Cat bullies

[CosilyRosily]

Our next door neighbours have recently got two (very beautiful) young bengal cats who, whilst I'm sure are lovely companions, are absolutely terrorising our huge 7kg (total wimp) of a cat. He's now too afraid to go outside and if he does dare to, they are lying in wait and absolutely go for him.
I've also had to chase them out of the house multiple times.

I feel so sad for my poor cat who has lived in harmony with the other neighbourhood cats for years.

We will be getting a microchip cat flap which will help to stop the incursions into the house but does anyone have any other suggestions!? They aren't afraid of anything!! I've never seen anything like it. Hoping that there is something I can do before I have to speak to the neighbours and ask them to impose an outdoors roster... Some sort of cat confidence course? Any thoughts gratefully received.

Bless your poor big chap!!! That would piss my off no end and send me into overprotective cat mother mode.

Is there anything they are afraid of? If you see them in the garden can you drop a huge metal bucket to make an absolute racket anytime you see them to remind them it’s horrible in your garden (and your boy is safely inside?)

Or, cat proof your fences if at all possible? That way your cat can still go out but they can’t get in?

Thank you! You'd think having a boisterous toddler would be enough to put anyone off but I can literally run straight up to them shouting and stamping and they just look at me and roll onto their backs.

Unfortunately the fence belongs to the neighbour and its absolutely trashed already, no chance of cat proofing it unless they finally pull their fingers out and replace it. but we have an... interesting... relationship with them and they've already told me it isn't a priority for them right now which I get. We also have a 5ft wall in the side return which is shared that their cats sit on top of and wait for my cat to brave the garden before chasing him out. It's so sad.

I'm thinking of getting a water pistol but I've chucked water at them before and they weren't bothered so not sure it'll work.

I'll definitely find something noisy(er than a toddler) though, worth a go!

My cat is a thug , the only way I can stop him attacking other cats is to keep him indoors.
But when I first realised he was a thug I used lemon juice and water 50-50 in a water pistol to try and prevent him attacking.
It worked if I was quick enough, but boy was it hard to be as fast as a 1 Yr cat !
Hence he stays in now.

Could you try that ?

Oh and a old sock full of bottles caps , heavy enough to throw accurately but not hurt if you hit them + it's quite noisy.

Great idea, will definitely try that! Thank you

Yes, definitely don't want to hurt them. Do want them to sod off!

Paging Grumpy

This is thread 5 of the on-going saga.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_litter_tray/4739619-thug-cat-part-5-for-he-will-not-do-destruction-if-he-is-well-fed-neither-will-he-spit-without-provocation?

Basically bengals gonna bengal.

You need a microchip cat flap, motion activated water sprinkler for when your cat is inside, water supersoaker for when you go out, and some pet antiseptic wound spray.

I have some experience of this.
When it comes to Bengals, or part Bengals, or any cat who fancies itself as a Bengal, I'm afraid absolutely nothing works.
Sorry OP.

Bugger. Two bengals, too.

A veritable arsenal. All great tips, thank you

OP Bengal's a tally like water so the water pistol won't work for them. When you said as you approached them they rolled over on to their backs, probably for a tummy tickle. My DS has a Bengal cat. It is loyal and lovely with humans but does not like other cats. Next door to him got a kitten and when it was about 4 months they either let it out or it escaped. It came into my son's cat flap and his Bengal pounced on it and he thought it was going to kill the kitten. He got the kitten away from Toffee his cat and took it back next door. He warned the neighbours if the kitten had come into his house when he was not there it would probably be dead by now. They have kept it in since. Toffee does not go out very often he prefers climbing in sons sitting room on wall shelves and watching out the window. He sometimes goes into his garden if my son and his gf are sitting out there.

Thank you for the insight, it doesnt surprise me. Luckily our cat is huge and fluffy so plenty of padding!

I would love it if they decided to keep them in but doesn't seem likely since they bought them as "house cats" and had to let them out as they were breaking everything.

I know they like water... but maybe the surprise element/adding some lemon will be effective (fingers tightly crossed)

We've spent >£250 on vets bills over the last few years due to our neighbours bengal. Plus god knows how much on new cat flap and garden 'defences.' I'm sure his mummy loves him but he's the bane of my life.

I'm having to try very hard not to dislike them I have to admit - it's like having two savage little tigers lurking in the garden

I know I'm late to this thread but did the microchip cat flap work well?
I'm having a very similar problem with a neighbourhood cat (luckily not a Bengal, just would like to think he is!) who chases my scaredy cat home a couple of times a week. My concern is that the chase is so fast the flap won't activate quickly enough, and then when he does open it the other cat will be so hot on his tail that it won't have had a chance to lock yet.