Maybe i'm being a bit too sensitive here. But when we got our bengal he was a lovely kitten and very affectionate. He would quite happily just curl up on my lap and go to sleep.

He's now approaching a year old and whilst still a lovely cat, he seems to be getting more aloof. He will generally spend all day upstairs sleeping either on, or under our bed. If he is downstairs and gracing us with his presence he may well sit on the other sofa.
On the rare occasions he sits near us, if we so much as fidget too much he will up and leave and go to get some peace and quiet in his basket.

I have heard that bengals go through a "teenage" period. As i am new to cats in general i was wondering whether my cat is just an independant character or if it is likely he will become as affectionate as he used to be as he gets older?

Thanks

Adam

Hi Adam,

you could try taking his blanket out of his basket and putting it on your knee. He might like the idea of laying on your lap like he used to do when he was younger.

Chiller our young snow boy loves it when I put his blanket on me. He either wants to get underneath it or get comfy on top of it. He loves his blanket and will sometimes drag it round the room or try to pull it through the cat flap of his litter tray

If you want to get some interaction going again between you both treat him to a fishing rod toy. It's a stick with string and a toy on the end of it. Mine will play hours with me. They will even let you know they want you to play with them. One thing though don't leave this toy alone with your cat because they always chew through the string The string then gets shorter and shorter after re-joining it back together agian several times

Have you perhaps considered a friend for him ?
We've always had a friend for all of our cats. Started off with one Bengal then ended up with 3 in 2 weeks
It's great fun watching them play together....Just a thhought

_________________
All the Best
Elaine Lomax
www.wildside-bengals.com

Indy is about the same age as yours and seems to be going through an aloof period.

I think he is autistic sometimes as he seems not to want to interact with us and runs off if you make a fuss of him (like he is oversensitised). He even lies on the opposite sofa with his back to us on many occassion. He is obsessed with shiney reflections and I know have to hide knifes and forks when i lay the table for dinner.

At other times he is a normal loving cat though (especially when he brings us all his toys down at 5 in the morning and runs round like a loon) so I'm sure its just a phase.

have a Bengal kitten and find his behaviour very different to any cat I have ever had. He is the opposite of aloof, follows me everywhere, even if he is asleep the second I move he will wake up to follow me (he is on my lap now) His play is very boisterous, he is a real risk taker, and incredibly intelligent. He too is fascinated by all things shiny. I think as a rule they are quite odd cats (that's why we love em)
al

Gave me a good laugh too as I have a few here that have ADHD. Remember they are all individuals with very different personalities just like people and they also probably go through the 'terrible teens'
One thing that a new owner of one of my kittens did was give her his fleece to snuggle up to in her basket. The kitten was bought for his wife but as a result she loves him best.
It might be worth trying this as well then as Elaine said put in on your knee. Just don't wear black.

Liz Slater

Yup, terrible teens indeed!

All of my cats have done that. They wanted to cuddle as kittens - then as they approach that one year mark they suddenly want to be independant.

Now all three are over two years of age (maybe over three now.. need to check!) and all three will sleep on the bed with me at night. There, or just somewhere in the bedroom in general.

Your kitty will grow out of it. It is really common.

_________________
- Dawn

http://www.nutkitty.com

_________________
- Dawn

http://www.nutkitty.com

I think things may already be improving a little. As I write this she is stretched out on my right arm and she has sat on my lap for 1 hour this week for the first time ever!