Comprehensive Bengal & Savannah Kitten Care Guide

Welcome

Congratulations on your new Bengal or Savannah kitten!

This guide contains essential information to help your kitten settle into its new home safely and happily. It covers health care, feeding, litter training, housing, socialisation, exercise and breed-specific advice.

Medical & Health

Deworming

Your kitten has been wormed using Milbemax.

Recommended Schedule

• 3 weeks: First treatment
• Every 2 weeks until 8 weeks of age
• Monthly until 6 months of age
• Every 1–3 months thereafter, depending on your kitten's lifestyle and your veterinary surgeon's advice

Outdoor cats generally require more frequent parasite control than indoor-only cats.

Vaccinations

Notes

• FVRCP protects against Feline Panleukopenia (Enteritis), Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus (Cat Flu).
• FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) is strongly recommended for kittens that may have outdoor access or live with other cats.
• Rabies vaccination should follow your country's regulations and your veterinary surgeon's advice.
• Kittens usually require 2–3 primary vaccinations, given 3–4 weeks apart.
• Keep your kitten indoors until 7–14 days after the final primary vaccination, or as advised by your veterinary surgeon.

Other Preventative Care

Flea Prevention

Use a suitable flea treatment throughout the year, particularly if your kitten has outdoor access or lives with other pets.

Neutering

Neutering is recommended for all pet cats that are not intended for breeding.

Male cats

• Usually castrated once both testicles have descended.
• Helps reduce spraying, roaming and fighting.

Female cats

• Usually spayed at a similar age.
• Prevents unwanted litters and seasons (calling).
• Many owners request a midline incision to minimise visible coat changes.

Microchipping

In England, pet cats must be microchipped before they reach 20 weeks of age and registered on an approved database. Keeping your contact details up to date greatly improves the chances of your cat being returned if lost.

Annual veterinary health checks are recommended throughout your cat's life.

Feeding

Current Diet

Your kitten is currently eating:

• Fresh drinking water available at all times
• Royal Canin Kitten wet food
• Royal Canin Kitten dry food (biscuits)
• Raw chicken, turkey and fish mince

Feeding Advice

• Continue the same diet for the first 1–2 weeks after bringing your kitten home.
• Introduce any dietary changes gradually over 7–10 days.
• Feed 3–4 small meals daily until around six months of age.
• Always feed a kitten-specific diet, as growing kittens require higher levels of protein, calcium and phosphorus.
• Wet food supports hydration.
• Dry food helps maintain dental health.
• Choose foods where meat is the primary ingredient.
• Fish provides beneficial Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Never Feed

Avoid:

• Cooked bones
• Chocolate
• Onions
• Garlic
• Grapes or raisins
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dog food

Litter Training

Your kitten is fully litter trained but may have one or two accidents while adjusting to a new environment.

Litter Tray Tips

• Provide one litter tray per floor, plus one extra.
• Place trays in quiet areas away from food and water.
• Use unscented litter where possible.
• Show your kitten the tray immediately after arriving home.
• Scoop waste daily.
• Wash trays regularly.
• Clean accidents using an enzyme cleaner to remove odours.
• Never punish accidents, as this can create fear and anxiety.

Bringing Your Kitten Home

During the First Few Days

• Your kitten may cry for its mother or littermates during the first night or two.
• Begin by keeping your kitten in one safe room.
• Gradually increase access to the rest of your home as confidence grows.
• Provide a warm bed with a wrapped hot water bottle or safe heat source.
• Keep your kitten indoors for the first few months while learning its new home.
• Secure windows, balconies and any dangerous hiding places.

Home Safety

• Keep toilet lids closed.
• Empty buckets and baths after use.
• Bengals and Savannahs are fascinated by water.
• Remove toxic plants, especially lilies.
• Keep medicines, cleaning products and electrical cables safely out of reach.
• Always check washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers before closing the doors.

Introducing Your Kitten

Children

• Teach gentle handling.
• Keep play sessions calm and short.
• Redirect biting onto suitable toys.

Dogs

• Introduce gradually.
• Supervise all interactions.
• Reward calm behaviour.

Other Cats

• Give each cat its own litter tray, food bowls and resting area.
• Introduce slowly over several days or weeks.

Play & Exercise

Bengals and Savannahs are extremely intelligent, athletic and energetic cats.

Daily enrichment is essential.

Provide:

• Cat trees
• Scratching posts
• Window perches
• Tunnels
• Puzzle feeders
• Interactive toys
• Fetch toys
• Climbing opportunities

Always play using toys rather than your hands or feet.

Rotate toys regularly to keep play interesting.

Outdoor Access

Do not allow your kitten outdoors until it is:

• Fully vaccinated
• Neutered (if appropriate)
• Completely settled into its new home
• Confident returning when called

Begin with supervised outdoor sessions in a secure garden.

Keep your cat's microchip registration details up to date.

When to Contact Your Vet

Seek veterinary advice immediately if your kitten:

• Stops eating for more than 24 hours
• Has repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
• Struggles to breathe
• Appears unusually quiet or weak
• Has difficulty passing urine
• Develops worsening eye or nasal discharge
• Suffers an injury or suddenly changes behaviour

SOTON Savannahs

infosotonsavannahs@gmail.com

Thank you for choosing one of our kittens. We wish you and your new companion many happy years together.