Well Max is settling in, a couple more weeks before I let him outside.

We now have jumping up in the air catching things and a good amount of ‘mad half hour’ in the mornings.

Interestingly this morning I’m sat on the sofa in a bath robe, bare legs and feet showing. He prowled up to my feet and around them very slowly but deliberately. He had a sniff of my ankle, slowly opened his mouth and slowly ‘bit’ by ankle.i didn’t realise he had such a wide bite! No marks but not something I want to encourage...

Surprised I moved my ankle away with a firm no. He put his ears back, slowly prowled around again and slowly opened his mouth and clamped it around my ankle again. This time there was a very loud no from me and and as I went to push him away, he stood his ground, glared at me, ears back and growled.

Wow, those eyes were big and he looked quite angry so I got up and walked away actually feeling a little intimidated!

It wasn’t an attack, I think he’s just a bit boarded and frustrated at the moment. He has his toys and we play in the morning, I think he just needs more.

I got a harness a few days ago to introduce him to the garden but of course it’s too small. I’ll get a small dog one for him and take him out today. He keeps looking out of the windows so he must be getting bored!

One thing I have noticed is if you’re not reading his signs because you maybe watching the tv or something, if he’s had enough stroking, he doesn’t scratch or bat you, it is always the mouth that opens and he closes it around your hand firmly then let’s go as if to say enough. Fair play and I always respect that.

He certainly is an intelligent character and has already found the draw in the dresser where his favourite yum yum treats are kept. I’ve been using them to call him in prep for letting him out... I came home to a fully opened draw and an empty shredded packet on the floor... not bad for a draw that has a round knob rather than a handle!

He’s now laying on me, dead weight pressed against my stomach and legs with a beautific look on his face.

I got alarmed when you mentioned letting him outside. Then you mentioned a harness. I hope the only time he is outside is with you while wearing a harness that is attached to a leash. Bengals, especially, should not be allowed to roam free outside and check your contract with the breeder because it may state that. If you are going to start him on a harness and leash, that's the way to continue. You can always check into creating a catio or cat enclosure for him which will keep him safe. I'm happy Max is settling in great, but please keep him safe from the dangers in the outdoor world.

Ah, the outside question.

Max is a rescue cat and has spent about 4 months in a ‘cell’ at an animal sanctuary for want a better description.

Prior to that, he was allowed outside by his previous owners into their garden.

I live in the rural Devonshire countryside down a single tracked lane surrounded by fields, streams and some woodland. Once Max has become fully accustomed to his home and once i’ve taken him numerous times out to show him around on his leash, he will be allowed to come and go through the electronic cat flap as he wishes.

To be honest, I’d rather he have a fulfilled life climbing trees, sleeping in the sun and catching rabbits rather than be kept inside because of a fear something may happen to him outside. He is neutered, which I believe in. If I lived in a more urban environment then I may not have a cat at all.

If he were heaven fore fend run over then I would grieve but be happy that what he’d had left of his life was good. We have foxes and otters. If he met an otter, they’d probably play. He’s large and savvy enough to get out of the way of a fox. We’ve never had a cat attacked by a wild animal or hit by a vehicle.

I don’t want to sound disrespectful or blunt but Max has his life to live as a cat and to me that equates to being allowed to explore outside unleashed and yes, at night as well. You will probably have a different view on that. Both you and me could be run over by a bus tomorrow or be killed in an attack...i’m Certainly not going to stop going outside because of that!

Kind regards,
Pusscat.

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The little monsters 3

Hi Brianj,

Thanks for you comments. I don’t think it’s an argument, more discussion.

Of course if I believed that him going out equated to on average not reaching his 40th, i’d probably not have a cat at all. However, I’m not sure where that comes from! You may make that as a generalisation, but that’s an extremely poor comment to make for everyone. An average doesn’t represent the extremities of a distribution very well!

Were I living near a main road, with neighbours, with native wildlife where cats would be classed as prey, bored youth with air riffles, then yes of course i’d be worried and i’d probably be bang slap in the middle of your ‘on aveage bit’ and, as I said in the post, I would certainly consider not having a cat at all. But i’m not.

All cats I’ve had have been allowed outside as they wish and all have lived to a ripe old age, probably equating to 80’s in human years. My first farm cat was with us for 19 years when she died and she was no kitten when she decided to move in with us. Lucky? Not one to believe in luck much!

As to the mock biting, yes I agree...I did use the opportunity to play with him after to let off some steam, suppose I was just a little shocked to see how wide the mouth could open and wrap around my ankle!

We are still getting to know each other...

Whether to let a cat roam free is a personal decision, one that is neither right or wrong. I've lost a lot of cats -- some got hit by cars, some attacked by dogs, others just vanished without a trace. My current bengal was allowed (by his previous owner) to roam free for six years and has the brutal scars to prove it. Too many neighborhood stray cats to fight with. Now he is allowed out on a leash and we walk about 8 blocks each walk (twice a day) and he has a large enclosure on our deck. This is for his safety because he would not be around today if I continued to let him out. We had a large coyote right behind our back fence not too long ago and they love cats. The DSH I have was always an outdoor cat with his previous owner, so keeping him in 24/7 is not an option. He sticks pretty close to home and he follows us on our walks. He can come in the house when he wants and goes outside when he wants. He has a beautiful cat house on our deck that is heated in the winter time. I think both of my kitties live a pretty good life.

There have been some heartbreaking stories on this forum. Bengal killed by a horse, believe it or not. Bengal got off leash and was hit by a car. Bengal traveled in van 11 miles to another town -- that one had a happy ending.

I hope you and Max have many wonderful years together. You may want to get a tracking device for him where you can locate him when he doesn't return home immediately.