Hi I'm Ann _ advice needed for introducing a kitten to Mindi

Lindesfarnemead · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:37 pm **Posts:** 2

Hi All, I am Ann
I live in the UK, in the north East

I have a beauty of a bengal I took on from a rescue and am about to bring in a kitty to the family.
Mindi is a 3 year old indoor silver spotted bengal, she's very playful and adores playing, climbing & basically follows us around until sleep calls.She lived in rescue for 8 months prior to coming to her forever home, and prior to that she was with a family who decided to have a baby!

Our new little kitty bengal boy (Mork) will be 10 weeks old when he arrives, he will be her soulmate and I so want to get their introduction off to the best of statrs.
I thought I would ask you bengal lovers whats the best way to do this, its a new one to me?
Any advice will be appreciated
Thanks

Kyenta1 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:02 pm

The best advice I can think of to start with is to keep Mork at the breeders' until he is at least 12 or 13 weeks old. Those last few weeks are critical to his socialization and will assist him behaviourally with your resident cat, Mindi. (I LOVE those names, btw.)
I think you can avoid a certain amount of discord between the two of them if Mork is as socialized as a cat as he can be before moving into Mindi's world.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Ask your breeder to wait until your boy is at least 12 weeks old. Kittens learn a lot of socialization in the last couple of weeks. As for the introductions, you will need to prepare a safe room (bathroom, spare bedroom) for Mork. Put his litter box, toys, bed, and food and water in there. Make sure you use the same type of litter box and litter as the breeder. Since you will need the extra litter box anyway (plus one more for a total of three). You can play with Mork and bring him out of the room to hold, but do not let him run around your home just yet. He will need to acclimate to his new environment and new people and new smells, plus another kitty! Know that sometimes the introductions go smoothly and other times they do not! Be prepared to have some patience. The first thing you will want to do is swap scents between the cats. Your little gal will be curious as to who the new arrival is. Then, you can try to feed them in the same general area. That way, the food is more important. You can also try to engage each of them in play at the same time. Note that hissing and growling is okay, but no attacks on either kitty! Supervise them when they are together until you are sure that they are getting along fine. They will groom each other and sleep together and play together. Only you can determine how much time the new kitty needs in the safe room. We had a member here who introduced the cats almost immediately and it was love at first sight between the two of them. That happens so rarely, so be prepared to spend some time properly introducing them. And know that we are here if you have any questions.

Congratulations!

Lindesfarnemead · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:37 pm **Posts:** 2

Thank you Sheery and Kyenta1, that sounds like very good advice.
I have contacted the lady I am getting Mork from, as we want to go see him and also to ask her opinion and what the possibility is for her to keep him a while longer.
Lets see what she says.

Yes, Mork & Mindi - bless :-)

I like the advice on the safe room, we had thought to do this but weren't sure on how much interaction and this is a good guide. It's our first time to do this and want to get it right to avoid possible ongiong problems.

I will keep you posted if you will find it of interest.

Thanks again
Ann

Kyenta1 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2016 12:21 am

Ok. So the next thing we need is a picture. :wink:

When you speak to the breeder, find out what type of food and litter she or he uses. Start Mork out on the same type of food and litter and switch him over gradually to whatever you feed Mindi.

Clare&magic · **Joined:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm **Posts:** 707

My little girl Pearl was 14 weeks when she came home with me, my almost 4 year old boy Magic has excepted her completely and I've only had her just over a week, I think I was very lucky as they are both very sociable and laid back.

I hope yours works out as well for you, look forward to seeing some pictures.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Always err on the side of caution. Pearl was to be in her safe room and away from Magic and, fortunately, they ended up together almost immediately and things went really well. Does not always happen that way and you need to be prepared. You will interact with Mork in the safe room or you can bring him out into the living area. Mindi may be curious. The key is to not just put Mork down in front of Mindi and see what happens. He needs protection .... just in case. You may find Mindi adores Mork from the very beginning. We have had instances here where members thought the resident cat was going to kill the new arrival. But with time and patience, things can and do work out.

Clare&magic · **Joined:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm **Posts:** 707

Hi Sherry did I read this morning that someones bengal has gone missing.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Clare's Hendrix has been missing for a week. She's "Tabitha" on the forum.

Clare&magic · **Joined:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm **Posts:** 707

I thought so, it's just I saw a post on another forum that a bengal had been found in Eastleigh Hampshire, I did ask about him but unfortunately it isn't him, this one is a brown spot 5 years old, his micro chip was registered to a previous address, the owners must have forgot to change details when they moved, so all they have is his name and age, it was worth asking but shame it's not him.

Hi I'm Ann _ advice needed for introducing a kitten to Mindi

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