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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Advice re Bengal

11 replies

TC176 · 24/02/2024 12:33

Our half Bengal cat will be 3 next week. We adopted him when he was 5 months old; he’d had a pretty poor start and we were his 5th home. He’s been a challenge but has turned into the most affectionate, funny boy. Recently though he’s been getting very aggressive when he’s thwarted. His ears go back and he jumps up and bites us or attacks our ankles. It’s like a red mist descending. DH and I are covered in scratches. He’s neutered and we’re a very quiet household, there’s no shouting and we never tease him. He likes to be walked or carried round the garden in the morning and evening and gets aggressive if we bring him in. He has lengthy naps during the day and is pretty good at sleeping at night until about 6 am when he decides he wants a cuddle, and he’s very affectionate then. When he gets upset and attacks us I usually grab the scruff of his neck, he relaxes and I can get my hand under him to lift him away and put him outside the room. This has only been happening for the last week or so and we thought it was due to the rain and windy weather upsetting him. I’d be grateful for any advice on how to manage him, we are hoping he just grows out of it as he gets older. Apologies for very long posting.

Advice re Bengal
OP posts:
lifebeginsaftercoffee · 24/02/2024 23:14

The main thing that stands out to me is that you really shouldn't be scruffing an adult cat unless you have absolutely no other choice as it can be quite painful for them. The "relaxing" that you see is a fear response so I'd really really avoid doing it if at all possible.

You say a lot about his routine but there's nothing about how much exercise he gets or how much you play with him?

LostCats · 25/02/2024 11:00

I’ve been thinking about your post since yesterday and hoped one of Mumsnets very knowledgeable Bengal owners would come along so just bumping for you.

It could be that your boy is sensing summer is coming and is getting a bit more excitable?

I have read in the past that Bengals and part Bengals do do the attacking but unfortunately my 1/4 Bengal daft boy doesn’t do it so I’m not much help.

I do hope someone comes along soon to help as you sound very lovely and caring.

TC176 · 25/02/2024 16:46

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. We would never scruff him, but he was hanging off my thigh and biting me - even through denim it was quite painful and I just put my hand on his neck to make him pause a bit so I could lift him off me. He weighs 14 lbs and it’s all muscle. We wouldn’t spray him or do anything to upset him even more. He gets loads of exercise, we’ve played ping pong football today and he has a toybox of toys which we rotate. He’s my baby, I would never do anything to hurt or frighten him. I think it might be the change in season and the terrible weather, he doesn’t like the wind and rain and gets frustrated when he won’t go out in it. He can wake up anytime after 3.30 am and one of us gets up and takes him round the garden. He doesn’t like being out in the dark on his own - our garden’s 1/3rd of an acre with lots of trees and bushes. If it’s wet he wants to be carried round so he can inspect his territory and sniff the air. We keep him in at night, apart from that he can come and go whenever he wants. I am hoping it is just the time of year, he’s been very much happier during the brief spells of dry weather. Again, thank you for your thoughts.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 25/02/2024 16:53

Could you set up a catio? It does sound like he maybe needs more stimulation/exercise. Or take him for longer walks.

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 25/02/2024 17:02

Ah, I wasn't meaning to imply you would hurt him - just that scruffing really isn't recommended for adult cats (and also isn't particularly effective in many cases). It works in small kittens (under two months) but as they get older, it becomes sore (as there's more weight to carry) and many go into "freeze" mode when it happens out of sheer panic.

Obviously if there's no other way to get him off you then that's different :)

If he doesn't like going out in bad weather, have you thought about an indoor cat wheel for him to use?

Ilovemyshed · 25/02/2024 17:29

Have you tried Feliway?

Iamacatslave · 25/02/2024 17:58

Your boy is magnificent. Is he getting enough exercise?

Mortimercat · 25/02/2024 18:36

TC176 · 25/02/2024 16:46

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. We would never scruff him, but he was hanging off my thigh and biting me - even through denim it was quite painful and I just put my hand on his neck to make him pause a bit so I could lift him off me. He weighs 14 lbs and it’s all muscle. We wouldn’t spray him or do anything to upset him even more. He gets loads of exercise, we’ve played ping pong football today and he has a toybox of toys which we rotate. He’s my baby, I would never do anything to hurt or frighten him. I think it might be the change in season and the terrible weather, he doesn’t like the wind and rain and gets frustrated when he won’t go out in it. He can wake up anytime after 3.30 am and one of us gets up and takes him round the garden. He doesn’t like being out in the dark on his own - our garden’s 1/3rd of an acre with lots of trees and bushes. If it’s wet he wants to be carried round so he can inspect his territory and sniff the air. We keep him in at night, apart from that he can come and go whenever he wants. I am hoping it is just the time of year, he’s been very much happier during the brief spells of dry weather. Again, thank you for your thoughts.

I am a life long, very experienced cat owner and I also have a three year old male neutered Bengal. I don’t know from the top of my head what might be up with your Bengal, I know mine hates any kind of handling. But you do not ever, ever pick a cat up by the scruff of its neck. I have known that since I was 6 years old. So stop that right now. I am not surprised your cat is aggressive if this is what you do. The only living being that gets to pick up a cat by the scruff of its neck is the mother of kittens.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 25/02/2024 21:27

Can't give you any advice about managing an aggressive part Bengal, but you are definitely not alone.
I am however slightly concerned about your username @TC176. 🙀

TC176 · 25/02/2024 21:44

Replying to Mortimercat (I do not know how to highlight as don’t often post on Mumsnet). I too am a lifelong very experienced cat owner. I did not, and would never, pick a cat up by the scruff of its neck. I put my right hand on his neck and my left hand under him and was able to get him off me. He was hanging on my thigh with his claws and biting me and it was extremely painful. But thank you for your comment, it’s made me feel so much better.

OP posts:
OolongTeaDrinker · 25/02/2024 21:59

I think if it’s a sudden change in behaviour then best to get him checked out by the vet. We have a bengal too, they really are the most beautiful of cats 😻

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