i thought i was reading something out of oliver locking in the poor thing in a dark bathroom. you shouldnt of got a bengal if you was expecting it to sit on the sofa and be good. you obviously didnt do your homework on the breed before you got one. it is always going to be like a 2 year old child running around the house. if you find anything that works in making them do as they are told please let us know

hi macchiato

i think your post reads a little rough... In previous posts I see people asking for advice, not claiming they're treating their cats like something from a Stephen King novel called Carrie... I think the word that Anaesthesia used was "bathroom", not "cupboard".

And certainly, I don't think ANYONE in here would expect their bengals to act like they're doped up on valium or something... Thus the whole asking for advice to start with.

I think something a little more helpful is in order rather than what amounts to accusations of whips and chains where none were previously mentioned. So lets try again:

How do YOU discipline your bengals? Speak firmly? Spray water? Not leave anything around for them to get in trouble with in the first place?

I know that when we use the water spray on Linden, she just squints her eyes and waits for it. Apart from the eye squinting, you'd think she loves it. Our best option is to try to wear her out through games of chasey through the house or playing with lots of toys on strings. She's not quite so naughty when she's exhausted! Oh, and we have two other cats for her to chase, too.


Thanks Macchiato for editing your post. A small amount on the end makes it seem so much less narky

my cats never climb on the kitchen table and on all places they are not supposed to climb... (well they still do sometimes when i am not at home but they care not to leave a trail)
You would never see them scratching a carpet or if a simple loud no will make them stop right away.

You need to teach your cat, again and again till it learns. It might take time and patience.
You need to make your cat understand that he do something wrong.
If you lock your cat in a dark room, the cat will never learn, it might be even more loud and aggressive.
You have to punish and teach right away.
your cat scratches your sofa, then catch the cat right away, say loud NO and press your cats head/neck with your hand down on the floor. DO NOT HURT the cat, don't use violence, you not supposed to hurt the animal, just make sure your cat has 100% attention.
Your cat will learn the meaning of NO or any other word you use in this situation.

The importance is to do it right away when it happens. Cats have a short memory. Sometimes my cats do something and realize they did bad, they look at me and run just to come back 10 sec later as if nothing happened, by then it would be pointless to punish them.

It is also pointless to punish a cat for a glass he broke yesterday, you can pint his nose at it, they will not understand.

Just as they learn tricks with treats they will learn with the opposite.

But please do not hurt your cat! it will never help, it will just destroy the trust and your cat might listen even less. Use mild pressure and loud voice, there is no need to shout.

A shouting cat often needs something or wants something, they hardly shout for no reason.

You eventually will learn their different sounds after a wile.

My cats come running to me if they want more water, or more food, also when they feel like i have to clean their litter box. Its easy to tell by the sound that they want something.

sounds more like the classic miaooou

another sound but very similar they use when they want me to pet them.
Usually i hear it about every half n hour... they would approach me, looking at my eyes making a loooong whiny miAaAAaaAaaaAaa

I learned to respond to their demands so they hardly make the sound twice.

Sometimes they call eachother for play, they will call as long as it takes for the other cat to come. One of my cats has a very annoying sound for that... he sounds like a whining rusty monkey.

But he will stop right away if i call out his name, he will then come running to me and asking for some love instead.

Older cats play less than kitten, you need to make sure to give them some attention every day and pet them. Look out of they behave funny, if your cat makes break dance it is not a sign of a funny happy cat, it means you need to brush and wash it.

Sometimes cat gather somewhere to yell at some moving reflection or some insect, whatever... take a look if you can find something that might attract them.

Cats that are left alone a lot will miao all day long, they are stressed, but some temperature change might stress them too.
You need to give them a lot of attention and love.
There are no such things as bad cats

I don't wish to give any cause for the cat to fear or distrust me. He is very closely bonded, and because of that I have been able to train him thro positive reinforcement.

I never attempted to discipline, but adjusted the house and myself. I don't like him tearing up the blinds, but he likes any attention. It's more positiv and effective to train yourself over a cats. I simply put up the blinds. I clean off the tables and counters often, cuz cats like to perch up high so it's pointless trying to get them not to. I let him go wherever he wants, it is his domain after all.

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Best Wishes,
Maddy