Unsettled Bengal

[noeyeidea]

We have two Bengal boys, aged 10 and 11, who are usually the loveliest cats, if sometimes a little cheeky. They are house cats but have a lot of space indoors and regularly go out in the garden.
We sadly lost our dog last year and recently bought a puppy. We did a lot of research and have tried to make the process as painless as possible for everyone. The older Bengal rules the house but the puppy is very calm and while I wouldn’t say they are friends, they regularly sit near each other without issue. They are never left alone together, we have feliway plug ins around the house and we use baby gates to make sure the cats have rooms they can go to to get away from the puppy if they want to. We are also in the process of installing a catio and are trying to give them as much attention as possible. The older boy just isn’t happy and it is breaking my heart. He meows to the point of screaming but will pur seconds later when I console him. He is obsessed with leaving the house. He has destroyed all our internal door mats and will hang off our shutters if the windows are open. We have also been taking him out on daily walks but he has started becoming more aggressive when we turn for home, lying on the floor and growling. last night he broke out of his harness in a wooded area at the bottom of our garden and was exploring the undergrowth while we uselessly shook treat packets at him for over an hour. Eventually my partner managed to grab him but on the way back to the house, the cat has scratched and bitten his arms to shreds. Within 5 minutes of being back inside the house, he was happily receiving cuddles and seemed quite pleased with his adventure. I have been avoiding the vets as he really doesn’t like going and I didn’t want to cause him any more stress. We were hoping it would just take some time and eventually he would settle, however, after last night’s escalation, I am going to book him an appointment for blood tests etc just to rule out anything physical. Apologies for the essay, but if anyone who has experience with bengals has any other ideas of what we can do to help him, I am all ears. 23 hours of the day he seems his usual happy self. Eating and drinking fine. rehoming either the cats or the puppy is not an option. TIA

Oh dear, he does sound a sensitive little soul. Zylkene works well in conjunction with feliway and might just take the edge off for him.

When will the catio be finished?

Thank you @Fluffycloudland77 I have used Zylkene for horses before but didn't realise they do one for cats too. I will order now. He is a very fussy eater so not sure how I will get him to eat it but we can try. Catio builder has a waiting list, but i have chased him today and begged/offered to pay extra, so fingers crossed it won't be too much longer.

Does he like cat soups?

Why do you not want him outside? It might be best all around if he's allowed to go out.

Risk of RTC, theft, fights, the list is endless.

I can never understand why people have a cat but then want to confine it to the house or allow it out on a lead. Let it out. It is in a cat's nature to roam. You cannot change that and will only make the cat very miserable. On top of the lack of freedom, you've now introduced a puppy into the home. You've made a huge mistake there.

I've had many cats over the past 42 years - they have all been allowed to come and go as they please (although kept in at night, 11pm - 5am)

Hi I have two Bengals. Mine would go batshit mental if they were locked in.

I know most breeders of Bengals hate to think of them going out and ask you to sign stuff saying you won’t let them. These two came to me as young adults after having lived in a small flat with a little boy - they were bought for him as a consolation for his parents separating and I don’t think they had a happy youth :-(

Anyway they peed and pooed everywhere when they arrived and didn’t even know how to wash themselves. I took the decision to let them out after a while as they were clearly very unhappy. Shortly after that we moved to somewhere that they are quite safe being outside - and they really do live their best life now. Except for when one of them catches birds :-(

Are you in a built up area?

I lost my Bengal on the road, I’d never let one roam again it’s too distressing to lose them. I’d have a catio or cat proof garden instead.

Current moggy is a house cat but she doesn’t have two brain cells to rub together.

I have never heard of cat soups so will order some for him to try, thank you again @Fluffycloudland77 I have ordered the zyklene too.
I had cats growing up who went outside so house cats are fairly new to me too. My partner had them before we met so its not my call. I do feel responsible for bringing the dog in, so i am just trying to do my best to help him. For what it is worth, the cat had no problem at all with my last dog and the puppy is a very quiet, working lab, so its not like i've bought in a gremin that chases him everyday. They barely see each other. I think its more the cat isn't getting the attention he is used to.

@Catgotyourbrain no, we live very rurally, but there is no way my partner would agree to it. We have cat proofed the garden but he found a way out, so we are now working on stage 2, plus the catio.

Unfortunately, not all pets get along, no matter how much you try.

11 is getting into senior territory for a cat and it must be quite unsettling for him to suddenly be living with a new animal after all this time. I know you said he lived with a dog before but a pre-existing, established older dog is very different to a new puppy.

He's clearly incredibly unhappy so if he passes his vet checks I don't really know what the answer is if you're not willing or able to rehome anyone.