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Original poster

Bengals and the outside world

18 replies

pardonmytits · 19/09/2014 14:09

Hey all. Just looking for a little advice if anyone is able to help?

We recently rehomed two Bengals (a boy, who was neutered as he was unhappy being penned in as a stud cat, and an ex-queen). They have settled in really well with us and we love them dearly.

My question is about them going outside. We built them a lovely outdoor enclosure to play in that attaches to the side of our house, so they could have some fresh air but also to keep them safe. However, the boy cat seems to spend most of his time (although he's only been out a couple of times) pacing up and down. I don't think he can be happy? :(

We live a few gardens away from a road - it's not a busy one and we don't have too many cars coming along. I feel like he'd be much happier having the freedom of outside but our one attempt at letting them loose resulted in him immediately going next door and being unable to get back!

I don't like to see him pacing up and down - is that likely to settle down or is it likely he will forever crave outside? I just want to do what's best for them really. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers.

OP posts:
Original poster
pardonmytits · 19/09/2014 14:11

He is having a lay down in the grass now - maybe that's a good sign...

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 19/09/2014 14:19

Which door is nearest the road? Can you let them out the front instead?.

Pacing doesn't sound happy Sad

I let my bengal out but we live on an estate.

Original poster
pardonmytits · 19/09/2014 14:22

Front is nearer the road, so would have to be back. He is doing it less at the moment but even so, I feel sad for keeping him cooped up. I thought an enclosure might be a happy medium but I'd hate if it was actually worse for them than them being housecats...

OP posts:
code · 19/09/2014 15:02

Where did you get him from, can you chat to the breeder? They might have a solution?

Umbrelladilemma · 19/09/2014 15:11

We have a Bengal who was an indoor cat for the first few years of his life. We realised he'd be happier going out so we did it very gradually. First we took him into our garden on a lead (yes Hmm) then we used to let him out for short periods - I.e. just before his usual dinner time and would then call him back in tapping his food bowl. We then let him out when we were at home but would always call him back in when we went out or in the evening. So it was a bit of a compromise.

He now has free access in/out with a cat flap but is older so not so active!

Thecrazy88 · 19/09/2014 17:24

Bengals are natural hunters, is he pacing because he can see birds etc? I had a Bengal/Abyssinian cross (#most beautiful cat ever!) and she was an amazing hunter and roamed much further than females supposedly do. This was in the middle of a big city so I think it is a bit of a myth that they have no road sense. I'm afraid I don't like the idea of cats being kept in, whether that's in the house or elsewhere. Why can't he get back in your garden once he's gone out?

Original poster
pardonmytits · 19/09/2014 18:18

He climbed up the outside of his enclosure and jumped next door - it could've been we panicked a bit and tried to get him to come back but it was like he couldn't jump up on the fence/didn't think it was safe. He was just yeowling - I ended up holding open a section of broken fence (not ideal - broken wood and nails etc) for him to climb through. He might've been fine if we'd left him.

I've never had a bengal cat, and I'd be terrified of losing them or having them taken, or hurt in some way. But ideally we'd let them out and about. It's my fear I've got to overcome I think...!

Waiting for the breeder to get in touch with me about changing the cats' microchip details, so will see what she says.

Shameless picture of them above. We just love them so much!

Thank you for your replies.

Bengals and the outside world
OP posts:
code · 19/09/2014 18:23

O they are beautiful!

Thecrazy88 · 19/09/2014 21:08

What stunning cats. I have no doubt they will turn heads if you let them out and people will definitely make a fuss of them, but are there that many cat thieves about? I honestly don't know if you are being paranoid or I am being naive! Smile

frownyface · 19/09/2014 21:13

I once visited a breeder of mainecoon (sp? sorry) cats and im pretty sure she had the whole garden covered with netting...this may of course be totally unsuitable for any number of reasons but might be worth looking into?

Your cats are just beautiful Smile

Blondieminx · 19/09/2014 21:16

If you do let them roam free, be prepared for lots of gross delightful little gifts. Worst was half a rabbit left in the lounge, on a Friday afternoon...

Ours is a Bengal cross (pic on profile) and she walks with us to school quite often! Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/09/2014 21:17

Your male looks like my cats brother! They are beautiful cats.

They might not like strangers when their out and about anyway.

frownyface · 19/09/2014 21:18

www.protectapuss.co.uk/1m-wide-high-tensile-mesh-10-metres/

Here you go! (was bored)

Original poster
pardonmytits · 20/09/2014 07:16

Thecrazy Oh, I'm quite prepared to believe it's me being paranoid Grin

Will look into that link, thank you frownyface. Thank you all for the cat compliments :)

We might give them another try outside tomorrow - and try not to panic this time when they leave the garden...! You wouldn't think I've had cats my whole life would you...

OP posts:
monopoly123 · 20/09/2014 08:42

We had a Bengal, he was lovely, so cuddly and affectionate but yes an amazing hunter - rabbits, magpies weren't unusual. He also used to thing in meat from the neighbours, chicken, steak, ham etc, amazing the amount of meat accessible to a cat because I don't think even he could open a fridge.
When he was about 2yrs old, he just didn't come home. (5yrs ago now). When I went round the houses nearby with a photo everyone of them had a story about him (stealing lunch, climbing their curtains, jumping on them in the middle of the night etc), but no sign of him. No idea what happened to him, he came & went fine for 2yrs. He was fearless and my suspect is the local foxes.
Your cats are beautiful and I can understand your worries - even though we lost him, I'm glad I let him roam as it sounds like he had a great time.

merlincat · 20/09/2014 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kronenborg · 21/09/2014 07:25

Another advocate of freedom fence here. We have 2 Bengal girls, now about 8 months old. They have an area of around 1 acre to explore, but never cross the boundary, thanks to the "fence". Some people think the ethics of the fence are questionable, but as far as I'm aware, only one of the cats has received a shock ever, and that was right at the start, and was apparently enough to keep both of them away from the boundary for good. For me, that's a good trade off for letting them have more or less free reign outside without me worrying about them too much - seeing them do acrobatics high up my apple tree, chasing each other and having a whale of a time makes it all worthwhile.

The only issue I have is that one of the cats seems extraordinarily good at removing the collar...I have managed to recover it from various odd places about half a dozen times now. At the best part of £100 for a replacement, I'm not very keen on having to buy another!

Original poster
pardonmytits · 21/09/2014 09:02

Ouch £100! Unfortunately can't stretch to a freedom fence - spent quite a chunk on an enclosure that we'll just have to turn into something else!

Let them out this morning and they had a good sniff around, met another local cat, and disappeared over a few fences. Both are back for tuna now :) They were so happy out there, so I think I'm just going to have to try to control my worries.

Thank you all for your insight :)

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