At the end of last year I adopted a male Bengal kitten. I'm debating whether to get him a companion, especially now the nights are drawing in and he's spending more time indoors and getting bored.

Over the summer I tried adopting a female rescue Bengal, one month older than him. He was keen to investigate and make friends (he also gets on very well with the neighbourhood moggies). I kept them separate for a few days and tried gradual introductions, but she attacked him every chance she got. He just ran off and hid. He started getting very stresses and urinated in front of me a couple of times in protest, so I had to return the female.

So, he could still do with a companion, and I'm thinking about a second kitten, but I'm really worried that when the kitten reaches maturity it will dominate him and push him out.

He is really tightly bonded with me, so I don't want him to feel pushed out by a new arrival. Also the breeder told me he was the quiet one in the litter, so I'm thinking he's more of a beta male and more likely to feel pushed out by another cat (although he's very bossy with me).

Should I try another kitten or try and keep him entertained myself?

If I get a kitten should a try a boy or a girl?

Should I choose another 'quiet one', one with little interest in dominating other cats?

Do you vary the games you play and rotate his toys so he is not bored with them?

He does not NEED a playmate and your experience tells you that it may not work out if you got another cat. There are two possible outcomes which you definately don't want.

1. They dont get on at all and you end up rehoming the new cat and then have to destress your boy.

2. They bond really well but then want little to do with you as they have each other.

BTW Benji whines and sound pathetic if I am busy doing something and he is not involved with, so I try and play with him as soon as I come in, then do things I need to and then later he will come and either want a bit more play or a cuddle.



Heather

John Bradshaw's thoughts are that cats meow because they learn to meow from us, cats rarely meow when they interact with each other, they learn that meowing attracts our attention from very early on.

I agree with all here, you have a timid cat that is probably ripe for being bullied by any newcomer you introduce.
Cats do not NEED playmates, as Fenstar says they are solitary animals. Often an owner to meet its needs for food and shelter and company is all it truly needs.
People NEED more cats to satisfy all sorts of urges, but very, very rarely is it for the good of the animal itself.

I think you should keep him entertained by devising tricks and challenges for him to keep his mind active. Bengals are often pretty clever so do well with clicker training, keep rotating his toys, keep off the cat nip, do less inane chasing games, and use more games that make him think.

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

I will now take a another look at toys and harnesses to keep him occupied.

Is there a thread on here with creative cat games for Bengals?