I have a Bengal who is crazy, like most Bengals from what I hear. He's very sweet but super hyper & just very weird. Ever since we moved in August, he hisses whenever anyone but my roommate or I comes in to the house. He doesn't seem in attack mode; he's often purring & rubbing up against my legs when he does it, doesn't "puff up", and he'll sometimes even hiss at me when I come into the room if a stranger is over. My friends call him "the mean one" which breaks my heart because he's actually very sweet but he gives off the wrong impression. It seems like he's got some wires crossed. He never did this before we moved and the other kitty just goes right up to everyone.
What's his problem, ya think?
What's his problem, ya think?
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Re: Faulty wiring!
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 12:57 PMthis behavior *can* indicate neurological problems, particularly if it gets worse as he gets older - or it can just be a kind of super-possessive anxiety that some cats get when they are first bonding with someone, if any little thing goes wrong in the process, or not just exactly like the cat thinks it should go. But only your more excitable cats are prone to this -- for example, this often starts when the cat is cuddling with you, and you get up to go somewhere else, but the cat will "dog" you, and cut in between and in front of your feet, getting bumped in the process -- they immediately think that you bumped them on purpose, and they might start nipping or scratching at your ankles, they wind around your legs even more, getting really distressed and anxious, and you're like: what the heck do I do now?? It can be a little trigger like this that starts them off with the hissing. It's happened three times with cats I had or was fostering; the best advice I had on the problem was to keep resolutely walking, even though this meant you were going to be kicking the kitty as you went, without doubt. Awfully hard, but the only other option if just standing there for the rest of the night. Anyway, I ended up with hissers and they had other problems too indicating insecurity. Your Bengal sounds like this exciteable type. He probably will continue that way, but as long as he doesn't start swiping and scratching at others, that will just be his way. -
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Re: Faulty wiring!
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 1:29 PMYeah, he doesn't show any physical signs of aggression toward anyone other than the hissing. He's never bitten me or anything. It's just so weird that it never happened before we moved. We lived in a tiny apartment & the day we moved into this two-story townhouse he was hissing at everything he saw. That only lasted a day & now he only does it to other people. -
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Re: Faulty wiring!
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 4:53 PMthat sounds good, actually - cats are so territorial and so attached to their territories, it freaks 'em out to have territories changed on them -- he might have the idea that the appearance of other people means moving, lol! Little kitty minds are strangely logical. If it was triggered this way, I think there's a good chance he'll chill in a while.
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Re: Faulty wiring!
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 1:35 AMOne thing you want to check is, is your kitty marking his terretory or not. If not, I would suggest, taking a damp hand towel, rub it on his back then on the corners of the place you live. Cats don't care to be moved and freaks them out if their smell is gone. They need the comfortableness of home.
You know, it's something to think about. :)
Good Luck! -
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Re: Faulty wiring!
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 8:11 AMHe really seems totally comfortable here... unless someone comes over. It's been 8 months now. He definitely rubs himself on everything, so I"m sure it smells like him by now!
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