Expert: Norman Auspitz - 8/22/2009

Question
Hi Norman,

I am having problems with my  4 year old neutered male bengal. I used to live in a large town and my 2 bengals, the oldest Max and the youngest Hunter got along well and used to play outside happily coming in most nights. Max would sometimes go away for up to 7 days but as that pattern of behaviour (initially worrying!) seemed to be the norm for him we got used to it. However when I bought a house 10 miles away across a busy motorway but in a quiet and secluded village things have gone wrong. We kept both boys in for 4 weeks, walking them on harnesses daily after 1 wk to help them get their boundaries. After 4 weeks both were allowed outside. Initially they seemed contented with Max and Hunter both exploring and then returning. AFter 4 days though Max 'disappeared'. 3 weeks later we eventually found he had returned within 1 street from my old home and was stealing food from the owner's own cat's bowl so they caught him and had his microchip scanned. After a happy reunion we took him back 'home'. At first Hunter was annoyed but within days they were playing again and sleeping together. After 2 weeks I let Max back out and similarly he stayed for around 48 hours before heading off. A phone call 2 days later from the same people he visited before confirmed his direction. Twice more I have tried to keep him in for a time then relax and let him explore but each time he has gone back to the same place and the nice people are now becoming understandably annoyed by the intrusion. People suggest keeping him in the house for 8 weeks or longer but he literally goes mad to get outside and I feel so cruel. Hunter is allowed out because he just stays within a 50 yard radius and has never seemed bothered by the move at all. Other people have recommended putting Max in a cattery for 6 weeks but that will then mean 'reintroducing' him to Hunter and each time a prolonged gap occurs hissing and spitting ensues from Hunter for 24 hours or so. What is the answer to this? Max is a lovely cat but he has the typical wild bengal streak and he really is unhappy being caged up. I love him dearly but I really don't know what to do and I don't want to risk his life by him doing the 10mile run again. Do you have any answers that may help the situation?
Kind regards,
K

Answer
Kerri,

As you have discovered, cats are incredibly territorial and once installed in a territory, they tend to return to their home territory. Max, at age 4, is fairly set in his ways and the old territory is sufficiently close by, it is easy for Max to go back there.

So, the only way out is to keep him in the house for a longer period of time, maybe months (I am not sure 8 weeks will cut it).  In time, he may adopt the new territory as home, but it will take a long time.  People do convert cats from being outside to inside cats, including Bengals!  One trick is to realize that cats inhabit all 3 dimensions. So, providing areas in the vertical direction provides lots more territory for the cat to roam indoors.  Very tall exercise posts with shelves and cubby holes, tall bookcases, etc, can all provide this vertical territorial extension.

Good luck and best regards... Norm.