Miley asks: Is this my new brother or a stuffed animal?

[Russian Blue]

Do you have the Feliway plug in that NoahsMommy is currently using? That could help.

How about rubbing both cats down to distribute and get them used to each other's scent.

Also, like I mentioned to NoahsMommy, try putting a dab of vanilla on the end of Ti's nose so he cannot get so anxious over the new animal scent?

Just suggestions. Good luck with the sweet guy!

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by sasvermont
Having just gotten him, I don't know tooooo much about his background except what the breeder mentioned in passing. She did mention that he was from the same line of the original breeder of Bengals, whatever that means to anyone. He is not wild and is not an alpha cat at all and I was told that too. As I said, he is not a fighter and has shown no aggression at all, nothing...not even a growl or a hiss even when I picked him up. The breeder said to give him a couple of days to warm up.

Yes, the breeder said he loves water. I can tell by all the "paw activity" that he likes to play with toys and uses his paws to do his work!

I got the name of Ti's breeder from another breeder I know. She had kittens available but mentioned this one boy kitty, one year old that had been neutered a few months back after they decided to NOT use him as a stud. They had him inside their house and grew attached and didn't want to sell him. She didn't want him to go to another breeder since he was such a love bug and wanted him to have a home rather than a pen/cage. So they decided to "pet him out" rather than have him go to a breeder. - I didn't really want a kitten, knowing that Miley was out of that stage and that I was expecting another kitten in June....an Aby, replacing (?) Graemer from the original breeder of Miley and Graemer.

I don't know that I made the correct decision in taking Ti, but it surely seemed like it at the time. The way the breeder described Ti, he seemed like a good fit here. She kept stressing that he was not an aggressive cat or an alpha cat...he was a lover. Adn that he was smart, playful as all get out and a sweetheart.

I have his paperwork at the office and will look up his parents etc. to see who they were etc. and then I should know more about him.

The thing I find so amazing about him is how he feels to the touch. He is all muscle - and solid as can be. It is almost scarey and it is like touching a panther or tiger......so muscle bound but not fatty at all. And then there is Miley, a silkly, skinny, light weight who can wiggle her way off your lap in a split second....weighing just 6 lbs. and Ti weights 17! He is only a year old!

More pics tomorrow.

SAS

Glad to hear he likes the water too, I would be worried if he didn't lol. It's hard to keep my cats away from any sort of water, espcially the shower. They actually hang out in the shower with me, so they never need baths hehe.


But again Bengals form STRONG bonds, so it's going to take a while for him to get used to you, but once he is you will share that same connection with him. It sounds as if his lines came from Leopard cat/domestic cat hybrids and not true Bengals so his shyness is normal. Look at his papers, what does it say? Does it say F1 or F2 or just list his breed as Bengal?

Yes they are pretty muscly. Have you seen an Asian Leopard Cat? I have seen them in person and they are amazing. Mystic used to weight 19 pounds but now he's down to 16, as he needed a diet. Houdini, you wouldn't even know she was a Bengal unless you knew her background, and Cheetah, well you can tell she's a Bengal, but her color is not show quality and she's a petite gal.


I am attaching a picture of an Asian Leopard cat, this will give you some idea of how his ancestors looked.


But he will come around, the breed is just slower than others, keep in mind this breed is farely new, they haven't been around for 30 years like some of the other breeds have.

I am sure he will fit in just great...and you may expect him to get just a tad bit bigger too.

[luckies4me]

Here is a Bengal boy I may get if they decide to not use him for breeding. I believe he weighs 20 pounds and he is 9 or ten months old. Much better coloring than my kitties now.

[sasvermont]

Baby steps (remember that movie, "What about Bob?")....

Last night I tried to coax Ti out from under the dresser, but to no avail. I actually got a bit ticked off because he was so close, but just wouldn't budge.

Actually, right now the two cats are fighting in the living room. Lots of noise, but they must go through it, so I will not interfer.

Anyway, last night, I shut the door to Ti's room and went to bed. Around 2 AM I noticed that Miley was not sleeping in my bed and so I went looking for her. Some smart kitty opened the door to Ti's room. She and Ti were in the living room, just looking at each other. At some point this nice meeting went sour and a fight ensued. Then I took Miley and put her in 1/2 of the house and left Ti with me. He spent several hours playing in the living room with toys, the scratching posts, my hands, etc. I slept on the sofa the entire time. He is a BIG boy and I wonder if Miley will figure that out the first time she really tangles with him!

Just a few minutes ago I left Miley come back into the main area (couldn't find Ti at all....) and of course, Miley found Ti and war broke out. I don't hear any howling so there must be at "stand off" taking place.

Gosh Robyn, too bad my kitties aren't as happy go lucky as your two! Actually, I have had worse introductions. Plus, Miley has been here much longer than Dandy was with you before you brought in Guinness. AND your kitties' personalities are so much more mellow than my current two.

I must work today - but will take pics. tonight or tomorrow, assuming I will have cats with fur left to photograph, when I return from work.

Have a good day everyone!

[catmandu]

dont worry , when he sees what a great home he is moving into , he will become used to you and miley! Love will always find a way!

[sasvermont]

Well, Miley is getting worse with poor Ti and he just takes it!

Here are some photos I took tonight.

Enjoy!

Opppps. They didn't come out! Back to the drawing board.

[sasvermont]

I am trying to attach a file.

[sasvermont]

I am trying to attach a file. Gosh, this evening is very slow on the internet. Even Imagestation keeps dumping me. MSN hotmail was having problems.

Yikes.

[Karen]

It's not just you, Paul is checking it out.

[Karen]

Let's see: this is a picture of MY brother, Miley! And his daughter, just so ya know. Brothers can be good sometimes, but they do take some getting used to.

Sasvermont, try your attachment again!

[Pam]

Karen she is precious! I've got a little grandson that may be interested in meeting her in a few years.

SAS, maybe it will work now.

[Karen]

That was at her first birthday party last August, she's grown a lot more by now, of course! That's the brother whose Reserve Unit was activated, so he's in upstate NY now, and away from her. She still, though, has her Mom, three kitties and one bouncy dog to look after her!

[Pam]

Karen, my grandson turned one year old last September 1st. The Terrible Twos are just around the corner! {{hugs and prayers to your brother and his family which includes you too!}}

SAS sorry to be off your topic, but I see there is a 'sort of' continuation of this thread - "Ti is finally out and about!" in Cat General for anyone wishing to follow up with the Ti guy, and boy is he HANDSOME and BIG!