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I have a seven month old Bengal kitten who is an absolute jewel to have around however I am afraid that my cat might be a little..well nuts.

He loves attention and cuddling with me, He is very needy at times and extreamly hyper, witch is nothing new about a kitten. But at other times, he is overly aggressive, attacks when you are petting him and "beats up" on me and my house guests. and when I say attacks I don't mean normal kitten playing. He goes for the face grabs bites and wrestles my hands and makes me almost afraid to hold him at times. If he were a person I would say he is Bi polar. (can that happen in cats?)

I know that his mother was a very even tempered barn cat and his dad was half Asian snow leopard. But the breeder said that the wild in a normal bangle is to diluted to be causing this behavior.

I have noticed in his behavior that he is defenitly a hunter, he stalks everything including me around the house and my other pets. No punishment I have tried works, it just makes him more aggressive and hyper.

I was wondering if there could be a specific cause for this other than being a kitten because this is more intense than in any other cat I have owned in the past. And if there is anything I can do to make him more docile and less unpredictable. Keeping in mind that much like kids, he never, NEVER listens to me. if I yell at him for doing something hell look me in the face and keep doing it.

Frustrated
amber

I'm digging WAY back into the memory banks here, but there use to be a Bengal owner on general board years ago and I think there was a discussion about the need to be four generations out before the risk of having an unsocializable kitten was pretty much ruled out. There is a Bengal board at the bottom of the main page, try cross posting there. If nothing else, it will put you in the relam of Abymom and I've always been impressed with her resourcefulness.

As a side note, hunting instinct is not given to all cats equally. My sweetest, most polite cat was born on a horse farm, the daughter of one of the best mousers I've ever met. Itty Bit was a mouse slaughter house in fur. Lizzycat, her offspring, didn't play much as a kitten but did stalk. Now middle aged, fat and with one eye, she is still a killer, swift and sure if only of catnip mice. Your Bengal could have been given such a trait from either side in which case something as simple as keeping him busy with toys (fishing pole maybe?) and away from you face and hands until he finishes growing might be the best answer.

Purrs,
Elizabeth

another thought - I had a roomie years ago who was owned by a DSH named Bob. Bob was the biggest ego I've ever met, feline or human. He also beat up guests, followed men into the bathroom to watch them use the toilet, and general tormented the other cats in the house. He just wanted attention - lots, and lots of attention. The more attention he got, the more of an angel he was.

(he was so strident about it that when my roomie married, Bob made the wedding video, and about half the crowd cried out "Bob!" as his face flashed across the screen. He is now middle aged and couldn't care less about anyone)

Hi There,

It sounds to me as if this kitten gets overstimulated easily. I think if you learn to read his body language, such as a twitching tail and ears being held back, he will be easier to live with. Pet him only as much as he can handle and don't pick him up if he doesn't like it. I'm assuming that this is why he bites you in the face. You also need to make sure you never play with him using your hands. Get some interactive toys and use them instead. When the kitten goes for your hands, play with him with a toy.

Some cats can take only so much handling and attention. I have a couple of cats that tend to bite if I pick them up and/or pet them too much. I have accepted that this is just the way they are. I keep an eye on their body language and know when it's time to just let them be.

This behavior may or may not be related to his breed. It's really impossible to say.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Hi There

I don't have a bengal but I do have a boisterous 3 month old DSH kitten. He displays some of the behaviours you said and I thought I would share how I deal with him as it seems to be slowly working.

Firstly the attacking other pets - mine goes for our other cat all the time and wants to wrestle and nip at her which she hates. To combat this I found that jungling a ball just as you see the tail start to twitch is sufficient to distract him and he comes over to play. He's really getting good at this and its invaluable for your other animals too.

The biting one when picking up - mine is so loving and cuddly. He snuggles in, puts his front paws round my face and rubs my nose hard but occasionally he will nip my hands if I pick him up. The only times this happens is if he is way over-stimulated and hyper. To combat this I usually just hold my hands on his shoulders for a brief moment before picking him up which calms him every time.

Mine also has a bit of predatory aggression, that is not only with my other cat but will occaionally attack toes as you walk past etc. For this a short 'Nah' kind of noise just mid flight is usually enough to stop that (this works a treat is you notice him stalking you from the other side of the room too. I can get my kitten to stop on a dime about an inch away from me )(sometimes even with his mouth still open ) It's hard though I know but it's important to keep your cool because if he's anything like mine, my baby picks up on my emoptions more than anyone else. My partner has a lot of problems with him but he is fine with him if I am there. I think sometimes favouritism is an issue also as my other cat favours my partner Andy and I think the kitten knows that too so will attack Andy occasionally when I'm not there.
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Kind Regards
Pepsi and Cola's human Janis
MAX - Earned his wings April 2006 - Sleep tight Pussy Cat

"Like those great sphinxes lounging through eternity in noble attitudes upon the desert sand, they gaze in curiosity at nothing, calm and wise"
Charles Baudelaire