Noha's almost 15 lbs at 11 months of age. Neutered at 11 weeks and perfectly healthy. The poor tree can attest to him being in good shape. He wouldn't get any bigger without having been fixed.

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Thomas

Lily & Noha - Oct 7th 2015

I suggest you read an article on cfa.org where a scientific study has taken place on early neuter in cats. The stunted growth etc is pretty much a fallacy. And I can personally attest to the fact long bone growth plates close later than usual in cats neutered early. Hendrix needed X-rays on his knees and the late closure was noted and discussed with a specialist. The current thinking is that early neutered cats can actually end up bigger than later neutered and are also more affectionate as they were fixed before sexual maturity and as such are less aggressive.

This is not the first article I've read that has questioned the so called stunted growth etc that has been associated with early neutered cats. I spent time googling the issue after Hendrix's X-rays.

Both my boys are fit, muscular, healthy cats, they are not obese or with poor body/muscular condition which is another fallacy.

Re the bone density, I have no idea. However in humans I understood that it's women that are more prone to suffer that after going through the menopause and having a drop in hormones. I've not heard of it being an issue in men, but like I say, I've never looked into it. Not mentioned at all in the article i just read though.

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

I had Griff neutered at 17 weeks and since I've noticed a lot of changes personality wise with him, he's now regularly coming over for daily cuddles and flopping down around me purring, he's a lot easier in general to deal with. It has definitely caused him to be more relaxed and friendly. It also hasn't stopped his rapid growth he's now 3.1kg (6.8lbs) at 21 weeks and he's still looking to be a large boy.

What's amusing is when I told my brother I was having Griffith done he reacted similarly to you, and was saying isn't he too young, won't it upset him etc. He actually came over to check on him after as he thought he would "miss his balls" to then seen Griff rushing around acting like nothing had even happened to him. Point is they don't miss them, they don't even care, neutering your cat isn't neutering you, you need to think about what is best for him instead of projecting onto the situation. Neuter surgery is very fast it's not even invasive like a female neuter is as the balls are external to main body structure it's over in 15 minutes that's it.

I still found it funny that my brother really cared more about the situation than Griffith did.

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- Sarah
Arya 24/04/16 - Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Griffith 16/04/16 - Silver Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Mina (in my avatar)- 1999-2016 - Seal Mink Spotted Bengal (Snow) - run free at rainbow bridge

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- Sarah
Arya 24/04/16 - Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Griffith 16/04/16 - Silver Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Mina (in my avatar)- 1999-2016 - Seal Mink Spotted Bengal (Snow) - run free at rainbow bridge

To get back to the original issue -- territory! I don't know that it really changes much even with neutering. Mine boy is extremely territorial and he still marks. We can agree to disagree, but in the end, the owner has to make the decision if neutering will help. It probably won't in this case. There is honestly not much that can be done for a territorial cat -- and bengals are more territorial than other breeds. You just live with it! I love that you've also used the word "challenging" in your replies because that's a term I use in describing bengals. They aren't for the faint of heart -- they require time and patience.

I guess it almost get solved. The marking has significantly reduced and the howling almost stopped.

Excessive exercise definitely helps. One long hike keep good behavior for days. I guess I will go out more frequently, good for my health too. In the other hand, I finally found a little toy he like after trying over a dozen ones. And there is always a natural toy he like, my toe.

The small room litter box training also works, now even he want to mark, he mostly mark in the box not outside. The marking is still a problem but very manageable. So I dont need to confine him anymore. Good for both of us since I feel bad to keep him away.

The last note is put away anything that absorbs, cardboard, clothes, bags, anything may work like litter box. Mercury seems like to mark these things more than others.

Hopefully, this is something you can live with -- an intact bengal male is what he is! You are NEVER going to change him, however, excessive exercise will help calm him down. My bengal loves to raise his butt while he's peeing in the litter box so I use a large plastic bag that I put under the box and up the wall and tape it securely.