Bengal Cat - Driving Me Crazy Help!!!

Surely you would NOT put the cat down simply for destructive behavior!!!!
There are a lot of resources here on the site that can give you advise on taming your kitty's behaviors. Sounds to me, though, like he needs a playmate!! Where are our bengal experts? I'll defer to their vast knowledge of the breed, but I wanted to give you my $0.02 worth.

You love your baby. Of course. Play a lot. My Spot is wild. We play, he sleeps.

It just sounds like he's bored!! Bengals are very high energy cats, and extremely intelligent as well; he needs to be kept stimulated mentally and physically. Have you tried rotating his toys, switching them every few days so that he doesn't get tired of them? Also do you have any other cats for him to play with?

I have two bengals, and it sounds like your guy is fairly typical for the breed. I agree with the others who said it sounds like he is bored. The good thing is, this is easily cured.

If you don't already have it, I hghly highly recommend a toy called 'Da Bird'. It's basically an interactive fishing pole type toy with feathers, but the way it flies does look a lot like a real bird. If you want to see your bengal act like a wild cat, hunting, stalking, jumping, this toy will get them going. My bengals play with this like no other toy, jumping 4+ feet in the air to 'kill' it, running around like lunatics, stalking it, just having the best time with it. They will play with this toy til they're too tired to play anymore, and even then they won't want to quit. It's hard to be destructive when you're tired out!

Another thing that bengals really need and love is things to climb on. Do you have a cat tree for your boy? If not, you definitely should invest in one. If you can't afford one of the big expensive ones, Wal Mart has a cheap floor-ceiling one for around $30. My guys like this one just as much as the 'better' one. I also rearranged a spare bedroom to make it almost like a climbing course for the cats. They jump from the cat tree to the bookshelves, back to the tree, to the top of the dresser, onto the bed, etc. This is another great non-destructive way for them to release their energy.

If your cat is still being destructive, you may want to consider a playmate. As good as you may be at playing with your cat, no one can play like another cat can.

If none of this helps, you may wnat to consider trying Bach flower essences. You can buy these in any good health food store, or online, and some people have had great success with them. I have used several of the essences for different things with my bengals (and other cat), and they do seem to help. I believe Vervain is the essence for calming, but even regular rescue remedy may help. They couldn't be simpler to use either, you just drop a couple of drops in the waterdish. Here is a site if you would like more information. http://www.bachflower.com

If all else fails, please do not have your bengal put to sleep. There is a bengal rescue network (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bengalcatrescue/) that helps bengals in need find new homes. If it comes to the point where you just can't deal with him, please consider contacting them rather then the alternative. You can also e-mail me directly if you like, and I will help you any way I can. My e-mail is oabondgirl@aol.com.

Please don't be sensitive to my reply; however, it sounds like a personal problem more than a bengal problem.

The lovie deserves a better home.

I agree, Bengals are a high-energy breed, and need stimulation.

It'd be hard to devote enough attention to them by yourself, so I would recommend a companion. Wesley and Buttercup chase each other all over at mach 10 and like to play wrestle a lot, and when one of them smacks something across the floor like a rubber bouncy ball, small mouse toy, ball in tunnel and the like, the other immediately joins in so they wear themselves out.

Nothing quite uses as much energy as jumping and climbing, so those are great ideas too, and its really entertaining for me at least to see their acrobatic prowess climbing and balancing about. You don't have to get cat specific trees, as many things can be adapted. If you use sturdy shelves, and carpet tape some loop-free carpet on them, you can make your own cheap. Let us know if you'd like some specific ideas.

You guys do understand this was from 2004, correct? And the OP has only this one post? Sadly, it probably did not end up well for this Bengal

Thank you. Yes, I understand it was an older post. But it warranted a reply - even now, many years later - for any other brainless person out there that adopts / chooses a beautiful Bengal to bring in as part of their family. These types shouldn't have the privilege of including one of these magnificent creatures into their family. It just made me so sad that someone that immature and cruel would make such a statement.

So many people adopt, bring furry family members home that never do the research on what pet is best for them, their family, their lifestyle, their life choices - and then when the going gets tough (most likely because of the guardian's laziness, irresponsbililty and cruelty), they just throw the companion animal awayl. It's heartbreaking.

Thankfully, the laws are changing and recognizing pets as "family members" and not just "property" and can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for irresponsible behavior.

DOH! sonsa... *facepalm*

Maybe get him a good cat tree and play with him a bit. If you brush them out or rub the back of their neck sometimes that calms them down as well.

What generation Bengal is he? What have you tried in order to calm him down? Like what type of activities?

If you can not cope with him I can try and find you a breed rescue group in your area that will take him. I just need to know what state you are located in.

Please do not put him down.

For everyone reading this article, and I do not mean this as in yelling, but to get people's attention:

THIS THREAD IS ALMOST 7 YEARS OLD. ANY ADVICE YOU WISH TO GIVE TO OP WILL NOT BE RECEIVED, PER THE "1" NEXT TO THEIR POST COUNT

The original post for help may be almost 7 years old, but it still helped me today. My ex fiance' gave me a kitten 2 1/2 years ago that turned out to be part bengal. The guy didn't last, but the kitty has.

I love my crazy bengal, but he can be quite destructive. If I can't be home for more than 8 hours or do not give him enough attention, he knocks things over like drinks, vases, etc. I would never consider putting him down or getting rid of him, but I wondered if he will grow out of this phase, or if he needs a playmate. My concern with a playmate has been that they may terrorize my apartment together!

This forum has definitely helped me get more ideas about what to do and to know my bengal and my decor may be able to live together after all, as long as he has enough attention.

Yes I think people realise that the original post is nearly 7 years old that the op had only 1 pist but like the poster before myself had said it helped her so reading the kind replies that others give the op can and will give past present and future members help

If you'll look back, not everyone knew it was an old post. Otherwise Cat Person wouldn't have had an entire post of questions directed at OP, and Ducman wouldn't have *facepalm*ed. I never said don't post here and don't take in the good info, etc, I was just offering the information to people who didn't know, so they don't end up asking questions of a phantom.

THIS is fantastic, that such an old post and some misunderstanding by posters about that would lead to assisting another TCS member with some ideas on how to keep their own cat happier.

The first thing to do in this situation is contact the breeder, not give up the cat to a rescue. It's in many contracts that breeders will take back or assist in rehoming, that cats are not to be given up without the breeders knowledge.