Hello everyone!

I'm a 22 year old PhD student. I've been wanting a cat for over 10 years and I finally convinced my parents, who I am living with! I've been researching this topic for months now and throughout my research, I've understood what I want from a cat...and the qualities that I want can be found in the Bengal breed! I am absolutely fascinated by this breed because they are playful and affectionate and clingy, just like me. A couple of weeks ago, I visited a breeder and fell in love with two of the female kittens that she had. The mother and her kitties were very kind and beautiful and amazing with kids (the breeder had young children of her own). They're evidently well socialized and well mannered kittens and I absolutely adored them. When I have kids of my own in the next few years, I know that these kitties would get along very well with them. So I decided to put a deposit down for the two female kittens...I was set on getting two because I wanted them to entertain one another while I'm at school (I'm an experimental physics student so I have to spend many hours in the lab on weekdays.) Unfortunately, my mom was very opposed to getting two kittens, and at the time, it seemed that there was absolutely nothing that I could do to change her mind. So I had to end up choosing one kitten last minute (I had to make my decision quick because there was a long waiting list for these kittens and it wouldn't have been fair for me to take too long) =(

I'm gonna be picking up the kitten when she's around 10 weeks old (in a few days). I'm extremely nervous about this because I've heard that "single kitten syndrome" is indeed a thing. I'll be away from home for around 10 hours a day. I have three other members in my household who will be at home at various times throughout the day. Overall, I think the kitten will be alone for around 4 hours a day. I'm very scared because I don't want her to be lonely. I feel as if I have made the wrong decision in getting one kitten. I've gotten a cat tree and toys for her, but I don't know if that's enough. More than wanting to have the kitten, I want to the kitten to be as happy as possible.

Do you have any advice for me in this situation? Is there anything I can do to make my kitten as happy as possible? Or is the best option for me to re-home her?

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The little monsters 3

Brian's comments are well-written.

In addition, 10 weeks is too young to bring the kitten home. She has not yet gleaned enough from her siblings, cousins, aunts, and mom to ensure good litter hygiene or how to limit bad behavior, i.e. biting and scratching.

If you are going to proceed with this kitten, please have the breeder keep her for at least 12 weeks, which is the TICA recommendation for homing new kitten, otherwise you are inviting trouble down the road.

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~ Kyenta

Getting two siblings is probably the best way to acquire a bengal kitten. However, many single bengal kittens get homed and things work out just fine. Bored cats of any breed will start looking for trouble. I would never discourage someone from getting a bengal. You just need to know what you are getting into. They are not your normal cat, period. Visiting a cattery and seeing the cats in their own environment is nothing like bringing home your singleton to your home with new people, new smells, etc. A new bengal owner must have a lot of patience because a kitten (even a DSH) is going to be getting into things they shouldn't. It appears you live with other people in the household. If this is your kitty, then you need to set the rules. Disciplining a bengal is impossible.

So, no spraying with water, no spanking. They can get to know the word NO. Make sure your home is bengal proof. Get on your hands and knees and look at things from their view. Cover up small openings, hide wires. Bengals do love being high up and are happy to sleep atop a cat tree. You will need to spend a lot of time playing with your baby -- and if you aren't there to do it, then someone will have to. Bengals have more energy and kittens especially will need to run it off. Do you best to avoid the scratching by using wand toys.

There will be a long adjustment period for you and your new kitty. Be patient. Congratulations.

Please please please no water bottles or spanking as Sherry said ..just finished mentally repairing a cat after that sort of treatment and it is not a pleasant thing.
Raising a single Bengal is becoming their playmate, their sibling and best buddy and with your understanding and patience a whole lot of fun with huge rewards in the future. A single Bengal will be your housemate, not a pet, they are way to smart to be just a pet..lol
With play for example don't just throw a ball at the cat and expect him to chase it, get down on your hands and knees and bat the ball around yourself..join in with the play and make it a two way thing. Lots of quality and making them use their mind play.
If something catches the cats attention out the window, sit at the window yourself and share the experience with the cat with lots of eye contact and talking and I guarantee it will turn into a two way chat session.
As Sherry said, get down to their level, enjoy and share the interest and fun.
Soon they will be yelling at you to come and look to at what they have seen.
Bengals are so intelligent too they will look to you for visual and verbal clues so a big grin and laughter when they do something good and fun or a frown when something not so good they pick up on extremely quickly. Talking to a Bengal is just as good and important as getting a pat..they will quite often roll over the floor in pleasure just by being spoken too. Does you a lot of good too..lets you get things off your chest that you want no one to know about..lol
One thing I do when off to work in the mornings and leaving the cat alone is hide treats all over the house..instead of the cat crying and getting upset about you leaving they spend the next couple of hours finding the treats and the ones they don't find you and the cat have a lot of fun finding the ones they have missed when you get home. I am sure one of my cats used to leave treats untouched just for the homecoming fun. I have left my cats alone for quite long periods but once they accept the routine and a lot of play and attention is given after getting home, things are fine.
Bringing up a single Bengal can be a little more demanding but can bring out attitudes and behaviors that are special just for you two.
Mostly have fun and enjoy, don't stress over it, as you get to know the cat and they get to know you it will all come together.