Hello,

I am new to posting but I have been getting a lot of great advice from here both before getting my new Bengal kitten and since he has been home.

I have had him around two weeks and he is around 17 weeks old - it has taken him a week to settle in but now it feels like he is very happy! He is currently snuggled up on my lap purring away It has been really good to be able to take the time to introduce him to the new environment slowly and he seems to be doing really well and as i work from home we have really bonded and I spend lots of time with him.

This week work dropped a trip to the USA on me - i leave in two weeks and have to go for 10 days So the kitten will have been with me a month. I am worried he is just settling in and I don't want to cause him worry or stress. I have two options - I can take him back to the breeder to hang with his Mum and sisters she has very nicely offered to help or I can drop him and all his stuff to a friend who also works from home and loves cats.

What is the best option - he obviously really missed his mum and sisters when he first came here I don't want him to get too upset by taking him back. The friend is home most of the time and it would be more like him being with me - lots of attention.....thoughts???

I would go with the friend - he won't be recognised by his mum or siblings now as his scent will be different having been in your home. Will cause a lot of stress with the reintroductions I would have thought.

Neither is ideal really, as he will still have to get to know your friend and he will only just have settled with you so both options are an upheaval for him. However, work is work and it has to be done!

My opinion for what it's worth would be to let him stay with your friend.

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

Can anyone move into your house? Territory is so important to cats. If not then I would too choose your friend to look after him. Really difficult situation and must be worrying you. If he is so young, I would also sleep in a t shirt for a few nights and put it in his bed to sleep on when you are away.

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Melissa

UK
Oscar - Rescue (Rascal!!!) Bengal

Welcome to the forum. Happy you joined us! Gosh, this is a quandary. At first, my inclination was to take him back to the breeder, but Clare is right -- his mum and siblings won't recognize him anymore. Your friend is a great option, but I would advise that your friend spend a lot of time with your kitty before you take him over there for 10 days. Yes, your poor baby will be confused beyond belief! A safe environment is everything, so you can expect that he will be stressed out by the new location, new smell, new human, etc. 10 days is a LONG time to a kitty cat. If your friend could move into your place for that time, it would be more ideal! But, making sure he leaves with something with your scent on it may be a huge help. Just know that behavioral problems can start either at the friend's house or when you return -- and you'll be dealing with a not-so-happy kitty! This is not an ideal situation, but appears you have no choice.

I actually think both of those are potentially pretty good options actually. But I think you are really in the best position to make the best decision for your kitten, because ultimately it comes down to how trustworthy your friend or breeder is, and which one of the two is likely to offer the best accommodations (for example, where he will be kept, and how much time are they likely to spend with him). That's how I'd base the decision.

Having someone come to your house is another option, but given his age, he really needs more care than once or twice a day visits. So the other two options I think are potentially much better, but dependent on those individual people's diligence of course.

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The little monsters 3

I would go with your friend. She works from home and loves cats - she will give him lots of attention.

Thank you so much for all your advice. My gut was telling me to go with my friend as she is home all day will adore the company and spoil him with attention. I know it will be hard for him the first couple of days but he will settle and remain in a similar environment a chilled out home with no other cats. I appreciate all your help and support!!

I would take him over to your friend's house for a couple of visits (if time allows) before he actually goes over there. That way he won't be stressed at the new "home". Hope you have a safe trip.