Hi all - I have gotten myself into trouble with my one of my bengals, Sasuke. He is a little over 1, so still young. As time goes by, he gets a bit more needy and upset over things I guess. He's the sweetest boy he really is and I blame myself because I let him do this but I think I can still save myself and him! Firstly, the crying. He does this thing where Hel meow and make himself sound strained. Like poor me and my life. I just want to cuddle him :( but I know he's training me haha He also does this thing now where he will sit right next to my bf at his desk (he works from home, lucky kitties!) and just meow for hours to play(?) and even if my bf gives in, it only helps temporarily. He does this to me when I am home too. So I will run up and down the apartment with him with strings and toys sometimes for an hour straight (whew!) and he loves it. Lately all his toys, and he's got them all, are boring to him. The running he loves. He has interactive toys, a huge cat tree, tons of toys, spring toys he loves, everything. Once or twice a month we take him outside (we live in NYC so it's hard) but we hope to do it more whenever we move. He has a Bengal friend, Luna, who's a sweetheart and never asks for a thing. She would starve if she thought I wanted her to. And she plays with him often but she also loves to sleep and chill which he does not understand. Yes they're fixed. The biggest issue is when I go to bed he likes to yell at me for a bit which he quickly gets over. But then - the morning ... My alarm goes off at 7 for work and he can start the meowing anytime from 5 am. It used to be I could put out some dry food and he'd be good, id be back asleep, then it was he demanded wet food that early. Now it's, I want wet food, dry food, treats and I just really want you up. Hel knock things over, pull posters and tapestries off the wall, try to eat my lamp next to my bed, and just cause havoc.
I don't know what to do. And I know all about the bathroom time outs - will that really work at 5 am? Aren't I just adding stress to us both? I don't want to hurt him :-( he's always so grateful and kissy after I play with him and feed him like he's so happy, not malicious. I just don't know why all day long he seems unhappy in a restless way.
I know bengals need a lot... And maybe it's just not enough for him. But I can't move yet. The apartment is not that small either.
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