Bengal biting - where’s the ‘off’ button

[TC176]

I posted about Rodney, our rescue half Bengal recently. He’s 7 months old and we’re his 5th home. We’ve had him for just over 3 weeks now, he was a bit bitey when we first got him, but that calmed down reasonably quickly. He was very loving and affectionate to DH and I. Last night we settled down to watch tv and Rodney suddenly attacked DH quite viciously biting his hand and arm. There was no warning, his body language didn’t change, we told him to stop and I hissed at him, stood up and walked away. He then let go of DH and jumped up my leg, scratching me and making my leg bleed. I shouted at him to stop, and he took himself off. I don’t think he meant to hurt me though, was just using his claws to get a grip on my trousers.

We were so pleased that he’d stopped attacking hands and feet, and last night was upsetting because it was so unexpected. We’re ready to accept it might happen again, so does anyone have any tips as to how we can protect outselves? I have visions of us both clad in suits of armour while we watch tv.

I thought we were very cat savvy, but obviously aren’t. We’d be very grateful for any advice or to hear your experience if you have or have had a feral or bitey cat, and whether it calmed down eventually.
Apologies for long post, didn’t sleep last night for worrying about it. Rodney, by the way, is happy, well fed and settled in with us. This photo was taken just now.

You may want to get him toys. Our 4 year old half bengal male loves ''rough play'' and it helped us to get him stuff to fight it that makes sense. . He still gets ''frisky'' as we call it, and generally the signs are very subtle - his eyes flare a bit of his tail flicks ever so slightly. We've learnt not to touch his under belly as he'll be aggressive (except to my daughter - she can carry him around like a baby). They are fickle and can be very jealous.. His favourite toy is a stuffed fish. He literally mauls it. Catnip sticks have a calming effect and they love to play / bite on them

Don't shout or hiss at him though, that's aggressive and he'll respond in kind. Dulcet tones only.

My very first cat was bitey - she seemed to get over-stimulated and would just lash out. My now-husband still carries a scar from the first time he met her. It did calm a bit as she got older. She was a moggie and the runt of her litter so we theorised she'd had to grow up fighting her corner.

I'm guessing you have tried Feliway?

I gradually learned to judge how much close contact she would tolerate and only stroked her for short periods.

She was a much-loved cat despite her idiosyncrasies and she lived to 15.

Arthur is 7 now, and also a half Bengal. He is loving, shouty, loves company, follows you around, play ball in the garden. He is great.

He is also a bastard! Every so often he will be sleeping on my, or the DD's knees, or first thing in the morning on our beds, and suddenly take umbridge to something and attack and bite really hard on hands and arms. He will also occassionally attack ankles.

We don't know why he does this. Basically he just has a screw loose, and explodes for literally no reason. Maybe we moved, or disturbed him, or he is hungry.

We all have scars to show for it sadly, but he can be subdued by standing over him, staring at him, saying no firmly, and making sure he knows who is boss. I am much better at this than the girls, he will often roll over and expose his tummy when I do this. Sometimes, you just have to run away!!!!

So, I don't think it ever stops, you just get used to it. We love him to bits, but I do think it is something in the Bengal genes that make them this way. 99% of the time he is a love, 1% an utter git.

I love your cat btw. They are so beautiful and intelligent, and almost dog like.

We've learnt not to touch his under belly

This is interesting, because Arthur loves his belly being rubbed, just like a dog he will expose him tummy to be rubbed, up and down and up and down. He sleeps on his back too, with his legs akimbo, and his tail curved up. He also loves being patted on his back. He's so weird!!

What was happening in your house when he attacked DH?

Did he draw blood?

He’s in the teenage years right now so everything’s prey.

If I was sat watching tv with my arms folded and my right hand under my left elbow that was just irresistible to him and I’d see a head with the ears folded back slowly come up the edge of the sofa with two huge green eyes filled with just the pupils dilated getting ready to pounce on my hand. He did grow out of it and I’d hold him by the scruff to get him to relax his grip enough for me to rescue my hand.

Neat tea-tree oil takes the sting right of scratches.

I'd get a spray bottle fill with cold water and spray hid face when he does it. Snip the balls. My cat did this as well. He now goes outside in the garden but he only goes on garden he doesn't wander. If you worried about him going out then get a cat pen for outside. My cat is a British short hair

5 homes in such a short time - no wonder he's unsettled

What was going on at the time. Was someone stroking/touching him?

😮 you can’t spray a Bengal for doing Bengal stuff

He’s just playing.

@Flowersintheattic2021

I'd get a spray bottle fill with cold water and spray hid face when he does it. Snip the balls. My cat did this as well. He now goes outside in the garden but he only goes on garden he doesn't wander. If you worried about him going out then get a cat pen for outside. My cat is a British short hair

Jesus, please don't do this!

Don’t spray his face with water ffs, he’s already had 5 homes you don’t want to unnerve him even more. He needs lots of love and calm cuddles.

Are you sure he wasn’t just playing? My cat often bites my leg when he wants a bit of attention. I agree Bengals do love a bit of rough play and are more like dogs in their temperament, so lots of chasing toys and things to stimulate his brain as they are very clever (mine can open doors by the handle).

He is only very young and still settling in so cut him some slack, I’m sure he will get better as he gets older and more settled.

My neighbor has a Bengal and it is vicious. Our very says it's a problem with the breed, they have a really vicious streak. I'm not sure you can't do anything except try and badge sure it isn't terrorising other animals when it goes out, which is what the one in our street does. I love cats but I'd never get a Bengal for this reason.

@Flowersintheattic2021

I'd get a spray bottle fill with cold water and spray hid face when he does it. Snip the balls. My cat did this as well. He now goes outside in the garden but he only goes on garden he doesn't wander. If you worried about him going out then get a cat pen for outside. My cat is a British short hair

How awful, your poor cat, this is cruel

Make sure

You need to know how to handle a bengal and what to expect from the breed. They are incredibly demanding, vocal, hunt crazy and with a naturally feral streak. They're clever (amazing how they open doors!) and social by nature - far more so than other cat breeds. I adore ours!

@BigWoollyJumpers for him it's his under belly, our female it's anywhere other than her head! Call it boundaries ;-)

I'd spray him too. It's not bloody cruel. It's droplets of water not a fire hose. He has to learn it's not acceptable.

Bengals are massively intelligent and territorial. He has also had a huge amount of upheaval in such a short space of time.

He is acting out to test boundaries and unfortunately it could also be a sign of boredom. A friend of mine has had a couple of f1 bengals and has always kept them in a giant pen in his garden as they simply weren't wired to be house cats.

Never spray the face! My cat occasionally gets sprayed in the butt hole but only when he is attacking his brother (not play fighting literally making his brother scream) now all I need to do is pick up the bottle and he backs down ive sprayed him maybe 5 times in three years they learn fast

It’s not a cat it’s a Bengal and they hold it against you if you hurt them.

My mil hurt our Bengal when he was 8/9 months old and he held it against her for about 6 years. Then he took the opportunity to wee all over her brand new coat and a line was drawn under the whole thing.

@CailleachO

I'd spray him too. It's not bloody cruel. It's droplets of water not a fire hose. He has to learn it's not acceptable.

Yep, and you can do that without spraying them in the face with water

Why do people get pets if they're going to treat them that way? It makes no sense to me.

Rescue half-Bengal here too. I'd be interested in whether this was play/hunting behaviours or whether he got stressed about something in his environment?

My girl is nearly 8, but still plays non-stop like a kitten, and expects me to join in, including, playing chase, surprise assaults on my ankles and whopping me as I move past her. Fortunately she is usually claws in, unless she gets stressed (usually only with DS, who doesn't always get her rules, and accidentally overwhelms her). She is generally a gentle and tolerant cat, but with a really huge appetite for interaction and games.

PS. Rodney is really beautiful. Does he go outdoors?

@icedcoffees Perhaps you could offer an alternate suggestion? Have you ever had a Bengal? We had one who lived for 15 years. They aren't your ordinary house cat.

You'll think I'm mad, but getting a second might be the answer. Then they can play and pounce and work off excess energy on each other. You'd have to introduce them super slowly and carefully along vet guidelines but it could make a vast improvement.

[quote CailleachO]@icedcoffees Perhaps you could offer an alternate suggestion? Have you ever had a Bengal? We had one who lived for 15 years. They aren't your ordinary house cat. [/quote]

No they are not your average house cat, they are quite mad and bloody hard work but spraying them in the face with water will not help