Hi Jonpam2,

are you frightened of him ?
Thought I'd ask because animals soon pick up on fear and then will dominate their owners.

We did have a Bengal several years ago that we bought as an adult and boy she was psycho. She frightenened me when she flew for my face on several occasions and she meant to hurt and her pupils were fully dilated

We didn't keep her for very long, a very kind retired man took her. He used to be a psychiatrist and was understanding.

Most Bengals are boisterous and will have mad moments flying round the house and wanting to play fight.
Chiller our snow boy gets all giddy and boisterous and will bite our feet if we are not looking and he likes to wrestle on our arms and will bite and kick with his back legs

Is your Bengal just playing or is he being aggressive ?

It might be a good idea to get him a playmate, so he can get rid of all that energy and will probably get as good as he gives when it comes to biting and scratching.

I think if he is biting in aggression, show him who is boss. Stand up and shout "NO"and walk out of the room. Leave him on his own so that he soon learns that playing rough with you means that he will be left on his own.

Another good one is when he wants to bite, pick up a toy and distract him with it. Our cats love those fishing rod toys that have string attached with a toy or feathers on the end. Chiller loves his fishing rod toy and to get our attention he sits on the table, stands on his back legs and waves his front paws in the air....HE'S GREAT

Hope he calms down soon for you. A second cat could be the answer

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

Thanbks for you're reply.

he doesnt frighten me so much, but he does frighten my girlfriend. he doesnt seem to understand the pain associtaed with his claws, perhaps he gets a reaction so thinks its a game, but the game can very quickly turn into what looks like total aggression!! where he would hook onto my girlfriends arm kicking with his back legs and biting with his teeth. He gets put straight out of the room when he's bad but it seems to have no effect.
We live in an apartment, (a decent sized apartment 880sq foot) could this be too small a space for him, could this be a problem? He only has the run of half of it when we are at work because the other half is the living area where things could get damaged!. Also can they amuse themselves while we are at work or do you think this could be a factor why he goes mad at night, becuase we have been out all day.

He's 6mths old i just hope he grows out of this soon. Dont think the sofas or our bodies can take much more.

Hi Again,

your Bengal could be sleeping lots whilst you are out at work. Then he comes alive when he sees you, having saved up all of his energy for your return home

Have you thought about getting a second cat for him to play with ?

It could be the answer. He'd have someone to play with all day and he'd come to you for cuddles when he is tired. What do you think ?

All my cats wrap themselves around my arm any given chance...Monkeys they are, I just have to make sure I move quick or that I've got a thick jumper on when they try it.

When he does this to you give him a teddy or a rolled up towel to bite and kick on, this should distract him

Our sofa's are a bit scratched and clawed at too unfortunately but now they have a new scratch post they haven't had ago on the furniture so much.

Hope your boy calms down soon

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

we had thought a second cat in an apartment could be a little cruel. and one is a handful on his own.

Well yes I suppose that's true.

They do calm down a bit as they get older. But they do have there mad moments several times a day where they run from one end of the room to the other...LIKE LITTLE HOOLIGANS....some are calmer than others

Tell your partner not be scared of him though, they all go for the arms for a rough play, tell her to be prepared with toys to distract him with...like I mentioned ours just LOVE those fishing rod sticks with a toy on the end of a string. I can tire mine out with them

They love big tree climbers too, BIGGER THE BETTER, He'll scratch at your furniture less. Spray catnip on his toys, they love that too.

GOOD LUCK

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

I think two cats are the answer as they'll have each other to keep company.

Agree with wildside about attacking your arm, ours will do the same given the chance(we have five cats).

Naomi

Keep his claws trimmed too

Indy has his mad moments too and can be a bit bity at times. He is currently nibbling my ankles as I type this as I put long skirt on and he thinks its a toy

I think he has got better with age.

We have learnt the best thing is to have plenty of 'Indy time' to wear him out. My boyfriend plays rough and tumble with him (with long sleeves on), usually rolling him over and rubbing his tummy when he is in 'fight mode'. This gets the Bengal fight response going but over time he has learnt it is play and doesn't teeth and claw so much as this 'stops play'. He sort of respects him now as the boss.

We throw mice and run round the house with him (often hiding behind doors which he then leaps at).

Its good to watch and learn how they fight as you can then be aware of when your Bengal is in an agressive mood.