At my wits end with neighbours Bengal - help!!!

[attillathenun]

Any advice on bengals most welcome! Neighbours moved in about 18 months ago with a Bengal boy kitten and initially, he got on really well with our 8 year old boy moggie. But over the last few months, he’s taken to terrorising our boy and I’m at my wits end!

Poor thing is locked out of the house all day come rain or shine with no access back into the house. It is constantly jumping up at our windows trying to fight our cat and no amount of throwing water, shouting and chasing makes it stop coming back. Our boy now can’t go out during the day, otherwise a costly vet visit follows . Luckily Bengal is locked in at night and we have a microchip catflap so our mog can’t be followed inside.

DH is thinking of going to speak to the neighbours, but obviously as cat owners we completely understand that cats roam where they like (it is ridiculous though that he spends all day outside!).

Any advice on how to deal with it??

People get Bengals because of their looks and often have no idea how high maintenance they are. I had a neighbour whose Bengal terrorised my cat, would jump in any open window and steal her food, would almost be hammering at my window for attention! It would sneak into other neighbours' houses too.

Neighbour did nothing (difficult with a cat I know!) And told me I should put my cat's food where hers couldn't reach it!

We had a bit of a disagreement and she ended up sending me ranting drunken texts a couple of times. Fortunately they moved to the other side of the country!

It’s very cruel they lock him out, it’s an intelligent breed that craves company.

You need to cat proof your garden so they don’t meet. He won’t give up otherwise.

Charming!! Yes we did wonder if maybe they got him and realised too late that they are a breed that needs a lot more attention. @BovaryX exactly, I think people sometimes just see pets as another disposable object in their lives and don’t fully consider the commitment of having a pet

@Fluffycloudland77 one of our other neighbours has cat proof things on their fence to keep their cats in, will be asking what it is to see if it will help our boy 😊

So sad. Arthur is part Bengal, and is with me all day. They need company, and are extremely chatty and intelligent. More like dogs. Arthur is neutered, and actually was badly beaten up by a local stray, which used to come in. Microchipped cat-flaps are a godsend. He also used to invite a very rotund Black female round to dinner, but we don't see her now, as she can't get in.

I know it is a pain. But I feel sorry for it. They really need to put some effort in. I would try to talk to them. One of our neighbours was collecting cats and dogs, there were so many, we almost called the RSPCA, but we went to talk to them, with some other neighbours, and now they have completely animal proofed their garden to keep all their animals in, for which we are eternally grateful.

I think people sometimes just see pets as another disposable object in their lives and don’t fully consider the commitment of having a pet

Yes, it's awful behaviour. Really selfish and irresponsible. I don't know much about Bengals, but it's even worse given what Baaaah and fluffy say about their sociable nature. I don't know what to suggest. I certainly think if a cat is being cruelly neglected and not fed, it should be removed. I think some people have this idea cats are an effort free pet. They obviously have never had one!

Our Bengal wasn’t just a pet, he was a lifestyle choice.

Our neighbour's Bengal does appear to be fed, but it is clearly put out all day while they're at work. I don't know them (they're diagonal-rear-garden-neighbours) unfortunately.

If it weren't for my two cats, who must be my priority, I'd bring it inside and de-flea play with it.

As it is, we're going for fence-top rollers.

Autumn

Totally understand that. I think it's extremely irresponsible to get a high maintenance cat like a Bengal and just chuck it outside all day in winter. It's thoughtless and cruel. No wonder he wants to visit your place, but as you say, you have your own cats to look after. I hope they are feeding him. Some people shouldn't have pets at all.

Attilla
If they are just leaving him outside is there a point where they could be reported for neglect? It seems like both you and Autumn have a situation with really neglectful owners and maybe the poor Bengals could be rehomed? But I guess that might be all kinds of complicated....

Sounds like you need to knock on their door daily to say "Hey did you realise your cat was miserable all day (again)? He wanders around yowling and miserable. Did you forget to unlock the catflap?"

We've just adopted a Bengal as a friends daughter found him a handful.

He's terrorised our moggie but we are currently clicker training him which within 4 days he's already responding to and I shod up this morning to both of them on the bed. Lasted15 minutes but it's a break through!

We've also got him a shit load of toys and converted a bedroom into his playroom with a big climbing tower.

It's clear he needs a lot of attention and activity. We won't be letting him out, he's thick as 2 short planks whilst also being intelligent!

I feel for your moggie and I hope you get it sorted

I'll talk to my DP about the the fence rollers this weekend and report back.

I agree that some people are deluded about cat ownership. The poor Bengal's "garden" is an entirely concreted expanse of patio, so it's naturally going to be attracted to my garden and our trees, grass, shrubs etc. and try to get in people's houses.

It's going to cause carnage in the nesting season. Hope the crows fight back.

I have had a Bengal for 10 yrs now and I love him to bits, but life is never boring always wanted to be entertained other wise he can be easily bored. My Bengal is an indoor cat as requested by the breeder and if he was let out he would get into trouble. I have owned cats all my life and bengals are for from the normal moggy. Super intelligent, very trainable and very loving, I think of mine as a cat who can do what ever a dog can do. Also say goodbye to your wallpaper! I think the poor puss has been in trouble and being thrown outside as that's easier sad really. Bengal are not for an inexperienced owner do your homework before getting one. So knock on the door and let them know what's he been up to.Here's my handsome boy to say if well owned they are a brilliant cat and I would have another after him

I ‘have’ a Bengal who is an absolute terror. I say I have one... a neighbour I can’t seem to trace (vets have called on numerous occasions and they deny knowledge of him) and have clearly stopped caring for him so he now relies on us to feed/care for him and we’ve tried transferring ownership but they refuse... Very confusing but Bengals are so territorial. I would speak to your neighbour and see what agreement you can come to :)

He may have access to the house but doesn't want to go in while his owners are out. You could speak to the owners, if they don't realise the problems he is causing they can't help.

You could try putting a deterrent in your garden for a few days and keeping your cat inside, in the hope that he starts going somewhere else. We. Used a "scarecrow" water spray to keep away two Bengals and that worked. Unfortunately it also got my husband every time he went to get his bike and forgot it was turned on.

Seems to be a Bengal way of life, maybe take a look at Thug Cat thread 😉

@BlueEyedBengal Such beautiful photos.

Oh wow @BlueEyedBengal what a gorgeous cat you have!!! Thank you all for the advice, I’m glad we aren’t alone in experiencing this behaviour. Unfortunately Bengal is outside again this morning, we’ve seen him pawing at their window to be let back in. But on a happier note, we are now 3 days since we put the privacy film over our window so the cats can’t see each other and our boy has had a morning of peace while he sits there warming himself over the radiator. Hopeful that we have now deterred Bengal from coming over now he can’t see our cat

The poor Bengal's "garden" is an entirely concreted expanse of patio, so it's naturally going to be attracted to my garden and our trees, grass, shrubs etc. and try to get in people's houses

How inappropriate and cruel. I feel so sorry for him. Autumn if you thought he was being neglected, is it possible to get him removed? Really quite despicable lack of thought about his environment and requirements.

Poor cat.
But yours needs protecting. Would you be able or willing to get cat proof fencing for your garden to keep yours inside the boundaries and the other one out?

Interesting thread here www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cat-runs-cat-proofed-gardens.211361/

My neighbour also has a bengal that terrorises my cats. I confronted it one day to chase away and it turned on me and chased me down the path

Now I would have paid to see that!

Here's my gorgeous boy just so you don't think they're all bad

Being a Bengal owner I feel very sorry for this cat they are highly intelligent & sensitive , treated right they are lovely cats , mines a nuetered male & hes very soft & gets bullied by other cats ! Working full time is not right for a Bengal -not only is he locked out in all weathers with no food or water he's getting water thrown at him & chased away poor thing must not know what's happening - it's not the cats fault it's the bad owners - he needs a catflap & food in the house & neutering & I'm sure he would be loads better he sounds bored . I would definitely speak to the owners or it will never be resolved - there are Bengal rescue centres if they don't want him & would be adopted by someone who does.
I hope it gets sorted .

We rescued a male 18month old Bengal cat about 3 months ago. He was terrified when he eventually made his way into our house from our garden. Managed to get him into a cat cage (we've had one cat and two litter sisters in our lifetime) to the Vet and as she took him from the cage he almost run up the wall, he was so scared. He had been Neutered but not chipped - weird. Anyway it took time for him to trust us, as he must of been hit and treated really badly but now, he cuddles up, rubs his little face and head all over us lol and sleeps well. Mind you he has a nice cushion on our couch, and he sleeps like a baby. Because of our age, when our Katey and Susie past away (Susie was 18 an Katie was 20) we had no thought of giving another cat a home. We're still thinking about it, and if we let he go, we will feel awful, and miss him so much!