We adopted a 1 1/2 year old female Bengal that we call Abigail. The previous owner claimed to never have problems with her. When we got her home (several months ago), she took a few days to adjust but then seemed fine. She had already had her first litter just prior to us adopting her (she was bred with a Mane Koon. The kittens were adorable x10!). Sadly, she is FULLY declawed. I wish she weren't (at least not the rear), but it is what it is. However, once we got her we had her spayed because we didn't want her going in to heat, bleeding, etc.
We also have a 8mo female kitten, and they are best friends. They groom each other, play, sleep together, etc... and Abigail has taught her how to "fight and play". It's just precious to watch them. Our little kitty is a complete diva too. She has a quirky little personality but she's fine.
Here are some concerning observations about our Bengal:
We have yet to see her drink, yet she pees a river!! Her urine is very powerful smelling too.
She poops like a small dog, and will NOT cover it up (didn't from day one).
She seems to be a "woman's cat". I'm so good to her, but she wants NOTHING to do with me, which is disappointing because I LOVE cats. She lays on my wife's lap in her blanket, and sleeps next to my wife, but never me. I asked the previous owner about that and she said "Well, I'm the one that took care of her all the time, so that might be why." However, she didn't answer my text when I asked if she "could have had a bad experience with a male in the household". She's not a very good text conversationalist, so I let it go.
She seems to have stopped marking us and things completely. She seems uninterested in being pet. She used to sort of demand it, but doesn't anymore.
She is only vocal when my wife is home with her. Never when I'm there or our teen boys.
Now for the really bad: She will defiantly sit in front of us, and pee on the carpet!! This after being near a litter box. We've got three litter boxes and we move them around. We also keep the food away from the litter boxes. This alone is driving my wife insane because she's convinced the house smells like cat urine. I can't smell it, though a Bengal does have a stronger smell than a normal cat.
The urine issue has my wife so twisted up that she's thinking that we should get rid of her. I'm sure there are people that would take an adult female Bengal... but fully declawed and spayed, somewhat anti-social, AND with a urination problem? VERY doubtful. Had we known, we wouldn't have gotten her spayed. She could be bred at least (but we had no papers).
So I guess I'm posting this because I don't know what to do. It makes no difference to me if we keep her because she seems to hate me anyway. But it's disappointing for my wife.
Looking forward to the replies. Thank you!!
Jason
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