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The key to a successful
introduction of a Bengal into your busy household will
depend greatly upon following a strict introduction
procedure.
First, strict
quarantine in a small room such as a bathroom with a litter
box, food and water. Very frequent quiet visitations at
first. Just sitting to let them get used to you. Then
brushing with a toilet brush (a NEW one) and talking a lot
to them. Then petting them after brushing with the toilet
brush. Then, after several days, brief periods of gentle
lifting and putting them back down. Then after a few days
of this, picking them up and holding them for brief periods.
Then after this goes
well, and they are totally relaxed, you can let them into a
slightly bigger space. Still no introductions to dogs or
other cats at this point. Making the children sit quietly
and brush them with the brush and speak quietly to them.
Then after that goes well, they can pet them. After all
that goes well, then you can take a towel and rub the scent
of the cats and introduce the smell of the cats to each
other. This allows them to get used to the smell before
actually meeting. The full quarantine must last at a
minimum 2 weeks.
When I had dogs and
cats, I made sure the cat had a high place to be when the
dog came in. I made sure that the dog didn't chase the
cat. Some cats will never get used to dogs, and others
will. You can never tell which will and which won't.
Some cats will get
along and some won't. Some will adjust after some time.
These things just can't be predicted. You will have to be
willing to live with the possibility that a new addition may
not get along with existing animals in your household. If
you are comfortable with that, then I would say it will
probably all work out.
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