Hi All, We got our first two bengals on monday, all was going great - the kittens were playing well with each other and no issues. However yesterday we decided to go back and get their brother who we had left behind - call us insane but one of the household had fallen for him and was having serious issues moving on! - and it's been a bit of a nightmare since. When we went to meet them they were all playing well together and no sign of issues, but since we've brought him home it's upset the apple cart a little.

At first everything seemed fine - they groomed him and slept together for a time, however after they woke from that sleep he has started growling at them whenever they are within a couple of feet of him - if he sees them playing he wants to join in, but all he can do is run up to them, stop about a foot away from them, growl and then run away. Because he is growling they hiss back, then they hiss at each other, and everyone scatters in different directions for a minute, then all go back to playing again and the cycle repeats!

In total they had been apart for 48 hrs, I didnt think that this would have been too much of an issue but they seem to be more affected by it than I thought. They don't seem that phased, the ears go back and they hiss when he is growling but as soon as he turns to go they are ears forward and intrigued by him, and the same goes for the other way round - when he sees them playing he just can't help himself but to approach.

They are all in one room, with litter boxes and food bowls placed around the room so they can all eat and toilet without restriction from the others.

I imagine this will get better with time, the original siblings you brought home will have changed their scent from being in your home, the sibling brought home after 48 hours will have the scent of their old home.

This happens every time one of ours has to go to the vet. Even if they aren't staying at the vet and we literally drive them there, have an appointment and then go home again - there is lots of hissing and swiping and in fact when Hendrix went in for a day for x-rays it took a week for them to get over it fully.

Once the new sibling gets the scent of your household I'm sure all will be fine. Keep an eye on things though and separate if necessary (ie things become more aggressive) and slowly reintroduce them. The first two will probably have bonded very strongly as they moved and faced it all together.

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Try this link:

http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/document ... gether.pdf

"Remember that if your cats are apart for any reason, for
example if one has to stay at a boarding cattery or a vets,
this may affect their scent and they may not be recognised as
part of the same social group when they return, The longer
a cat is away, the harder it can be to reintegrate. It’s a good
idea to keep the cats apart – so the absent cat can pick up the
smells of home – and slowly reintroduce them."

Hope it helps and let us know how it goes - good luck!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Clare is absolutely correct. This is a scent issue! The siblings you brought home earlier have a different smell than when they were all together at the breeders. This is just going to take a little while. Hang in there. It will get better once the new one settles in. 48 hours doesn't seem like a long time to us, but I'm sure it was plenty of time for your two new babies to soak in the scent of you and your home.

Thanks so much for your advice... and you were right!

It's been an awful few days - Thursday night broke my heart as he sat and wailed and wailed, wouldn't eat, wouldn't relax. But over the course of the last couple of days it's gone from awful to lovely - they are now all playing together nicely with no growling or hissing, they can stand next to each other and eat next to each other without an issue, and this afternoon they all slept together in a huddle for the first time - so I think that he's decided he's staying!

Which is a good job as I don't think we could have coped with taking him back! This week has been full of wailing and crying from the humans in the house too, mainly the adults!

He is still very clingy, will randomly just wail and run to press himself up against you, but he is a much happier cat and is now eating and sleeping well.

Now we are facing the future of three bengals in the house... I am sure there are some times to come where we will wonder where our sanity went

I've experienced this too when one of my cats spent several hours at the vet's office due to itchy eyes. When she came home with a cone on, her sister hissed and swiped at her. It was so sad as poor little Blondie was feeling bad to begin with. It took about 3 days for this behavior to end. Glad to hear your new family is back to normal. I would love to see some photos.

I am happy to hear things have gotten better. There is an adjustment period when a cat enters a new environment and those other ones had a 48 hour head start. Now your kitties will work at being friends. I'm glad you didn't lose patience and give up. These kitties are worth fighting for. Happy times are ahead.

Thanks all, so much to think about now! My bedroom is their 'safe room' and the place is constantly a mess

Will work out how to get photos from my phone and post one!

So pleased to hear it has all settled down now! I can imagine how stressful and upsetting it all was as I've been there too!

Enjoy your new babies - three will certainly keep you busy lol

Looking forward to seeing some pictures!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK