• Prepare a litter box in advance in a small room in your home (a Bath Room works well.) Also have appropriate food and water dishes available, but empty. If there are other pets in the household, keep the door closed to limit their scent in that room. Now it is time to pick up your new Kitten and bring your bundle of joy home.

• Always transport your Kitten, or Cat, in a carrier. Upon arriving home, take the carrier to the small room and place it on the floor. Now fill the water dish with fresh water and put the dry Innova/Evo Kitten food, supplied by Santa Fe Bengal Cattery, into the food dish. Place these dishes on the floor opposite the litter box, as it is important for food and water not to be contaminated by soiled litter. Talk quietly in a reassuring tone to your new Kitten and open the carrier door to let the Kitten out into his/her new world. Don't force the Kitten to come out of the carrier, perhaps wiggle a toy a foot or two away from the open carrier door and your Kitten won't be able to resist coming out to play. Usually Bengal Kittens are very self-assured and do not hesitate entering their new world, but all personalities are different and some are immediately more brazen than others.

• Now, leave the Kitten alone in the room with the door closed for a short time (ten or fifteen minutes) to explore his/her new surroundings. If the Kitten cries continuously, re-enter the room and spend a few minutes reassuring and playing with your new Baby.

• Next, place your other pets food and water dishes several feet away from the closed door and allow the existing and new pet(s) to sniff and play at the space under the door. The natural reaction is for cats to hiss at the initial scent of an unknown animal. This is perfectly normal and in a short time they will adjust to being near each other. Now, open the door and let them get acquainted nose to nose. It is best to continue watching them interact and do play with them both to help them get to know each other.

Most often, Bengals adjust to their new home within minutes. All cats do have different personalities (and/or if you have a non-Bengal breed of Cat), you may wish to review the next four introduction steps, Click HERE to view.