The kittens use a large box for their nest up until about 3 weeks old or whenever they can escape!

Is there anything sweeter than baby kittens?

Mama Amelia does a nose count....where's Skye?

You will hear the term "fuzzies" used by breeders when describing their kittens.  At about 3-4 weeks of age, Bengal kittens enter a phase called the "fuzzies".  At this time the patterns in their fur becomes out of focus and fuzzy looking.  If they were in the wild, this camouflage would help them to hide from predators.  If you look at the kitten from the front or the side, it's very hard to see a clear pattern.  But if you look at them from behind, it is a bit more clear.  These two pictures are good examples of this change they go through.  So, if you chose a kitten and then think that they are loosing their beautiful spots, they aren't!  At about 10-12 weeks, that gorgeous pattern will return, clear and bright.

Corry and Dugan were adopted by Wes and Laura Cherry.  Even though they weren't able to take the kittens home until they were 12 weeks old, Wes and Laura came to visit their babies often.  Adoptive parents are always welcome to come and play with their chosen kitten(s) and of course I will send you plenty of pictures every week!

ATTACK!

Laura and Wes Cherry come for a visit with their kittens.

I can do the "Hokey Pokey"!

Skye goes to the vet to be spayed.  All of our kittens are spayed or neutered before going to their forever homes.

Kittens can sleep up to 20 hours of the day.

Dugan & Corry in their new home.

Pilot and Skye, now named Strider and Eowyn, in their forever home with the Kelly family.

Joy and Bella now live in their forever home with George and Mia Tobler.

 

Training began with a spoonful of baby food as a treat.

 

 

Bella and Joy lovingly guard the new baby and can't wait until she can start playing with them!

 

The girls love their Dad and Mom

 

Mouko

 

Newborn Mouko at 1 day old.

 

Bets is falling in love with their new chosen kitten.  Mouko was adopted by Betsy & Marvin Johnson.

 

Mouko is trying to help Marv with the building of his new cat tree. Mouko is a Bengal that we call, "dripping with glitter". Look at all that shine!

 

Mouko inspects the new cat tree & the household from a new vantage point.

 

This is Mouko's housemate, Takk, a marbled Bengal. They settled in together like they were truly brothers.

 

If there is anything around that can be climbed, Mouko is on it. A typical Bengal trait!

 

Walter

 

When Walter was adopted by Kelly and Ben Broili, he had a brother to get used to, Maurice, the Abyssinian.

 

As you can see, it didn't take long for them to bond.

 

 

Walter and Maurice are great pals and playmates.  Bengals are a very active breed and need a cat playmate to keep them from getting board, especially in the early years!

 

At almost 3 years old, Walter and Maurice have become inseparable.

 

 

Leo and Stuy

 

Leo and Stuart, aka "Stuy" love to play in water.  This is a common like among Bengals!

 

They have a ball in the outdoor pen, climbing and chasing each other.

 

Stuy and Leo were adopted by Eli Koransky.  They joined two marbled Bengals for a grand total of four.  Proof that you can't have just one!

 

 

All Bengals LOVE to climb.  Make sure you have a good cat tree for yours to play on.

 

Stuy loves his sister Sasha, maybe because she's a marbled Bengal too!

 

Make sure you give your kitties plenty of things to play with and spark their sense of hunting.  Here, they have crickets in a small tub in the outdoor pen, but you can also do this in the bathtub.  They LOVE this adventure.

 

Bengals are considered the most "dog-like" cats there are, by playing fetch.  Stuy shows that anyone can be HIS friend.

 

Smarty Jones

 

Smarty Jones was adopted by Vicki and Richard Harrington.  He came to their home and made fast friends of their other kitty, Shadow.

 

One of the first things Smarty Jones was taught was to walk on a harness and leash. Since all of our kitties at Avanti are introduced to the harness at a very young age, this was an easy lesson!

 

Da'Bird is a toy that Bengals LOVE!  It's basically feathers on a wand, that when pulled through the air, the feathers spin around and make a sound that drives the cats wild.  It looks like Smarty Jones managed to get the feathers off the wand!

 

Smarty Jones and he pal Shadow, enjoying the garden.

 

 

Amelia

 

 

At only 15 weeks, Amelia is pretty used to having a harness on when being outside.  I start the kittens out with a bunny or ferret harness, like in this picture.  They are small and comfortable for the kitten.

 

Even though Rudy is only 4 months older than Amelia, he acts as her protector.  We call him Uncle Rudy.

 

 

MOM, are you going to help me get down?!

 

I love the musculature and low tail carriage of this cat.  And check out her tri-colored rosettes!

 

Amelia and Avalanche have graduated to the "big kitty" harness. She has adopted Avie and Rudy as her best buddies.

 

 

Amelia jumps higher than any cat I have!  She loves to play games, especially fetch.

 

At almost two years old, Amelia and Rudy are still great pals.  Ame' must really trust Rudy, because when she had her first litter, she let him in the nest with her to help take care of her babies.

 

(Lacie and her kittens)

 

Gerry

 

Geronimo, or Gerry, was the first born in this litter. Here he is at just 5 minutes old.

 

Here are Andy, Sara and Gerry as the snuggle into Mama Lacie.

 

 

Big sister Amelia is one of this litters many teachers.

 

At the age of 12 weeks old, Gerry was adopted by Chuck Slate.

 

The Slate's already had Cisco and as you can see, he and Gerry Bear (his new name) get along just fine.

 

 

Uncle Rudy giving Mama Lacie a much deserved break from the "kids"!

 

Andy

 

Andiamo, aka Andy, was the second born in this litter.  Note the red nail polish on his back claw?  That's how I manage to tell the kittens apart in the first few days!

 

Don't these babies look sweet?

 

Andy was adopted by Becky Lind and her young daughter.  I wonder if Andy gets dressed up like the doll?

 

 

Andy's owner made this floor to ceiling cat tree for him to access the high shelves.  Andy loves climbing!

 

When Andy was about a year old, Moby, a Pixie Bob was adopted into the family.

 

Can I get in too?

 

Once again, Andy proves that an empty box can be as much, if not more, fun than expensive toys.

 

Andy probably thinks Otis is just a really big cat!

 

I'm a BIG boy now!

 

 

Nyla

 

 

Nyla was the third born in this litter and the only girl.

 

Nyla's not happy with this photo session.  She's such a little Princess!

 

Once again, Uncle Rudy is loving on Nyla. She puts up with it, even while being squished.  She follows Rudy all over the house.

 

Nyla was adopted by Shelby Schoonover.  Oh my, Shelby loves to spoil this baby!

 

 

Mirror mirror on the wall, I'm still the cutest kitten of them all.  Like all girls, Nyla loves a mirror!

 

Just a quick drink from Mom's soda, she won't know.

 

Snow didn't stop Nyla from her daily walk. Just look, she's pulling on the leash.

 

Clipping your cats claws about every 10 - 14 days will help prevent furniture damage.  Be sure to provide a good scratching post, too.

 

This litter is 10 weeks old and still nursing at least once a day on Mama Lacie.  They don't NEED the milk from Mom, but nursing provides socialization and security to a kitten.  This is one of the main reasons that ethical breeders will not let their kittens leave until they are 12 weeks old.  Vaccinations are the second reason.

 

12 weeks old and all ready for their forever homes.