Ok, i've had my bengal about 7mths now, he's just over 9mths. he is completely physcho!! I have recently moved into a 1bedroom flat which unfortunately has embossed wallpaper, which he takes great delight in climbing and using as a scratching post. (he does have a large scratching tree, which he always used in my last place but not very often here, wallpaper is far more fun, (my landlady prob wouldnt agree)
When he does climb the wall he gets lifted, shouted at and put into the hall and not allowed back in for at least 10mins, but as soon he gets back in, he's straight overe to jump up wall. this could go on sometime. i feel bad putting him out as he is on his own while im at work during day but what can i do. He's driving me insane, i want him to want cuddles when i come home from work, but he just wants to wind me up lol.
Ne advice
When he's good he's very good and when he is bad, he's very bad.

Hi Toto

I've had my bengals for all of 36 hours, so I'm no expert, but have you tried squirting him with a water gun when he climbs on the wallpaper? Or distracting him with other toys? What about using some of those cat repellent sprays (I think they're a citrusy thing, cats don't like citrus)? Can you rub some catnip on his scratching post?

From what I have read before getting my bengals, they're only cuddly when they want to. Mine (both with me and at the breeder's) would sleep and play with each other during the day (they're brothers), and then get playful about the time we come home from work. So I'd guess your bengal doesn't want to sit and cuddle after work, but would rather play with you, and if you're not sufficiently entertaining, the wallpaper will do! In fact, it sounds like this could be a bit of a game for him.

Many people advocate having a playmate for a bengal, whether it's another bengal or just a moggie, but I don't know if this is the answer in your situation.

Good luck.

My Bengals have been known to climb the walls when they think they see something interesting, i.e. a speck of "dirt" that could be a bug. My older bengal, Kasumi, would also do this while "zooming" (running around like a complete nutcase) and get almost to the ceiling. Since getting a second bengal kitten, Kasumi doesn't really do this any more.

But, I agree with meimei that a squirt gun sounds like the way to go. Not just a spray bottle, but a real squirt gun. Something that will definetly shock your little guy. I actually have a couple squirt guns around to that when I see or hear a naughty behavior, one is quickly in reach.

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Kenshin - male silver - born 1/1/07
Kasumi - female blue - born 10/24/05

thanx, i think the water pistol will be coming out again. Though i've tried this method before when he used to climb curtains in old place (prob cuz he couldnt climb the walls there!!) but he found it a game.

I agree that i think its curiousity and i think what he sees thinking it to be a bug is actually where he's clawed the wallpaper and its plucked showing darker spots. then when he knows im not impressed he does it even more. I try not too over react but it is so so hard lol.

It sounds to me like:

1. and most important: he's very bored, and misses a cat friend to play cat games with.
2. on top of that he is in the worst rowdy bengal teenager period. He is challenging every boundry you have set, and is exploring his human-training skills: how far can I go and how much can I achieve? can I manipulate my humans?

Bengals are highly intelligent, extreemly active and even more social.

The best idea is to develop games and activities that can move his attention and energy form his selfmade (destructive) bengal games. And remember - in his teenage selfcenteredness he likes the interaction he gets when he winds you up!!! "Negative attention is better that no attention." The emotions between you get very intense when he really gets you going. And Bengals love intense!

And consider getting him a Bengal friend!!!

Louise