Hi there,

This is my first visit and first post.

Having lost my wonderful Jasmine (Lilac Tabby Point Siamese) six months ago, I decided to get another cat as it is very lonely here without.

Having spent 14 wonderful years with Jasmine, I decided to go for a different breed than Siamese as it would have been far too painful.

I did some research then phoned a local breeder to see fi they were aware of any Bengals needing rescue.

Not that I would have had a problem buying a kitten, but, I wanted a cat in need.

I contacted a breeder since I was having difficulty locating any rescue homes that had Bengals.

Anyway, the breeder told me she had an ex-Queen of 1.5 years of age who she was looking to rehome at a cost of £50 to cover neutering costs.

Throughout yesterday I had many conversations with the breeder asking lots of questions.

I went out and bought everything I needed then went to the breeders.

The cat, Deana was very timid and the breeder told me this is because she is not used to humans.

When I got there there were lots of Bengals in the house who seemed relatively friendly, albeit a bit wary of me which I guess is to be expected.

Anyway, I managed to pick up Deana and she struggled quite a bit, but, I managed to get her in her carry box to take home.

When I got her home, I took her to a quiet room (It is a very quiet house, I live alone) and put her in there with the door open so she could roam.

I put food, water, a little fluffy house, a radiator bed and a litter tray with her.

Initially she was cowering in the corner, but, when I checked on her later she was sat happily, albeit somewhat wary with big bright blue eyes.

I checked on her later and she was stood between the bed and the bedsite cabinet staring at the wall.

I stroked her and she meowed, I assume she was not happy with me doing that.

I then went to bed, in a different room and during the night heard her moving around and going to the loo.

I got uyp to do the same myself and she came to investigate, however when I spoke to her she turned around and walked off.

I checked on her before going back to bed and she was under the covers in the room, and a bit later up and about again, although I do not think she had been downstairs.

I got up a little later and she was in the corner again so I picked her up carefully and put her in her radiator bed, to which she immediately jumped onto the bed and meowed, wandered around a bit, not wanting me to touch her but not running away.

Eventually she went under the covers again.

I put my hand underneath to stroke her and each time she meowed.

I am now up for the morning getting ready for work and she appears to be sleeping/hiding under the covers.

The breeder has e-mailed me to assure me she will calm down soon enough and eventually may actually let me stroke her etc.

WHen I picked her up, all the breeding cats were in large sectioned off areas like cages, but, extremely large. I assume this is the way breeding cats are kept rather than allowing them to roam.

When I asked the breeder why she was getting rid of her, she told me because she is too old to breed now and is being put out to pasture.

I specifically asked if she would make a good house pet and she told me that she will eventually become one. I can only assume she has never been socialised.

She is a lovely looking cat, her fur is in exceptional condition and I have all the paperwork which seems to tie in with what I have been told about her.

When I saw her photo on the Internet, she was a snowy white, however, when I picked her up she was a champaign colour. Not that I am worried what colour she is, but had to check with the breeder that I had the right cat. The breeder told me they get darker as they get older.

Have I done the right thing? Do you think she will calm down and be happy as a house pet?

No kids, no other animals, just me and once a month my folks, which each other month involves a 1.5 hour car journey.

Will she ever let me touch her?

I know it has been less than a day, but, I just want her to be happy, even if it means taking her back to the breeder, although I would love to keep her.

Any advice will be very much appreciated

Cheers
NaNook

Aww she sounds lovely..
All mine meow everytime they see me or if I touch them..
Bengals are very vocal cats and they 'talk' to you all the time..
She will come round..
she may never like you picking her up but she will come to you when she wants attention..
Just give her lots of strokes, lots of talking and she will start following you around...
Good luck..

I would just echo what the others have said - it sounds normal behaviour for a cat in a new environment and you're doing all the right things. Bengals are very vocal so don't assume that her miaowing is a sign of unhappiness - they like to tell you everything that's going on. Sometimes it can sound as if they're distressed but it's often just that they're talking loudly

I got my three moggies from a rescue centre. They're all from the same litter and 2 were very friendly but Poppy was quite wary of humans. It took her 2 or 3 weeks to settle but now she's the cuddliest lovebug you could ever imagine. One tip is that she was frightened of me if I went to stroke her from above (ie with my hand coming down towards her head). I suppose I must have looked like a big threatening giant looming down on her. She was much less frightened if I got down to her level and stretched my hand towards her at her shoulder height, avoiding her head and face.

Look forward to hearing how you get on.

_________________

_________________


We're on Facebook! www.facebook.com/jupiter.victor

Visit the Jupiter and Victor TV Channel!
www.justin.tv/jupitervictor

Hope she settles down soon but as everybody else has said it'll take time and you need to take things at her pace.

We've had rescue cats in the past that would sit in the corner and only come out at feeding time because that's what they'd been used to in the shelter. Given time they realised that we weren't that bad or scary after all and eventually they turned into lovely friendly old purry cats

_________________

Thanks again some much for your advice.

I will leave the room as it is until she is snooping around then, that makes complete sense.

It is a small guest bedroom with no TV unfortunately so I cannot really sit in there for the evening, but, I will pop in every hour or so and speak to her and stroke her through the duvet and put my hand under now and then so she can smell me.

I will most likely keep asking questions in this thread if that is ok with everyone through the weekend, as my paranoia and worry get the better of me, but I am certainly feeling a lot more positive now and starting to understand a lot better what she is going through, thanks to all your fantastic replies

you are more than welcom & please do ask anything you want to know.

i'm hoping you'll be coming back on telling us about what miscief she's getting up to before long

Hi guys,

Can't stay too long, it seems my attention is required.

For a few hours now there has been rubbing up against, purring, playing, up and down the stairs, jumping on activity centre.

I am absolutely amazed.

She is now sleeping on the sofa UNDER the throw

Thanks so much for giving me hope and helping me persist, she is still nervous but she is letting me stroke her and is responding to me calling her

Thanks so much

I will post some photos when I can take some good ones of her.

Great news
I'm glad that she is now settling in with you. Please keep us posted of further interaction, I;m sure it won't belong until she is on your lap.

_________________



Kato & Leon