New Bengal Kitten and 9 MO Bengal Behavior

Winston_Bengal · **Joined:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:45 pm **Posts:** 7

Hello!

First time posting! We are the owners of our beloved Winston our 9 m.o bengal kitty. We thought that he might want a litttle friend as every cat he meets (neighbour cats in the back garden/my parents cat) he wants to be friends with. And hopefully keep him entertained while me and my partner are at work. So the other day we brought him his new sister Ruby, another 15 w.o Bengal kitty from the same breeder. She was very shy and unconfident compared to when we brought Winston home, however this was probably due to her entering another cats domain. Winston on the other hand could not wait to meet her and was prowling outside the kitchen door howling to be let in (we kept her in the kitchen for the first hour or so). Anyway we let them meet and from the get-go Winston has been chasing and bopping and biting Ruby all over, but never in an aggressive way. If he can't find her he chirrups and meows until he find her, is always watching her and clearly really likes her. Ruby on the other hand runs away and hides for the most part - could this be as Winston is just too big and boisterous? Sometimes she'll be submissive and lie down on her stomach, other times she cowers on her back, legs in the air. And she always growls or hisses, sometimes even squeels, whereas the only noises Winston makes is little meows and chirrups. Has anyone else experienced something similar?? I always thought the older cat was supposed to hate the new kitten not the other way round? We have never introduced cats before, so not sure what normal behaviour is like? Their fights look really terrible or is that just because I am their cat mother? TIA

brianj12 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 17, 2017 7:25 am

There's not really a "normal", every cat is different. From what you've said, I think there are two issues here:

1. Ruby hasn't really acclimated to your home yet, and she needs time to do that.
2. Ruby is still too small to rough-house with Winston.

I think you should keep Ruby in a "saferoom" until she is more confident about her surroundings. It's really not so much that she is in another cat's domain, it's that she has been ripped away from the only home she has known, and so she has to learn about the new home, and she has to decide that it's going to be an ok place to stay. Get her used to her room, get her used to the humans, and is more of a confident kitty in general. Her reaction is not unusual. Plus Ruby just needs to get a little bigger. Then start having short "visits" with Winston, closely supervised. It sounds like they are going to get along very well, but what you don't want is to have these encounters ending badly (with one or the other cat unhappy about it).

If there's a problem at this stage, as you say, it's usually with the resident kitty being jealous of the newcomer, but that is clearly not the case, so that's great news. But he wants and needs a playmate who will withstand his rough-housing, and Ruby isn't there yet (she will be though!), so you just have to take that slow.

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

It always takes some time for a new kitty to acclimate to a totally new environment. Some can take to it right away, but there are new humans, new surroundings, new smells. There is no confidence in a cat at that point and the cat usually wants to hide. Your Ruby is used to rough housing with siblings, not larger adult cats. You will simply have to have patience and give her time. She will grow. But, now, the important thing is that she does not feel bullied by your Winston. Give this some time and they should be best buddies. Ruby needs to trust Winston.

Winston_Bengal · **Joined:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:45 pm **Posts:** 7

Thank you both for the great advice, it's much appreciated. We had some grooming this morning so I think it's just a case of baby steps. Ruby has also been a lot more settled with us humans and bossing Winston about at meal times so all steps in the right direction. It's just nice to get a bit of reassurance. Will keep you updated.

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

I'm sure they will soon settle down, I must admit mine were together from the first day, Magic was 3 when I introduced Pearl who will be 2 next month.

They get on fine one minute play fighting next minute grooming.

Hope to see some pictures of your 2.

Winston_Bengal · **Joined:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:45 pm **Posts:** 7

Hello everyone!

So sorry for such a late reply I have tried to upload pictures but I couldn’t find a way with my mobile until now...thank you all for all your advice...after about 2 weeks Ruby and Winston became inseparable and now eat, sleep, play, groom, and even poop together! Ruby will follow Winston around everywhere they are such a joy to watch. Our vet said that a little research has been done into cat ancestory and that cats that are related to each other recognise each other (Ruby is actually Winston’s auntie on their maternal side aka Danny and Jon...) so perhaps that has helped them bond so well. Either way thank you all again - feel free to follow them on Instagram (winston_and_ruby_bengals).

TraceyChops · **Joined:** Sun Feb 26, 2017 6:05 am **Posts:** 213

Such a gorgeous pair. So glad it didn't take long for Ruby to realise Winston just wanted to be friends.

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

They are so precious. Not sure how your vet could delve into the ancestry of these babies without a pedigree, unless he cars for Bundara's cats as well. I'm sure I have Winston and Ruby's parents in my database as I have the queens and sires for Bundara in there with F generations. If you know the pedigreed names of the parents, I can tell you for sure.

Winston_Bengal · **Joined:** Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:45 pm **Posts:** 7

What a small world Sherry! Yes we have the pedigree linage for both Ruby and Winston back 5 generations, and we also go to the same vet practice as the breeder and see the same vet so he knows a little of their history also! It’s so fascinating! I’ve inteoduced a fair few moggies before but never had the results that we did with Winston and Ruby; it’s like knew each other already there was no hostility just lots of love! But maybe that’s just their breed as all the bengals I’ve ever met have been so friendly :)

New Bengal Kitten and 9 MO Bengal Behavior

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