Is your kitty turning into a little monster? Bengal cat behavior problems can be quite irritating and are probably the most common reason some of them lose their homes.
But the first step to correcting them is to actually try understanding your furry friend and the cause of these issues: they can be due to behavioral or medical causes.
Bengals are extremely intelligent and will find ways to communicate their wishes to you. Bengal cat behavior problems can sometimes be the result of this form of communication.
Therefore it is very important to try to understand what kitty is trying to tell you and then address the issue rather than punishing him. Bengals are not malicious, or deliberately destructive.
Dealing With Bengal Cat Behavior Issues
You must never ever hit your cat! It is completely ineffective since they do not understand physical punishment. Rather, they will see this as an aggressive action and you will destroy the trust and security required for a good relationship. Your cat will remember such an attack and may hold a serious grudge.
Instead, learn why your cat does certain things and then work with your cat to correct any problems. Clapping loudly or raising your voice with assertion when they may “get out of hand” are effective tools. Here are some common Bengal cat behavior problems and ways to address them.
Scratching Carpet or Furniture
First of all, it is important to understand that scratching is natural for cats and they do it for a variety of reasons. Cat’s paws have scent glands and scratching is one of the methods they use to mark their territory. It also provides a much needed means for stretching and works the muscles of the cat’s front quarters.
Also cats scratch to shed the outer layer of their claws. Finally, cats scratch because it feels good. Just think how much better you feel after a good stretch first thing in the morning.
You will never be able to make your cat stop scratching, but you can re-direct his scratching to acceptable surfaces. Here is where the need for an appropriate scratching post comes in.
Cats like rough surfaces and prefer to scratch vertically. Sisal rope scratching posts are ideal for this purpose. They love the smell and texture of the natural fiber and it is tough enough to stand up to repeated use.
The key to getting kitty to use a scratching post is its location. Cats always like to have a good stretch and scratch upon waking from a nap.
So, keep a scratching post in areas where your cat likes to sleep. We have at least one sisal post in all the main living areas as well as in the bedroom. If your cat has been scratching carpet or furniture, place a sisal scratching post as close as possible to this spot.
If your cat starts to scratch the sofa or carpet, say “no” firmly and place him at the scratching posts or cat tree. Praise him when he uses the post.
You may need to rub a bit of catnip in the scratching post to get his attention. Make sure that the post is tall enough for an adult cat to be able to reach up and have a good stretch.
It must be sturdy and not tip over as this will discourage your cat from using it. Most cats are drawn to the sisal naturally and prefer it over carpet or other surfaces. I highly recommend the “Ultimate Scratching Post“. It’s a durable post made with fibrous, durable sisal and it measures 32 inches high to allow your Bengal to stretch vertically.
Cat trees with sisal posts are a cats dream come true. Also, try cleaning the area that you don’t want him to scratch to remove his scent. You may have to temporarily cover the area with foil, shelf paper, or special paper (available in pet supply stores) to discourage him from using this area.
Jumping on Counters and Tables
Bengal cats love food and they know that wonderful food smells come from counters and tables. The moment your back is turned, your Bengal will try to jump up and taste what’s cooking.
Not only is having a Bengal on the counter while you are cooking unsanitary, it could also be dangerous. Many cats have been burned by a hot stove or hot steam and been cut by sharp knives.
There are several different ways of letting kitty know that this area (or some other area you choose) is off limits. Give him a firm “no” in his face to let him know this is unacceptable behavior.
Having a water bottle handy and giving your Bengal a spraying is not recommended and not really effective. A better method is orange peel. Most cats hate the smell of citrus and I usually eat an orange a day. So I put the fresh orange peels everywhere I don’t want my Bengal to go.
Or you could take pieces of masking tape and fold them in loops with the sticky side out. Place these on the counter where kitty is most likely to jump. Cats hate it when their feet come in contact with the sticky tape.
It may take some time, but eventually your Bengal will learn that certain areas bring unpleasant consequences and will avoid them. Each Bengal is unique and will respond differently to these methods. For example, each cat must be dealt with individually to see what works.
It also helps to feed your Bengal cat just before you begin preparing or serving food so that they will be less interested in yours.
Litter Box Problems
Bengal kittens are trained to use the litter box before you even bring them home. However, if you decide to use a different litter than what they are used to, you may have to re-introduce your new kitten to the new litter in this way: I recommend “Swheat Scoop“, as it is natural, flushable and the cats love it!
If you use another litter, introduce it slowly by putting his old litter on the top of the tray and your new litter on the bottom. It can take from a few days to a couple of weeks of gradually adding more and more of your litter to the old one before you are successful in switching over to 100% “your” litter.
One thing I have learned about cats over the years, is that if they are upset about something they will let you know by scratching, peeing or pooping somewhere they shouldn’t to get your attention. They do not do this out of maliciousness or revenge but rather it is a form of communication. Try to understand what they are telling you and then deal with that issue.
If your cat should eliminate somewhere other than the litter box, he or she is trying to tell you something. It could be a medical problem. A urinalysis may be necessary.
However, suddenly switching foods can cause diarrhea which can also result in “accidents”. Always mix the new food with the old, gradually increasing the ratio of the new food, over a week or two, to allow the cats digestive system to adjust.
So, when there is a problem, ask yourself: “What has changed recently?”.
Cats also react to stress and change in the family such as moving to a new home. Sometimes with new kittens, the problem is the location of the litter box. Young kittens need to have the litter box nearby until they get their bearings.
Don’t expect them to find a litter box tucked away under your basement steps. Chances are, they were used to having a litter box in the room with them before coming to your home. Keep an eye on him if he looks like he is searching for something and meowing, it is probably his litter box he is seeking out.
Start by having the litter box nearby and then move it to a preferred location once your kitten knows it’s way around your home. If you have a large house with many levels, have one on every level.
A good rule of thumb is this… a litter box for every cat and then one more! Also, start out with an uncovered litter box, then add the lid later on. “Listen” to your cat and negotiate a compromise that is acceptable to both of you.
Remember, your Bengal is extremely intelligent and cannot be forced to do anything it doesn’t want to do. On the other hand, with proper training their thinking can be re-directed and Bengal cat behavior problems can be solved with patience and understanding.
Distraction works wonders and if a kitten or cat is doing something you do not want, give them something better to do or play with.
Hello, we have a very serious issue and are desperate for help. We have had two Bengals for many years. Our first, Lucy, passed away at 16 this past June. Our other girl, Cleo, came to us as a thirteen week kitten when Lucy was ten. The adjustment of adding Cleo to the family was relatively easy and they remained lifelong companions. In August, we acquired Stormy, a wonderful six month old Bengal kitten. We tried all normal introduction techniques, but Cleo has visciously attacked Stormy at every opportunity. We still keep them separated, but Cleo will sit outside of the door of Stormy’s room, tail huge and jumping on the door. Our vet has prescribed anti-anxiety meds for Cleo, but they have no effect whatsoever. We alternate free time for each of them every few hours and Cleo is her normal sweet chatty self when she is with us. These past 2 1/2 months have been hell for us and for both cats. There is no doubt that Cleo would kill Stormy if they were left alone. Has anyone else been through a similar situation? We are at the point of wanting to find a new home for Cleo, which is heartbreaking for us, but we want two cats and feel this will be impossible if Cleo’s behavior cannot be changed. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Everyone! I’m new to this site and am wondering if it still has active exchanges of information? Is there a “Bengal Expert” that answers questions? Thanks, in advance, fellow Bengal Parents!
I have a problem with my 5 year old snow leopard female Bengal, Fara, not pooping in her litter box. I notice that when she has to go she’ll actually sniff the area of the box that she pees in and if there is a trace of pee, she’ll jump out and not use it. I remove all clumps several times a day. If I don’t take out all of the litter and wash her litter box thoroughly EVERY SINGLE DAY she won’t poop in it. She poops on the expensive rug in the dining room. She actually holds it for 3 days sometimes! This is making me crazy. She also has a second litter box that she used to use occasionally but doesn’t use it any longer. I have tried clumping and non-clumping litter and the litter doesn’t seem to be the issue. I know they’re fastidious but this is time consuming, stressful and expensive. Also, I have taken her to the vet and she is healthy. I have tried “spot cleaning” the area she pees in and replacing fresh litter but when she sniffs and if she detects anything I’m out of luck. If anyone else has or has had this problem and found a solution please share. Thank you!
Does anyone use such mats https://www.bengalcats.co/best-cat-litter-mat/ near the cat’s litter? Are they useful?
I have a 3 year old Bengal up till 4 months ago he ate 3 times a day and 10:00 sack, now he acts like he is not getting full. Does that mean it’s time to call our VET? Bengals are very picky so it will be nice to talk with other bengal lovers. Elizabeth
Hello everyone. So recently i got a silver bengal. He has been living with us for about a month now and never had any litter box issues. except peeing in my bed while really young im gunna call that an accident. recently i got another bengal. About a month younger than him they get along fine but ever since i brought him home he’s been pooping and peeing OUTSIDE of the litter box on the litter rug i have for them. The new kitten uses the litter box fine. It’s also a self cleaning litter so it doesn’t get too dirty or smelly but i dont want to keep yelling at him. I know something is wrong. Does anyone have any advice? Should I get him his own litter box? Take him to the vet? Change it a week earlier than usual ? Any help is appreciated. Thank you
I’m hoping you found a solution to your challenge already, but in case you haven’t… It is recommended to have 1 litter box per kitten/cat plus an extra one. Hope this helps some!
Omg yes Tiger Lily wees on my partners things all the time!
Hello. I have a huge problem with my Bengal cat (4 year old male, neutered) because he pees everywhere. We examined him to search for a medical reason of this behaviour but fortunately he is healthy, so that’s not it. We have three cats in the house (2 male and 1 female) and three litter boxes, cleaned every day. What is odd, he seems to pee when he is angry or does not get something he wants. We know cats are not malicious but this behaviour is not acceptable because he causes us damage. We are really worried about his psyche as well. We are so desperate to help him but here in Poland where we live there are no specialist who could help us and tell more about this breed of cats. Today I have purchased calming collars for all three cats, maybe this will help. Maybe some of you faced similar problems? I would be greateful for any piece of advise. Thank you all : )
Can my 8 year old female Bengal cat be mad at me for 3 days? She won’t come to me, because she went to jump on my lap like she always does but this time her head bumped my elbow so now she must think that I hit her… I didn’t …. So anyone out there know how or what to do???? I thought it might be the weather because we live in Maine and of course we had to change our clocks forward and then it snowed which means Roo does not go outside… Thanks
I wouldn’t worry about that. Cats don’t hold a grudge for so little. Maybe she is just anxious about something.
My Blackjack seems to get really jealous if he sees me loving Kovu. He’ll ignore me for a day or two. lol He gets over it. I usually just pick him up and cuddle and he ends up licking my nose off and we’re all good after that. But the look on his face until then. What a jealous baby. haha
Have a Bengal which is prone to attack for no specific reason just seems to go into a frenzy of being naughty , attention seeking and generally irritating to get what it wants , have given the cat the run of the house but due to the volume of his chat for a better word , sleep is quite a challenge so have tried isolating him to lounge / diner / conservatory and kitchen are which is a large area however still not adequate for his constant noise , normally 2 in the morning and constant , anyone else had and solved this problem ? an answer would be great or will have to find someone to rake on this beautiful but unstable cat
a safe outdoor enclosure? or a kitten companion?
Generally speaking, the Bengal needs no more care than most cats. Proper food and veterinarian care will keep your cat in good health. Except for one thing: this cat needs out! Otherwise, it becomes fearful and goes wild. It also loves water and during the hot season will gladly splash and spatter in any pool it finds.
Hi, i have two bengal cats. One female and one male. My male is the only problem i have… he urinates on my couch. I’m not sure why he does this, maybe its because i’m not home enough to spend time with him, but he only urinates on the couch…. my female is fine.
Have you ever learned anything about this? I commented about the same issue on a previous post above..
Hi, i have 2 females Bengals, one is 6 and extremely vocal and the other is 4 and more discret. The vocal one I can have a conversation with her, meaning I talk to her and ask her questions and she always answers me and sometimes I swear it sounds like yes or no. That conversation can last 5-10 minutes and people find this very cute.
The younger one well this is the one I do have problems with. I believe that she think I am her Mommy because everytime I leave the house for groceries or appointments she is looking at me with those big cooper eyes and I feel like she is saying “Are you leaving me alone again, are you coming back, can I go with you?”. And I feel bad for leaving, I used to leave my slippers or some shoes like running shoes at the door but I learnt my lesson. One time when I came back my slippers which had some imitation sheep fur around them, well that fur was everywhere near the door but not on the slippers anymore! Sometimes when I came back I would leave my running shoes or some leather shoes at the door, she loves anything in leather, and maybe an hour later I would notice that my shoes were full of teeth mark.
The second problem with her is that she is a female and pees like a male. She starts in the sitting position and the more she goes the more straight she gets and the more she pees on the wall of the litter. When I had a real litter she kept on peeing outside of a uncovered litter, for the covered litter it’s on the side and the ceiling (that one I still can not figure out). Now I bought a Rubbermaid container high on the side, no more messes outside the litter but you should see the walls! I have to wipe them with a wet cloth at least 3 times a week.
Now I can live with my solution if there is not anything better, I just want to know why she does those things. This cat is my cat and the other is my husbands, but mine follows me around like a dog, watches everything I do, sleeps in between my legs all night, brings me toys during the night because I wake up with toys on my blanket and when we both go out when we come back we always have toys waiting for us at the doors!
Finally I love my Bengals and do not regret the day I bought them even if they were expensive. In 2 month we are getting a dog, Australian Shepard, I hope the cat’s will accept her without any fuss, she will be only 7 weeks old so for her it’s ok it’s the cat’s that worries me. They do see my Moms dog, a Shi-Tzu, and they used to spend a month in Florida living together and there was no problem so let’s cross our finger and if anyone has any advice for me to help with the acceptance of the dog with the Bengals, please do so.
Thank you in advance for all the help I will get because I am sure I will get some good advice!
HELP!! My one year old Bengal cat is starting to chew cords. She has chewed through two phone charging cords and a set of headphone cords. She has a seven foot cat tree and numerous toys. I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and either find her dead or severely injured.
The pic of the Bengal chewing on the end of a shelf could have been of my boy, except mine has the entire corner chewed off of a mid century modern bookcase bed headboard! We’ve had the bed for close to 50 years & have had kitties for just about as long & he’s the 1st kitty to have done anything like this. He’s the sweetest, most affectionate lil fella & smart as can be & when he’s awake, he’s always in high gear. Love him to pieces!
My Bengal licks the mini blinds. Any suggestions as to why??
That’s not even funny, but yeah, it is… How about squeezing some orange peel (squirts) onto the blinds? Beg she won’t lick that!!
My beagle used to mark his territory all Over my closet. I took the carpet out and put down a hard floor. He finally stopped. Then continued to pee in my loft. I finally decided to put a litter box in my loft. So happy to say, he was trying to tell me something and now he goes in the box. No more peeing in the floor. I found a great product that took the smell out. Happy mom, happy cat
What was that product?
I have a one year old bengal, He has always peed on my bed here and there but this week he has peed on my bed everyday and more than once a day. I’ve taken him to the vet he has no problems, he has clean liter, he has toys, I take him outside, and I play with him. Ive even had to put a tarp over my bed when Im not home which he stills pees on. Im getting beyond frustrated with him and I dont know what will make him stop.
Ericka did you find a resolution for this? My 10 year old Bengal is peeing EVERYWHERE and right in front of me too! I am beyond frustrated as well!
My 6 month old Bengal does this too!! She’s ruining my house 🙁 I’ve had cats my whole life but never had one this stubborn lol. I can’t figure her out and it’s making us miserable!! She pees in open containers, on my husbands side of the bed, on my sons bed, on pillows but only if they’re on the floor, her cat carrier, the kids chairs & mini couches, the pack n play, etc. she likes peeing on anything canvas or similar texture.. She even peed IN her water bowl the other day (and then proceeded to drink it ugh). I’m going crazy!!! She DOES also pee/poop in litter box too so she obviously knows how & where to find it. She started this behavior when, I suspect, she began maturing around 4 months. I tried to get her fixed thinking it was related to hormones but the vet insisted I wait till 6 months. After she was spayed, the problem got worse!! Anyone have any idea how to deal with her??
Hi Katie!
My boyfriend ended up speaking with a cat trainer and she suggested a 30 day “reset”….. She told us to keep Mambo in the bathroom or a small room for 30 days. With his litter box, food, etc. She also said to clean his box twice a day. We did this and he seems to be doing better. Our bedroom is off limits for him but he seems to be doing better. We are moving to a new apartment on October 1 and our bedroom is in a loft without a door so I got a huge cage for him to hang in during the day- it has levels, I got him a “hammock” to hang on while in there. At night and when we are home over the weekends we will let him out and keep an eye on him so he doesn’t wander upstairs and pee on our bed. Now the major issue is his meowing and howling all hours of the night!!!! It is unbelievable that such a tiny creature can make such loud noises.
Prior to the 30 day reset I tried Prozac that my vet prescribed…. he would not take the pills or the gel orally so I was putting it on the inside of his ear- my vet did some research and it seems to only work well if taken orally. If you think your cat would take it, I would give it a shot!
Another friend of mine was having the same pee issue with her cat (not a Bengal)….. the cat was ruining her new home. She ended up going to home depot and getting a HUGE container for the cat to use at it’s box and she has not had any issues yet.
Lastly…… another friend (married to a vet) had the same issues with her 2 cats. They live out in the country so they turned the cats in to indoor/outdoor cats and they have not had any issues.
I love Mambo so much, he is a really cool guy but must say, after having him- I do not want to have another cat ever again.
I hope that some of my suggestions help, let me know if you find anything that works!!!
I tried that. I bought a huge tupperware type plastic bin with a lid, and my bf cut a big hole so the cats could get in and out easily. We make sure it’s always clean, still doesn’t matter.
I’m having the same problem. My teenage daughter bought an expensive Bengal. (after borrowing half of it from her step-dad and myself on the day she went to get him. ugh) Anyway, teen = irresponsible. (often) She worked a lot and was out with her friends and wasn’t home a lot. Kovu spent a lot of time locked in her bedroom because her roommate didn’t want him out while she wasn’t home. She moved back with her step-dad, and again, the same thing. He would come back after being gone a week to work, and the house would wreak like cat spray. He wanted him out. She almost sold him to someone I was supposed to drop him off with. After talking to her, and she was rude, I told her straight out she wasn’t getting him. I’ve posted ads to re-home him, (mainly because of the spraying/peeing) and found a couple that would be really good. BUT, he’s family now. He’s not cuddly at ALL, but we love the little freaker. I think she got him fixed a little late, if that’s possible. He’s not quite a year old yet. According to the vet he has upper respiratory disease. (wheezy sound occasionally) We’ve struggled with him peeing if there is a pile of laundry, on beds, last night he soaked one of the chairs, (my youngest girl caught him), yelled at him, and I put him in the litter box. Today, my boyfriend caught him on my 12 year old girl’s bed. (we JUST washed all her bedding because of that yesterday!) Sometimes it smells musky. (I would assume that’s spray, but he’s fixed?? Could it be pee that wasn’t caught right away and just…fermented?) The last two days where I saw it immediately, it was clearly urine. A lot of it, and smelled like it. Someone suggested getting him checked for diabetes. God I hope it’s not that. *sigh*
Did anyone else find any other answers? Today my bf yelled at him and smacked him on the butt. (I know you’re not supposed to) Maybe that will work. Scared the hell out of him, that’s for sure. *fingers crossed* Washing laundry and bedding and scrubbing chairs all the time SUCKS.
Hi, Bonnie! How many cats in total do you have, and how many litter boxes are in your home?
I’m having the same issue. My Leo is 2 yrs old and now all of a sudden he has started peeing and pooping on my carpet. I don’t know what to do. I love him to death but I just can’t have this. I am taking him to vet today to make sure its not medical but if not I don’t know what to do.
Hi! Since we noticed our guy was always going to the same spot to urinate we put a box where he was going so now he has two boxes and seems to be doing better so far and its been a few months. Good luck! It’s the worst thing to deal with….. I tried everything and this worked!
I took Leo to the vet yesterday and the vet ask if there was anything new in the house hold or a new animal outside. A few weeks ago a blue Russian showed up at our house. He looked unfed so we started feeding and petting him. That seems to be when Leo started peeing and pooping in the house. The vet recommended that he be reset somewhere that he could not see the cat outside. Bengals are very territorial and they bond very strongly. I am Leo’s person so when he saw me feeding and petting the other cat he started acting out. So you guys that are having this problem maybe you need to think about what has change since he started peeing and pooping outside the litter box.
Hi can you help my friend inherited two Bengal cats that where untrained with the litter tray prior to his adopting them. They urinate on his bed and the male will pee on his chest in bed and pee on his leg . Can you help with this problem.
Hi i have two beautiful bengal x boys (brothers) they have both been neutered, they are 1yrs old now but one of them has started being really aggressive to his brother attacking him, hissing/growling when he goes anywhere near him and he has started being aggresive with us.can anyone give me any ideas how i can stop him please? x
My girlfriend and i recently moved into a new apartment and the other roommate has a five month old bengal cat who was left behind by a previous roommate. We adopted our cat from a shelter about three weeks before the move and she was playful and curious. Her name is Callie, and she is only 10 months old and according to the shelter she was badly abused and left on the streets for weeks before being brought in. When we moved into the apartment the male bengal (Liinx) immediately showed aggressive territorial behavior but, knowing nothing about that breed, we assumed it was natural around a strange new cat. Our roommate also has a female cat who is older and apparently terrorized by Liinx on a daily basis. Marissa (our roommate) is going to school full time and working so she is never around. We have tried to talk to her about him but she only got angry and refused to listen. We have only been here for two weeks and Callie is already more jumpy and terrified of even leaving our room. At night we have both noticed Liinx sitting outside our closed door waiting for us to open it. The other day, my girlfriend was sitting on the couch with Callie trying to calm her down when Liinx came over and started hissing at her and trying to scratch our cat. When my girlfriend tried to push him away he immediately bit her and when I went to pull him off, he took a swipe at my face scratching my lip badly. I should also mention that he has not been neutered. Any advice you can give would be very welcome as we do not know what else to do, thank you! You can contact us directly by email at [email protected].
I don’t find that this was ever answered – nor were other questions about aggressive bengal behavior. Has anyone received a response from the site’s owner? Can you direct me, please. Thanks!
My bengal has marked with urine for years and I feel like I’ve tried everything. A second litter box, scratching posts in every room, toys, climbing shelves, love and attention, as well as verbal praise and firm verbal admonishment when necessary. I have also tried pheromone collars and dispensers. He is 6 now, neutered, and very sweet tempered. Urine marking is his only behavioral problem, but it is greatly reducing my quality of life. I am stressed about finding a new spot, or urine in a regular spot. I can’t be home to watch him all the time! Any ideas on what to try? Please help me.
It seems to me that these are traits of all cuts, not just Bengals.
I have 2 bengals and have had no issues with them just loving xx
My Bengal is driving me crazy. He’s escaped outside a few times. Now all he does is yell very loud non stop 24/7. He’s even started peeing on my furniture because he wants out so bad.hes wriped the door frame apart etc…. He’s driving me batty.
You should let him outside slash inside.
We have a 7 year old female Bengal who refuses to use the litter box (although in the beginning she did use it). I shouldn’t say that – I believe she pees in it. We have had her for a couple years. It used to appear that she stood in the litter box with her butt hanging over and pooping right there. Not diarrhea. Now it is in various places, all within 10′ of the box. We have not changed her litter or food. Any suggestions?
…help! We have inherited an 18-month old cat believed to have Bengal lineage from my daughter who is having her first child in 2-weeks – her behaviour considered incompatible with a new baby.
Although beautifully marked, Kitty is quite wild with erratic behaviour. We have now released her to the outdoors and she is getting used to our garden, although her senses are on overload with flies, birds, the wind etc.
However, she hisses and attacks me on occasion, with nuzzles and rubs the very next minute. Knowing her potential Bengal background helps understand to a point, but we now need to ‘tame’ her – it’s like living with a small tiger when she is the ‘zone’.
I recently adopted a nine year old male Bengal and he is amazing. It took a bit to get used to the new surroundings but he has adapted well. He is a talker….always talking and hates being alone.
hi can any one give me some advice I have asnow leopard male 16 month old Bengal cat I all so have two Siamese cats one male one female the Bengal will do his poo in the litter tray but is peeing every where else ive tried having two litter trays that didn’t work I’m a loss as to why he is doing this I thought it might be because there is another tom in the house can any one help.
I have just taken in a 9 year old Lady Bengal Cat from a rescue centre, I am aware of most of the Bengal Cat Traits, one is being very vocal, at the expence of waxing lyrical, I find it an endearing trait, but would like a little advice, or perhaps assurence, When we get up in the morning, I first ensure water and food bowls are washed and replenished, and litter box reasonable clean, give Toska a fuss, as all this time she is very vocal, my first thoughts are, I wonder if something is wrong so trying to anylise the Calls as one would with a crying baby, having satisfied there is nothing wrong with her, proceed to fuss her for a while then proceed to have my breakfast, and sort of answer her calls, as I say the calling doesn’t bother me, quite the contrary, this goes on for an hour or so and after a fuss from myself and my wife she finaly settles off to sleep, oh yes cant let her out as yet, but let her sit in the window watching the world go by, We have no other animals or children and are retired so can devote time and energy to Toska. Hope this all makes some sort of sense thanking you in anticipation of your reply’s,
gaffer tape
I would have been really anoyed if you had said 7.62, lol, Hi Dave Trust your well mate
jack russel pmsl
A nine year old pet of any kind is used to a certain routine and if it varies much they can get vocal or destructive. It will take awhile for it to adjust to what you’re doing with it. I don’t think you can ever let her run loose, she may just want to return to where she came from. Even if her previous home was abusive, they feel safe there because they know what to expect. Just be consistent in what you do and eventually she’ll come around.
Cats need toys to play with or tease her by dragging a string around. I exercise my pets with a toy laser beam, cats will go crazy trying to catch the light spot and even chase it up the wall. A little exercise will really help her settle down.
Thank you @[100000413865856:2048:Jim Fisher] for your comments, with you on with the age of the cat she has been used to a routine albeit not so much abusive but moved around I think giving her a little sense of insecurity,will try some toys though.
In desperate need of Bengal advice please? Thought we knew all about the characteristic traits of our 7yr old female Bengal. Not so! We love her dearly but she is peeing and spraying in the house. She was spayed as a 1yr old kitten. We also have a 9yr old female Siamese cat and a 5yr old Airedale Terrier. All animals co-exist just fine. No additional recent new animals or people members to our home. Home funriture was not re-arranged. I’ve added an additional litter box. Our 2 cats used just one all these years. Now neither cats use the recently added litter box. I used a cleaner and fel-away spray, both at advice of the Vet. Fel-away doesn”t work. Our Bengal keeps peeing in the same spot. Anyone have any suggestions? The Vet’s next advice will be medication. Hoping someone may have encountered this awful problem too with an otherwise sweet, beautiful Bengal. My husband now has a love/hate relationship with her and is ready to release her to the Wilderness! Suggestions?
Mommy, why don’t you copy and paste this call for advice into a forum for pet owners (bengal-specific)? Just google one. You’ll get many more hits on advice I’m sure. .. Poor Keema honey 🙁
I got a pair of bengals(brother and sister). When they first got here the male peed and pooped everywhere and the female used the litter box. Soon thereafter the female followed suit……ggggrrrr. We actually considered rehoming him. Eventually the male was REtrained while we were training a new litter of kittens….and have had no further problems. The female however STILL continues to go EVERYWHERE. I am so seriously frustrated. My husband wants me to find her another home but I refuse to part with her. Any suggestions out there?
My female bengal is very smart and vocal. She “chirps” to get our attention and is very demanding.
She understands what “no” means and USUALLY minds, lol. She tends to ignore the spray bottle tho, she is pretty stubborn sometimes but it’s adorable. She does hate the citrus. I would love to breed her but she has no papers (she is an adopted stray) so breeders won’t help me and I don’t know anyone else with a bengal.
I’ve struggle for years to keep my Bengal off the kitchen table and nothing works, she knows she’ll get sprayed with the water bottle and most times I have to drench her before she gets down. She clearly understands the words ” Ripley, Get Down!” and I shouldn’t laugh but she’s like a teenager in the rebellion years because she talks back to me with a saucy tone… almost like she’s arguing with me HAHAHA… Citrus peel does work, I find she absolutely hates it. Whenever I begin to eat an orange or grapefruit she leaves the room…. Now what can I do to stop her territorial ways towards my second cat, her jealousy (she gets so jealous so easy!) and her need for constant attention (it’s exhausting sometimes) if she doesn’t get attention then she goes and does something she shouldn’t be doing to get into trouble. I swear she isn’t a cat but a teenager lol.
My 2 year old bengal female chews on the corners of the fitted sheets and puts holes in them, this is the only destructive behavior she has. I cannot figure out why she does it. Never a flat sheet, the blanket or comforter, only the fitted sheet. I don’t see her do it and it must be when I am in the bed, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to get to them. She also did the same to the grandsons bed sheets. P.S. She does not get under covers…
I can’t believe I read that whole thing…
They have bengal kittens in Thailand, I looked on the internet….
I don’t think I want a scratching post in every room of the house.. or a litter box. I’ve had several cats and never needed a scratching post or litter box. My guys were inside/outside cats… I never knew what kind of cats I had… some had long hair and some short….We all got along and not a one of them drooled or knocked over furniture with their tails…. great.
My bengal just began chewing up all of my clothes – socks, undergarments, shirts, pants and the afghan I cover up with. I have tried to keep everything out of reach but she is ruining my clothes. Pretty soon I’ll be naked and that will not be a pretty sight!:-) She is two years old and this winter is the first time she has ever done this. Her mother was killed when she was 5 weeks old so this may have contributed but it never happened before. The only difference is a new dog (a puppy a year ago) who loves her and chases her to play; however, many times I watch her go after the dog to engage it, like bopping her on the head when she’s sleeping.
Any ideas would be very helpful.
My boy Benji who is 7 months old loves orange and mandarin peel, he plays with it. Poor wee lad we went to the vet and had his vaccination and it really hit him hard, he was totally quiet and just slept for 24 hours. So pleased we don’t have to have that again for a year. Don’t think I would like a quiet and lazy cat. when he is naughty a firm voice seems to work well at the moment while he is still a baby.
We have a new kitten, and our Bengal girl (2yrs old) is very dominate and territorial.We are going slowly but she gets aggressive even if she smell the new kitten. Do you have any suggestions?
territtorial, well I have been working on my cat and he did back off for awhile and now he is back at being territorial again..he really watches me at how I react when he jumps at my other cat who is 3 now and male bengal is 1year. He isnt biting hard and no scratches on other cat(feeling for scabs)the other cat is learnning to fight back, attitute from the bengal is”not a worry”. they are just more or less playing but they both have a different idea about what is happening. Sometimes its all in fun which I can tell. well good luck uhm I have seperated them many,many times to let them know I dont like it. that helped after 100 seperations!
my male bengal is acting as a guard dog, always on guard for someone entering the house. Also he is always trying to keep the other cat from entering any area that I am in, so he can have exclusive attention. He wrestles with the other cat and has trained her not to enter the living room while I am in the recliner. Its npt real aggressive, he is learning not to fight in my attention to it, but very sneaky at getting the other cat out of the room..Im trying to train him, cause the other cat hates it and screams like an old women…
smart kitty-
I had to move last year and my kittens had to go outside, not enough room inside with my daughters 3 dogs and 3 cats. Bubster was 4 months old, I moved in June this year to a friends house and since Bub was neutered, she said he could stay inside with me. I was hesitant to say the least since he was outside over the winter and spring this year, but he acclimated nicely. I had forgotten to get him a litter box and litter on the day I moved, so I prayed really hard and when I went to church the next day, I stopped and got the litter I used before and a new pan. He waited over 24 hours to use his box and he remembered. He got big lovings for that one. And he is so loving. I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost him. I bred and raised him myself.
That’s a great tip about the citrus peel. I’ve never found anything that discouraged my Bengals from the kitchen counters… clapping or noises? They ignore it. Water spray? They love it. Sticky surface? No problem. Tinfoil? No problem. I even tried a device that would set off a high-pitched noise audible only to cats if they jumped on the counter… and it bothered me more than it did them; why I could hear it, I don’t know, but I could. After ten years, I just gave up, and they can go wherever they want to… usually they’re on the countertops just momentarily on their way to the tops of the kitchen cabinets.