Blue has really come good now, he is totally a different cat.
From the little honeymoon period for the first 2 weeks where everything seemed good, to when all the issues showed and things went really bad and I had a little savage beast on my hands, things are all good.
Plays like a normal crazy Bengal, knocks everything off benches, demanding as hell when asking for food or play or just to be paid a bit of attention and full of confidence as a male Bengal should be..
Still bites if you get too persistent with petting but it is actually just a bump with his nose and jaws, no bared teeth.
And when he attempts to bite I pinch him back and turns into a play fight where as before he would run off and sulk.
Hasn't put a mark on me for weeks now he is so gentle..what a change from what he was.
He was facing fear with aggression and insecurity with dominance...how much is that similar to some humans..lol
I left door open accidentally the other day and he got outside for his first time not in a harness, ran to middle of lawn, looked left, right, fluffed up his tail an ran back inside like a ghost was after him.
Then he ran to me, yelled really loud at me like it was my fault he went outside all alone and hid behind the couch for a while.
For a cat that used to live outside that was quite weird.
Think I have made life inside way to comfortable for him..lol
Hard work is over..both can sit back and enjoy life and fun.
Everything great here.

This is really awesome news. Blue has not been without challenges, but you have persisted and look at the end result. Congratulations.

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The little monsters 3

The play fights are a slow motion, gentle tit for tat wrestling match that normally ends with the cats head on my hand, eyes closed and calm and relaxed.
Used it to wind the aggression down, not the other way.
I have been able to remove most of the don't touch trigger points around his body to the point where I can gently rub his belly, massage between his toes, stick a finger in his mouth etc. but there is a limit like with any animal.
Had to train him like a newly broken in horse, touching and petting and building trust. very scientific but also blunt as a hammer.
Used everything I know to teach him touch means pleasure not punishment and that meant approaching this from every possible angle and situation.
Underneath he is an extremely gentle and smart cat and this is all showing up.
I have fast tracked a lot of this and stepped over the limits a couple of times which cost a bit of blood and a couple of scars but it is all learning and there is no written in stone rules how to do all this.
He returns affection now..maybe a little to much, making up for lost time I think, very clumsy about it like head butts are so rough you end up with a blood lip or bent nose but learning as he goes along.
He is all Bengal fun and mischief now and enjoying being a cat..not this bad tempered thing glowering away in the corner ready to bite and attack.
It has been such an interesting and rewarding process and helped greatly getting over losing my other cat who was a very special and unique once in a lifetime pet.

It takes a very long time for cats to change a behavior. Especially when one is a rescue and may have had a few previous owners and different environments. Each cat comes around in its own way. And owners have to be patient and tolerant and try to understand what the cat is going through. It has been a LONG ride for you and the transformation will continue, but you have made great strides with Blue and he obviously has bonded with you and trusts you. It's been baby steps all along the way. So happy for you.

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The best and most memorable part of all of this was when he was sitting on a chair behind me and I turned around to look at him.
Instead of black eyes and angry face he had a lovely soft expression on his face while looking back at me.
He gave a little chirp noise when we made eye contact, gave me the slow eye blink and rolled on his back , paws in air and went to sleep out in the open and not in his hiding spot where he normally slept, totally relaxed and calm like never before.
Knew had won from that point.
It was the best thing ever...

I can just see the soft expression on his face. Followed by the slow eye blink of love. And the joy and relief you felt. Thanks for sharing.

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