At what age is it best to take a Bengal kitten home?

The answer is very simple — 3.5 months. Let’s figure out why this is so and what dangers may await you if you decide to buy a Bengal kitten before the proper age.

1. A kitten’s birth and feeding

Bengal kittens are born with a very short coat, blind, helpless, and deaf. A litter can have from 1 to 7 kittens. More is rare. According to our observations, an average of 4 to 6 kittens are born. Even at birth, it is possible to draw conclusions about the future color and quality, but often as the kitten grows, the initial conclusions may change. That is why even experienced breeders do not rush to reserve kittens in advance and wait until a certain age.

Little Bengals open their eyes starting from day 7; in some, this process can take up to 14 days. They begin to crawl unconsciously already the day after birth, and start exploring the world and leaving the nest at 3 weeks of age.

2. The kitten’s health and documents

The Bengal breed is characterized by a rather sensitive digestive system, especially noticeable during the development stage. Kittens feed on their mother’s milk for 1.5–3 months after birth. If the cat has little milk, breeders may supplement the kittens with milk formula, and starting from 3 weeks of age, complementary feeding in the form of pâté or meat can be given.

Undoubtedly, the kitten’s health should be a breeder’s priority, so if you are offered to take a Bengal kitten home at under 3.5 months of age, you should be cautious! Such a breeder may be aiming to shift responsibility for the pet’s health and the necessary preventive procedures onto you. From 4 weeks of age, the kitten is dewormed. This is done twice at 10-day intervals. When the kitten reaches 2 months, it receives its first vaccination.

The second one (revaccination) is done after 21 days, and at 3 months of age a rabies shot can be given. It is necessary for obtaining some documents, as well as for transporting the animal on public transport or abroad. After that, the kitten must be in quarantine for 21 days. After all of the above, the kitten is ready to move to a new home.

3. Socialization

Over the past 3.5 months, the kitten should have been litter-trained, accustomed to a scratching post, adapted to life among people, and learned to eat on its own. It should look healthy, be energetic, well-fed, and show no external signs of illness.

So, let’s summarize:

• At what age should you take a Bengal kitten? — 3.5 months.
• The kitten should have a veterinary passport, a microchip, and all vaccinations done.
• It should look healthy and have no digestive problems.
• Be socialized and accustomed to the litter box and scratching post.

Remember that by buying a Bengal kitten earlier than the proper age, you risk its health and shift responsibility from the breeder to yourself. Officially, clubs do not allow kittens to be sold before 3.5 months. If a breeder assures you that there will be no problems and offers to let you take the kitten earlier and vaccinate it yourself, you are taking a big risk. A kitten may react differently to a vaccination and may require professional care and recovery.

There are risks that threaten the pet’s life, so it is better to take kittens only when they are fully prepared.