bengal tom won't take leave for an answer!

[iloveeverykindofcat]

I've spent a lot of money getting the cat enclosure done for my girls, and picked the new house partly on its suitability garden wise. The same neighbour who did the enclosure owns 2 malamutes and 2 bengal cats, both male. One is an elderly patrician who governs the street primarily through his distinctive shouts of mow! mow! and apart from being rather gobsmacked that I don't let him in my house, as his wont is to go in every house on the street, he and I get on very well. The other is young and intact (though will be neutered soon), a snow bengal male and one of the most beautiful animals I have never seen, but absolutley incorrigible. He comes into my garden all the time (ceiling wire doesn't come right up to the house because it would be too easy for burglars to climb. My girls are nowhere near athletic enough to get in/out, but the bengal can get in). Or he just hangs around and stares at the girls through the wire. It's making them fear-agressive and not want to go out as much. Things I have tried:

"Hugo [his name], go home." - while staring at him. He stares back, meows, and very deliberately sits down as though to demonstrate he'll sit where he pleases.

"Psst! Hiss!" - no response.

Spraying/flicking water - moves out of the way of the water, then moves back.

Physically picking him up and putting him out - meows at me, then waits a bit and comes back.

I'm going to get his way into the pen blocked, but that doesn't stop him coming around and contesting the boundaries. He isn't precisely doing anything to bully them, just looking and smelling like a tom I suppose.

Help??

[VimFuego101]

Surely he shouldn't be allowed out if not neutered?

Anyway, how hard are you spraying him? I would try a water gun. You could also try lemon peel or spray at the point at which he's getting over your fence (probably not near your cat enclosure since your cats won't like it either).

[cozietoesie]

Speak to the neighbours. He needs to be neutered right away unless he has some health problem which means putting it off.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Watergun is a great idea! I'll try that asap. Lemon too.

Yeah, I agree he shouldn't be out. I'm a bit intimidated by the owner - I'm a single young woman, and while I'm on his good side (paying him for jobs etc) he's very nice, but I've heard him shout at his wife and he calls me 'doll'....you know the type....I will try dropping some hints though.

Out of interest, are all toms like this? Or is it the Bengal character? He's just so thoroughly un-intimated by measures that most cats would run from! He even tries to stare me down.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Bengals are persistent in my limited experience but un neutered Toms are intimidating and a pain in the neck!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I have a tabby who comes into our garden and terrifies my cat. I've soaked it 3x this week with a jug of water and he keeps coming back for more!

[cozietoesie]

There are Bengal owners who post here who could answer that one best for you, ilove. I do get the impression that they can be rather a law unto themselves, however.

[Fluffycloudland77]

My bengals like this and he was neutered at 22 weeks.

He just doesn't give up.

[Iknownuffink]

I would be tempted to trap the cat, have it go missing for a few days. Then return it. The owner may then think twice about allowing an unneutered expensive cat freedom to roam. (Tongue is firmly in cheek)

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Well I bought a water gun today so we'll see how that goes.

Fluffy they are a stunning breed - Hugo looks like a cat model.

[JedRambosteen]

If lemon is a deterrent perhaps you could leave the water to stand with lemon slices in it, then strain it before using it to fill your water pistol

All the neighbourhood cats use our lawn as a toilet. We are thinking of getting it paved over.

[cozietoesie]

From the sound of this one, Jed, he'd produce a bottle of gin from a side pocket and use the lemon-water to make a long cool one.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

That's exactly what mine would do

I was slightly late feeding him the other night and he helped himself- hooked a pouch out of the box on the counter and managed to open it! I've had to put his food in a container with a lid!!

[JedRambosteen]

Cozie

[QuestionableMouse]

Turn the hosepipe on him.

[sashh]

Out of interest, are all toms like this? Or is it the Bengal character? He's just so thoroughly un-intimated by measures that most cats would run from! He even tries to stare me down.

'That bastard cat' as he is known lets himself in through my bedroom window and has been known to make himself at home by curling up on the sofa.

Shouting, clapping etc are not working and to make it worse my own cat seems to quite like him.

He is definitely a tom who has not been done. He is a moggy so maybe it is just some toms.

[Feeches]

Bengals are persistent little fuckers who don't take no for an answer. We had one who would visit and wind up my two endlessly despite the repeated batterings he received off them. A big water pistol would fend him off for a while. He was neutered but young. I think it's the breed but you've got a double whammy there with an un-neutured tom.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

If my cats weren't scared of him I wouldn't mind, but unfortunately they are, especially Bibi, who is an ex-stray. He's not been around yet today so perhaps he's slowly getting put off?

[JedRambosteen]

Or maybe he's getting a hipflask sorted for his next dousing.

[NameChange30]

Sounds like you're scared of his owner, just as your cats are scared of him.

I don't think hints are enough, I think you need to be assertive and just tell him that his cat is coming into your garden and intimidating yours, and would he please consider getting him neutered sooner and keeping him inside until he is neutered.

What's the worst that could happen? He will say no.

I find it strange that you would pay someone to do a job for you but not have the lady balls to make a simple request.

If you don't like him, don't pay him to do stuff.

[Penfold007]

Why do you keep your cats in a big cage? I'm curious not having a dig.

[ArmfulOfRoses]

I have a male Bengal, he is neutered though still a pain in the ass.

I would have no problem with you shooting him with a water gun, in fact I offered to buy one for a neighbour who complained about him being in their garden.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

It's not a cage, it's a large (2-level) outdoor enclosure to which they have access whenever they want. They also go wherever they want in the house. It's not safe for them to roam the streets here though.

[Penfold007]

Thanks for the info, I've never heard of that before.

[starsmurf]

If you're not comfortable confronting the owner, you could tell him that a stunning snow Bengal, an unneutered male no less, will be a prime target for thieves. Someone I know had their lovely boy stolen years ago, it broke their hearts. Given this cat's behaviour, he's unlikely to have a problem with someone inviting him to explore the back of their car/van, then he'll never be seen again.

If pedigree cats aren't sold for breeding, the contract usually states that the owner must have the cat neutered by age six months at the latest. You could casually enquire where they got their boy, make a general enquiry at the breeder and then slip in the fact that this cat isn't neutered. Most of these contracts state that failure to neuter, especially with males, gives the breeder the right to reclaim the cat. So the cat will either be neutered immediately or will go to a home where he will be better cared for.


If it isn't safe for your cats to go out, it isn't safe for a cat like this. It sounds like the owner hasn't got the cat neutered because he can't cope with the idea of castration. Selfish idiot.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I suspect their waiting to castrate so he gets bigger and features like cheek pouches.

I agree it's irresponsible to do this, one sniff of a female in heat and he will be off.

The un-neutered male in dhs family didn't make 6 months.