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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

7 weeks bengal, is it too young

104 replies

Branleuse · 19/10/2017 16:27

Im going to have a look at some bengal cross kittens tommorow. The mum says theyre ready to go as theyre eating properly, but theyre not very good with the litter tray yet. Do you think thats because of their age or maybe because of their breed? Would leaving it a week or two be better? I dont want to risk losing the kitten to someone else.

Ive never had such a young kitten before. Ive always gone for older kittens or adult cats. How much of a difference does a week or two make in reality?

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dementedpixie · 19/10/2017 16:28

It is young. We got our kittens at 8 weeks and even that was probably a bit early although they were using the litter by then

Allergictoironing · 19/10/2017 16:31

At that age it can make a lot of difference - that's the age when they are still being taught loads of stuff by their mothers including litter trays & proper socialisation skills. Recommendations seem to be minimum 8 weeks up to 10-12 weeks

DumbledoresApprentice · 19/10/2017 17:01

Are they free to a good home or are you being asked for money? If they are charging more than a token amount run a mile. They are too young and these are essentially just moggies if the mother is a Bengal that has just been allowed to roam and get pregnant. They could be carrying all sorts of illnesses, including FIV. Don’t hand over any money, it only encourages people to breed irresponsibly. Pedigree breeders will normally not let their kittens go until 12 weeks.

MsMims · 19/10/2017 17:24

No decent or credible breeder would release at that age. This is clearly a back yard breeder. As PP have said, 12 weeks is standard for pedigree breeders to release their kittens to new homes.

scootinFun · 19/10/2017 17:27

Reputable breeders say 10 weeks.

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 17:28

its not a proper breeder. Its a woman with a bengal that has some moggie kittens. Not all of them even look like bengals, but some of them really do, with spots and everything. They are not being sold at anything like the price of full Bengals. Im not particularly interested in whether its a pedigree or not, or having a posh breeder. I just want a cat and Ive always loved the look of bengals

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Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 17:30

So its pretty unanimous its a bit too young. I think ill probably wait till another couple of weeks. For the litter tray training as much as anything

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scootinFun · 19/10/2017 17:44

If you are worried pay her half and make sure it’s for a Bengali one- take a pic. But do leave it for a few more weeks

DumbledoresApprentice · 19/10/2017 17:55

Bengal cats can be quite high-maintenance. I know these are crosses but if they have inherited certain Bengal traits they can be quite challenging. It’s part of the reason why you find so many of them in rescues looking for homes with “experienced” cat owners who don’t work and have no children. Lots of people get them and then rehome them because they can be incredibly needy, high energy and vocal. Are you happy to have a more challenging breed or is it just the look of the bengals that you like? I’d just make sure that you’re aware that they often have different temperaments to your average moggy just in case that isn’t what you’re looking for.

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 18:21

In what ways are they harder? Ive always had cats, and have had dogs too, and have had Oriental/siamese crosses too, which ive found more dog like than most cats, but not in a bad way. I mean its still a cat isnt it. I also have two adult cats at the moment

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Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 18:29

why no children? Interested to know before I even look

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Whitney168 · 19/10/2017 18:35

If you've had Oriental/Siamese crosses, Bengals should be fine. They are quite dog-like in nature, although obviously with a cross there are no guarantees.

I very much doubt the woman selling them will want to wait for you to take it though.

Wolfiefan · 19/10/2017 18:38

So this person has an unneutered pedigree Bengal but let some random moggy get at it? Why would you do that? I would be highly suspicious.
And I'm suspecting they want a decent chunk of change for this half moggy.
I would walk away personally. And if you haven't researched Bengals you should run a mile! They can be feisty and prone to certain issues. (Obviously all cats are different!)

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 19:26

I dont really care about why her cat got pregnant. If she was planning on breeding from it and it got out and shagged the local tom, its not unusual for that to happen. I dont see whats to be suspcious about. Its just a cat.
Ive been quite clear that im not interested in pedigrees or the breeders history or motives, as long as the cats are healthy.
I wouldnt get a pedigree, I have no desire to spend hundreds on a cat

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Wolfiefan · 19/10/2017 19:29

If you honestly think it's "just a cat" then you shouldn't have one. At all.
It is a living breathing creature. If you are paying for a pet you should do all you can to ensure that the animal hasn't come from someone indiscriminately breeding with no regard for the health of the parents or kittens. That "just a cat" could live for 20 years. That's quite some responsibility.

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 19:56

I already have cats. Im not thick. I know cats can live 20 years. I mean its just a cat as in I see no reason to start questioning the breeder. I think the whole backyard breeder thing should be a serious consideration thing for someone looking to buy a pedigree puppy or something as they need a different sort of socialisation, whereas with a cat, I think things are usually fine as long as its not feral, and i really was asking whether 7 weeks was too young. Not whether I am worthy of getting one at all.

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Veterinari · 19/10/2017 19:56

Kittens should be with their mothers til at least 10 weeks of age. Your ‘breeder’ sounds incredibly irresponsible

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 19:59

Its not a breeder, shes just got a bengal cat with some kittens

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Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 19:59

not a proper breeder i mean

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BloodSplatteredFangs · 19/10/2017 20:03

If she has a true Bengal cat then she will have signed a contract with the breeder she came from to get her spayed so she cannot have kittens. Therefore, every part of your story says there is something dodgy about the person you are trying to buy the cat from, especially since they are looking to get rid of them so young - it indicates that they do not prioritise the kittens' and cat's wellbeing over getting money.

Bengals are very lively and usually prolific hunters if they go out, or damage properly if indoors as they get so easily bored. They are lovely cats but they are not like a regular moggy.

PoisonousSmurf · 19/10/2017 20:09

I had a Bengal male cat from a pedigree breeder a few years ago. He was only allowed to leave at 14 weeks old.
Before he was sent to the vet for the 'snip', he would try to dominate me. Attacking for no reason and very demanding.
After the snip he calmed down a lot and became very loving. A bit like a dog.
He did have a habit of going into the fields behind our house in the spring and come back with baby rabbits (alive!).
Then one day he left because we got another cat.
They are very intelligent cats and need a firm hand. Best to stick to a moggy, or if you want an interesting cat, get a Norwegian Forest cat.
Much easier!

Lonecatwithkitten · 19/10/2017 20:10

Socialisation is just as important in kittens, but in a different way there are so many things they learn from their Mums hence why reputable breeders keep them longer.
Sadly backyard kitten breeders are becoming more and more common with the poor queens being baby making machines and kittens being sold with cat flu and ringworm.

MsMims · 19/10/2017 20:15

Ive been quite clear that im not interested in pedigrees or the breeders history or motives, as long as the cats are healthy.

A back yard breeder won’t give a damn about the health of their kittens. They won’t have had the mother tested for genetic conditions or more importantly feline aids if the cat was upduffed by any random Tom. Most BYB kittens never see the inside of a Vet surgery before being sent off to their new homes. At least get one from a rescue if you really give a damn about getting a healthy cat. They’ll have been vet checked and blood tested for contagious disease.

Oh, and bengals are not for the faint hearted unless you have plenty of time and patience to exhaust them. If not, look forward to aggression towards other animals, weeing all over the house and more delights. There’s a reason so many are rehomed.

reallyanotherone · 19/10/2017 20:17

Agree bengals are an utter pain in the arse. They will destroy your house, decimate the local wildlife, and terrorise local cats for miles. They are demanding, and very loud. You will be up several times a night trying to figure out how to shut the damn thing up. Your neighbours will complain about them breaking in and eating their food, waking them up at 3am yelling outside their house.

They need a lot of exercise, and lots of mental stimulation. You say you have cats but these are a different ballgame. I have known people ring the vets because they think there is something wrong with the cat when it’s crashing round the house at 11pm.

My bengal cross was more hassle than my puppy. I no longer have anything on shelves or window ledges, it will get knocked of and broken during a crazy spell.

You have been warned!

Original poster
Branleuse · 19/10/2017 20:22

i spoke to her on the phone and she just appears to be a normal working class woman, who has a bengal cat,that has got out and shagged a tom cat and has had a mixture of moggy kittens of different colours.
Youre absolutely right in that she is not acting like a professional breeder because she isnt one. She just wants to get rid of her kittens, like anyone else with an accidental litter.

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