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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Psycho Bengal bullying my cats

44 replies

Bibbittybobbittyboo · 25/08/2018 11:08

Recently moved into a new estate which is lovely and quiet and very safe for my two cats.

At least it was until someone who moved into the street acquired a Bengal. This cat is STUNNING however it is the most horrible cat I’ve ever encountered (I’ve had cats 20+ years)

It started with the Bengal preying on my little tabby and a couple of viscous attacks which ended with my cat having to get a wound stapled. Now, I don’t allow my cats out unless I’m at home so that I can intervene if there’s a fight.

At least that was the plan until I tried to chase the Bengal away one day (not mid fight but in preying mode) and it attacked ME instead!

We approached the owner but and the owner admitted she didn’t know what to do about the cat and it’s behaviour and offered no solution

This has went on for a while now but the Bengal is clearly looking for a fight to the point that it climbed into an open window the other night and attacked one of my cats.

We approached the owner (again) and she was pretty disinterested. We did say that if it came in again then we would take the matter into our own hands (God knows what we would do though)

Do any of you lovely people have any advice?

I know if it was a dog, particularity if it attacked a person) then it would probably be a police matter but is there anything that can be done with a cat?

We’re now restricting when our cats go out and keeping all windows and doors closed but it’s not ideal.

I’m also concerned that if it can attack an adult, it won’t think twice about attacking my 4YO.

OP posts:

Bananarama12 · 25/08/2018 11:10

Has it been neutered?

Rudgie47 · 25/08/2018 11:12

Spray it with water, so a hosepipe in the garden and one of those things that water plants in the house will do.
It will be off like a shot believe me.

ScreamingValenta · 25/08/2018 11:14

What Bananarama12 said - that would be my first question.

Original poster

Bibbittybobbittyboo · 25/08/2018 11:30

I think it’s neutered (pretty sure it’s male but no visible signs of testicles). We’ve been doing the hosepipe/jugs of water thing for about 3 weeks but it just keeps on coming back.

It attacked my Maine coon just after my first post who was quietly sitting in our garden minding his own business. Bengal got squirted with water but could still hear from the bell on his collar that he was hanging about nearby. I actually think he may not be completely sane.

I’m honestly clueless how to resolve this. My cats are miserable and we’re all slightly scared of the crazy cat.

OP posts:

Rudgie47 · 25/08/2018 11:34

What about building a catio for your cats, then no other cat can attack them?
What a pain for you and your cats.

bluerunningshoes · 25/08/2018 11:36

secure run for your cats?
citrus infused water for spraying the thug cat?

sympathies, we have an unneuteted bengal tom in our area and he's a pain in the arse.
we don't have cats but our neighbours do so he hangs about in our garden.
should he attack (so far just hissing at us) I'm considering getting a trap and taking him to the pound.

bluerunningshoes · 25/08/2018 11:43

I'm very allergic and due to bastard cat can't open downstairs windows as he climbs in.
and he sprays a lot.

Original poster

Bibbittybobbittyboo · 25/08/2018 13:50

I’m honestly at my wits end - my DH (who has never hurt an animal in his life) is seriously thinking about taking matters into his own hands as he considers (as I do) our cats to be our other children.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/08/2018 14:18

If you cat proof the garden (youtube will have ideas) he cant get in.

Our Bengal is territorial and there is nothing the owner can do behaviour wise, Ours has a curfew 8pm to 6am.

Our vet has suggested amitriptyline if his behaviour worsens, It's a cheap enough drug. Could you suggest she discuss it with her vet?. She must have vet bills too, Ours has had his fair share of bite wounds, urine infections from stress, torn ears so it's in her interest too.

bluerunningshoes · 25/08/2018 14:22

Our Bengal is territorial and there is nothing the owner can do behaviour wise

the owner could keep their cat indoors or in a secure run...

Patsypedalo · 25/08/2018 14:33

We have almost the exact same problem. The cat is stunning but v aggressive, it visits every day and tries to bash its way in through the cat flap - I don't think he can get in but our rescue girl doesn't know that and she's terrified. She's started weeing in corners and scratching walls.

Loaded water pistol helps, but he still comes back 🤷‍♀️

Hookedoncatnip · 25/08/2018 15:42

We also have a very beautiful but aggressive Bengal who tries to attack our little girl tabby. It's awful. Everything will be peaceful and then there'll be this awful, loud yowling! We run out and he's running away but has clearly tried to corner her.

Our dcat doesn't seem too worried but I worry it's only a matter of time before he (I think it's a he) hurts her.

The Bengal was running up the garden towards my cat one day so I stood in between them. He didn't seem to care and kept running towards us. It just so happened that I was holding a cardigan so I flapped it like a bullfighter which seemed to do the trick as he ran away. It was quite alarming though how he kept coming.

I usually keep a 'loaded' water gun just outside the garden door in case he's about terrorising dcat. However very often the kids have already emptied or moved it before I can use it.

I'm sorry I'm not sure what to suggest. I'm following your replies though.

Good luck

Whitney168 · 25/08/2018 15:49

If you cat proof the garden (youtube will have ideas) he cant get in.

Actually, I think you'd probably find that what it would mean is that a determined cat might still get in, but then couldn't get out again (and nor could the OP's cats if they needed to escape). Not really what they're aiming for.

I think I might take to spraying something far more foul-smelling/staining than water on it OP, at least make things unpleasant for its irresponsible owner. Not sure what you could use that wouldn't be poisonous though.

It does rather sound as if an enclosed run for your own cats which covers your back door and windows might be the best option, if that were possible?

LeftRightCentre · 25/08/2018 15:57

I've never met a Bengal that wasn't pyscho. The neighbour needs to keep her vicious cat indoors.

AngelsAckiz · 25/08/2018 16:00

I'll send my mil round, she captured and drowned a cat in her tub for doing the same as your cat!!! I literally posted about his just yesterday LMAO.

Seriously though, don't do that. That would be awful.

LeftRightCentre · 25/08/2018 16:05

I'll send my mil round, she captured and drowned a cat in her tub for doing the same as your cat!!! I literally posted about his just yesterday LMAO.

Are you for real WTAF?! That's a serious crime, you know.

OP, I'd actually have sued your neighbour for that wound your cat took. I'd start filming your garden.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 25/08/2018 17:04

I've no advice for the OP but @Angels you sound as sick as your MIL. You do realise that animal cruelty is an offence? If that was my MIL (or anyone else I know) I'd be reporting them to the police, not boasting about it on the internet.

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/08/2018 17:21

That's just sick. I couldn't hold a cat under water till it drowned.

MiniLeopardInTheHouse · 25/08/2018 17:49

Every sympathy for your situation OP, genuinely, but I thought that I was clicking on a Daily Fail headline.

Let's not give any breed of cat a bad name. An aggressive or territorial cat can come from any breed or none. The most recent one I know of for example involved friends and their adored cats having an almost identical experience to your's at the malevolent paws of a black and white male moggy.

If this was my cat, s/he would be neutered and kept as an indoor and catio cat, and that is what I would strongly suggest that you ask the owner to do. If the owner is struggling to cope with the cat, then I would strongly suggest s/he needs to rehome it via a rescue organisation.

If the owner won't do either of those things, as is their right I suppose, then you have to deal with it from your end. In your shoes I would keep my cats in and build a catio. Your priority I'm sure is keeping your much-loved cats safe, and this can be achieved without resorting to revenge or animal cruelty, tempting as that might briefly be when you're at your wit's end.

You could also ring Cats Protection, the RSPCA or your local cat rescue for advice.

Fluffycloudland77 · 25/08/2018 18:03

Our Bengal fought with the black and white cat who used to live over the road because the black and white cat used to come into our garden, our house and spent the last summer he was alive snoozing in our back garden on the steamer chairs. I didn't have any evil thoughts about him though. He was a cat, doing cat things. He was a stubborn cat who would make you drive around him in the street. I was really upset when he went missing and had his poster up in my front window until we found out he'd been run over.

If we're home and a fight starts it's always us going out to stop it.

The people next door told us our cat would get beaten up by theirs as their cat likes to be "top cat". It hasn't panned out that way at all which they've taken Umbridge at this and now give us evils when they see us. So it's ok for my cat to get the stuffing knocked out of him but not theirs?. Again, their cat comes into our garden, sits on our doorstop & comes into our house to eat any cat food mines left.

Libbylongtree · 25/08/2018 18:11

In response to the poster who has never met a Bengal that wasn’t psycho, my beloved Bengal boy who died three months ago just wanted to play with other cats and loved people as well. He was well known around the neighbourhood, all I’ve had since he died is people telling me how much he’s missed.

Melliegrantfirstlady · 25/08/2018 18:16

Nightmare stuff. A brazen cat used to frequent my house I threw a pint of water over him!

I also got a dog

Consider loaning a dog for an hour and let him leave his scent everywhere?

PoisonousSmurf · 25/08/2018 18:20

I had a Bengal a few years ago. Other NDN shot my cat. Didn't even give me time to set up a pen for him.
NDN couldn't be bothered to invest in a ID chip cat flap, even though I offered to pay.

LeftRightCentre · 25/08/2018 18:32

Other NDN shot my cat.

SmokingGun · 25/08/2018 19:42

I have a neutered Bengal boy and can sympathise. We had a horrendous year with terratorial behaviour that ended me up being scarred quite badly. Vets were useless and suggested I put him down if I couldn’t cope 😡.

I ended up doing my own research and but him on a moderate daily dose age of calming medication and after 2 months he was a completely different cat. A couple of weeks after that we found he had a low grade UTI that clearly was causing him pain so got that sorted too. Do you think your neighbour would be open to the suggestion of medicating him?

The one thing I have never done is let my boy roam, he is allowed solely in the garden and it is secured. Whilst his behaviour is so much better, I am aware he is a lot bigger that other cats and even when just playing can accidentally hurt.

If you are looking at cat proofing your garden then don’t bother with the strips of plastic with spiked on that you place on the top of your fence. My boy would just walk across them completely unfazed. Rollers secured to the top of the fence is a good bet.

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