Thanks all for posting,
I got Marble from a breeder in Banning, Ca.
As of last night, he's been with me for a week.
I believe he is 11 weeks old. He seemed a little bit bony.
He had 2 other brothers who were a bit more socialized than him.
There were and are still some concerns.
The breeder gave me some cat food- it looked like adult cat food.
He pooped a lot! It looked like he pooped everything he ate. I switched to Science Diet by the third day. She also gave me wood pellets for the litter box which had no odor deterrant. I switched to arm & hammer super scoop, and he like it too much. Played in it like a sandbox!
Bathroom habits and food habits seem better.
The first night he wanted to be left alone. He crawled inside a closet and stayed there most of time, which is normal behavior for a kitten in a new environment. He would run away when I approached him. The second day, I spent all day with him to make it more comfortable for him. I talked to him, pet him, even sung to him!
He was afraid to get on the bed- I think he used to be punished for getting on the bed. Now he is willing to explore more. I discovered he already knew the word, "No" when I tried to stop him tugging on the computer cords. He used to run away when I said, "No."
By the third day he would follow me, come to me when I called, and sat or lay nearby as I worked. This did take some love and attention and food!
I have always been careful not to reinforce aggressive behavior or play when in contact with him. I don't play aggressively with him and do not rub his belly if I sense in is in a play mode. On Monday, I used a toy on a string that he enjoyed chasing, he played with this toy as I dragged around for 15 minutes. We did this again for another 10 minutes in the evening. I fear that I may have inadvertently reinforced aggressive behavior. On that same day I gave him his first bath. He did not like the water too much, and was quite fearful, but I gave him treats and talked to him the whole time. I pet him and talked gently to him afterwards for 15 minutes.
Ever since the bath and the chasing of the toy mouse, he's exbited aloof, stealth behavior. He would run away when I or my room walked into the same room. He didn't like to be touched as much, wanting you to chase after him, laying on his back so that you by chance touch his tummy so he can attack, jumping when he sees you to encourage a chase, ect.. He seemed paranoid, ready to dash off if you got close to him at times- preferring aggressive play to being in your lap or scratched. Sometimes he would turn away when he realized I didnt' have food in my hand. He stopped coming when I called.
I believe having him chase the toy mouse as I dragged it around the room, enforced some ferral qualities (some of the older cat friends at his previous place were somewhat mean- they hissed and snarled when they ate and play).
He had a timeout last night for being way too rambunctious at 3 am, but today I talked to him, pet him, and he stopped running away when I came in the same room and even came when I called. Today I'm reinforcing good habits with treats. He is ferociously smart.
I have several questions:
1. What is your cat's favorite treat?
I bought this chicken flavor treat at Petco and he does not like it that much. I would rather not give him human food as treat.
2. How do I get my Bengal to enjoy water? Hello!
(Actually he loves to play with balls of tape waded up, so i'm thinking of floating some waded tape into low level water and maybe he'll jump in on his own initiation for his next bath. Maybe a windup duck in the water?)
3. My kitten always wants to play. Do you schedule a time for play with him and if so what kind of play that do not reinforce aggressive behavior?
( I stop playing with him when he gets too rambunctious-goes on stealth mode. I thought I had found a perfect excercise, play for him as I dragged the toy mouse around the room, but was this training for an attack cat?!)
4. Clay and Silica is bad and creates dust so what do you use for the litter box that will absorb odor? (I think my litter box is attracting roaches) I was cleaning it out twice a day.
5. Do you think my kitten was poorly socialized in his first few weeks of life? (The breeder had lots of animals under her sole care)
6. I have much time to spend with him now, but will it be okay to leave him alone in two weeks during the day?
Currently I've placed two books on hold at the library to help me be a better parent. It's interesting how the kitty trains you.
This kitten is very smart and special. He learns very quickly, and I realize
whatever I do affects him greatly- special care needs to be taken.
Thanks all,
Bungalowboy