into places that other cats can't.
* Providing them climbing opportunities will really please them. TALL cat trees, climbing poles, cat runs along the walls etc.
* Start researching vets if you haven't already, and have one lined up for an initial visit soon (within the first week) after you bring them home.
* now is a good time to look into pet insurance if you want to do that. So many new bengal owners bring their bengals home only to have problems like parasites or upper respiratory infections and such.
* set your expectations properly: getting your bengals home is a big day for you, but the worst day of their young lives for them. Don't be surprised when they want to hide and cry for their family that they left behind for a good long while (sometimes days).
* Also, as far as expectations, know that you are going to have a ton of fun with them, but that fun involves getting scratched up too. They will climb you like a tree, and hunt your arms, hands, and feet like prey until they learn how you like to play with them. Be ready for that.

_________________
The little monsters 3

I brought 2 bengals home 3 weeks ago. They are 10 months old and siblings. I put them in my Master bedroom for a few days until they felt comfortable. They hid a lot for the first few days. My family and I played with them, pet them and feed them treats until they warmed up. And then we introduced them to the rest of the house. Now after 3 weeks, you'd think they lived here for months. ;) They are so sweet and such stinkers. They love my kids and love to eat and play. Just make sure you know what they eat at the breeder and buy litter and toys first. Oh and my have destroyed their toys and I think one of them ate part of a toy. I suggest buying very sturdy toys so they don't eat them. ;)