r/bengalcats

...He's a big meerkat now

Hello folks! It's been a bit since I posted here, but I wanted to get a bit of advice. I did poke around on other training advice threads, but wanted to see if there was any additional tips or pointers I could glean. My kitten (now just over 8 months) Malkia has learned a few things, she's super social, knows playing boundaries, fully understands her clicker, and we're about 80% of the way to sitting fully for our treats now!

We've struggled with collars, getting there, but she has loathed and destroyed many of them in the process of trying to acclimate.

We're working on harness training (a bit late, but she's started to show a LOT of interest in the outdoors through the window in the last month or so) and likes to go for trots down the condo hallway (she is secured on the 3rd floor, no escaping, and no open window opportunities). See harness above for what was purchased (short of a different colour).

So far, what I have done is thus:

- Left harness in my older laundry to get my smell on it for a few days.
- Left it in her bed and out near where she likes to play frequently & near her food.
- I have put the top half on her back when we do clicker training/eating, and she doesn't wiggle away from the touch after the second treat usually (big progress for her!)

What do people suggest as the follow up steps? It's clear she will need me to move very slowly on this, as she wiggles like Houdini at any attempt to remotely 'attach' pieces.

She is very food motivated, but also gobbles treats very quickly. I do have things such as Churu tubes that she is in love with, but not entirely sure how I could get the harness on (when we get to that point) and juggle the tube itself, as I'm a solo fur momma.

I am clear on what to do after I can manage to get her all strapped in, but it's getting through that middle ground that I want to make sure I do correctly, as harness training (for cats) is a new thing.

Cat tax to be posted below of course!

Yeya (the girl under the desk) has the cutest face I ever saw and Kukun (the boy by the cat tower) has the most handsome face (in my humble opinion of course). The vet techs even asks for Kukun to stay sometimes because “he’s so handsome “.)

I was hesitant when Jack’s breeder called me and asked me if I wanted to take his mom Blue. I was looking for another male so Jack would have a buddy but his mom needed a home. She’s a little skittish she’s been here for close to three months. She had a double ear infection when we got her. Took her to the vet and she is feeling much better now.

It doesn’t really look like it, but Yeti has over 2 pounds on Voya (11.5lbs vs 9.3lbs), so he doesn’t really have to try very hard to pull the wheel in his direction. And he’s just a stinker. He doesn’t even use the wheel much if Voya isn’t on it. He just wants to be ornery.

Snuggles after a week away... I think he has missed us 🥰🥰

I’ve had the cat wheel for 6 months and he never touched it, but as soon as I moved it away from against the wall he doesn’t stop using it.

Does anyone else have a bengal ragdoll combo??

Do their markings become darker, or will they stay like this on this a 3-month-old kitten?
Will the spots develop darker outlines and stronger contrast over time, or not really?

I’ve seen photos online of silver bengal cats whose markings became much darker and more contrasted as they grew up, while others stayed lighter. I’m wondering if there’s any way to tell or predict how this kitten’s coat might develop.

Thanks in advance!