New Bengal cat in neighbourhood

[Mumsday]

I have two cats who are outside a lot, love exploring and have a very happy life. A few other cats in the neighbourhood but there have never been any problems.

Recently what looks like a Bengal kitten (approx 6 months but already quite large) has started coming into our garden and things aren’t going well.

It’s already had a fight with one of my cats and, despite our garden being our cat’s territory and the kitten being younger, it was confident enough to stand its ground. I had to pick it up to put it out of our garden.

I also have a rabbit who we like to let graze on the lawn (he’s very tame). We’ve never had any problems with other visiting cats going for the rabbit but now I’m worried.

I know Bengal cats have a bit of a reputation for being aggressive. Is this going to be a nightmare? I’m really sad, as until now our pets have lived very happily.

Anything I can do?

I would cat proof your garden and just keep your cats on your property.

A bengal could easily kill a rabbit - that would be my main concern.

@andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow

It’s literally impossible to cat-proof our garden unfortunately.

Could you catproof a small area or build a catio type thing?

It's catio then if you cannot cat proof. Bengals don't give up (we had one) and yes they can kill baby rabbits but he never bought an adult home.

They are very affectionate and loving at home though so the owners may not know about their cats outside personality.

Water gun until it realises your garden isn’t safe!

I've had several moggies that would kill adult wild rabbits. I'd say you've been very very lucky up till now and I wouldn't continue to push that luck if I were you.

What is the issue that means you can't cat proof? There's a lot of different systems about now, including mesh fences for cat proofing hedges and shrubberies, with or without complete mesh roof structures. They can be really expensive, but you could DIY if you're handy?

I'd absolutely not let the bunny out now, until/unless the area is secure, and think about ways of cat proofing - even if it's just an area of the garden.

Do you mean cat proof my garden so no cats can get in (and mine can’t get out)? We back onto to open countryside so that is totally impossible (and our cats would go mad.)

Or just cat proof a bit for the rabbit?

Bengals (in general) love water and would just think this was an amazing game.

If my cats were being attacked in their own garden, I would be cat-proofing - even if that meant restricting their territory and freedom.

Ultimately there are only two options - you keep things as they are and accept the risk from the Bengal, or you cat-proof and accept that means your cats have a bit less freedom than before.

You definitely need to cat-proof an area for the rabbit - you're very lucky a cat hasn't got it before now.

A moggy can kill an adult rabbit, not just bengals. On old cat of mine used to try and bring them in through the top opening window of my kitchen 😬

OP - you have my sympathy, it would be completely impractical to cat proof our garden too.

Fortunately although our NDN's (reputedly) part Bengal just spends all his waking hours trying to break into our house, he doesn't get into any serious fights with our cats.
I would try a supersoaker on 'your' Bengal but from experience it will probably make sod all difference...
In terms of your rabbit - our moggies occasionally bring a rabbit back, so I'm afraid it's definitely at risk.

There is a Bengal in my neighbourhood, recently allowed outdoors and it is a nightmare. I think your only option is to take steps to protect your animals.

There are endless posts on our neighbourhood FB page about it's aggressive and fearless behaviour, going into people's houses via open windows and doors, attacking cats all over the place including inside houses. is not easily deterred or scared away by humans. I was once driving up the street where it was fighting another cat in the middle of the road, as i approached the other cat ran to the garden of a nearby house, this bengal stood its ground in the middle of the road and stared me down as i slowly crept forward and stopped and waited for several minutes for it to move out of the way.

The owner refuses to do anything about it as it is ' loving and friendly' and ' all cats ' are like this.

The neighbourhood is not happy.

Ive had to effectively make our cat an indoors cat when we are not at home and only let out when we are home, as the risk of injury is too great and i don't want to run the risk of my cat being attacked when we aren't there to intervene or deal with injuries.

I would build a cat-proof run for your rabbit. Water pistol might work otherwise to discourage it from coming into your garden. The owners almost certainly don't know what it's up to or where it goes. I have no idea what my cat (not a Bengal) gets up to. But if you find out who owns it you could always say something like 'I'm surprised you let it roam freely, as they're such a target for thieves'

This is exactly the scenario I’m worried about. I have had experience of Bengals before and they seem to be a nightmare.

Why does anyone buy these aggressive animals when there are perfectly good rescue kittens that need a home?

My cats love their free, outdoor life and I am loath to restrict them but it looks like I will have to.

To be fair, the Bengal may be a rescue, there are often Bengals or bengal crosses listed for rehoming - guess they are given up when the owner realises how hard work they are 😡

I’d be going with super soaker/chucking a large cup of water at it whenever you see it, see if that helps. It’s certainly helped deter our local aggressive cat (not a Bengal).

Agree you need a protected rabbit run for the rabbit, regardless of this cat.

Why does anyone buy these aggressive animals when there are perfectly good rescue kittens that need a home?

In all fairness, there are loads of Bengal/Bengal mixes in rescue centres- presumably because of scenarios like this. They're a lot of work.

Cats can be territorial, that is not a uniquely bengal trait by any means.

Cats also kill rabbits, once again not a uniquely bengal trait at all.

Cats go into other houses. Not uniquely bengal.

Cats gonna cat.

I have two bengals. I worked on a farm for a bit, a moggie who previously lived in my farm accommodation would routinely come in and fight my cats.

Other cats on the farm killed wild rabbits, mine never did.

Bengals can be bigger and more muscular, I think they are more likely to win in fights with other cats. The fighting might settle down, as you say this cat is new to the scene.

My bengals don't like water btw, so I would give water pistols a try.

Just for balance, my Bengal mix gets totally shredded by some other cats. He is neutered, and in the past got really badly attacked by a full male stray, who used to spray around the cat flap once we microchipped it..... He had been coming in before then and spraying my kitchen, poor Arthur was beside himself. Then another full male moggy moved in and beat him up.

Arthur often has big holes in his neck which I tended to with salt water and Savlon.

Like the OP we are surrounded by fields and Arthur is very big and sleek and healthy, and a hunter, but goodness me when it comes to territory he is a bit of a woos.

My neighbour's part Bengal has cost upwards of >£500 on vets fees plus all sorts of other stuff like extra wire, cctv cameras, dozens of collars. It's a massive shit that's nearly double the size of my cats.

If you want a laugh, look at any one of the Bengal rehoming charity websites - it's all 'Bobby must not be rehomed with other animals, or humans under the age of 45, in a rural area with no other inhabitants within 5 miles and no overhead power lines.'

What a daft idea for a pet!
the cat equivalent of an XL bully!

I know that cats raised with rabbits can co-exist peacefully with them, but I am surprised other neighbourhood cats have not taken an unwanted interest in your rabbit. I would definitely give it a secure run.

It would be possible to cat-proof your garden but bear in mind keeping your cats enclosed could cause other unwanted issues like spraying in the house. Unfortunately it's a case of which is the 'least worst' option, letting them take their chances outside, or restricting their lives.

This isn't just a Bengal issue. Over the years we have had aggressive neighbouring cats of many varieties - moggies, British Shorthair, Burmese - who regularly got into fights with our cats resulting in expensive vet visits. It's just the luck of the draw whether you have an aggressive type in the neighbourhood.

Fencing options here if you want to consider it.

https://protectapet.com/

@SecretPlanToFightInflation You forgot “Only eats off pink plates on the worktop or in the bedroom and only uses talcum powder scented ultraclumping litter ankle deep. Only uses the extra tall scratch post and will wee on your bed if you buy any other scratch post*”

As pets they are amazing and if I can I’ll have another one but cat-proof so it’ll be confined to my garden.

*He actually did once wee on the bed because we bought a different post. I had to swap it at pets at home who were very good about it.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy I have a normal sized cat who will only use Sanicat and won't eat off plastic plates .... but I'm not afraid of him in the same way I am of the mini-tiger next door.