One of my four Bengals randomly attacks another one. Reasons?
Not sure this cat sub will help. There are a lot of assumptions made about cat behavior.
For clarity, I've been a cat haver for 26+ years and a Bengal owner for 20+. I've consistently kept four Bengals, outside of mourning periods, because I've found it's better when there's not an odd man out. The way it's worked out, I've always had a set of older ones and a set younger ones (4-10 years variation).
Tanoshii just turned five. She's a gigantic 16lb bengal, spayed female. She's always been a big easy going teddy bear. All are spayed, all are Bengals, all are female. Her friend, Ayame is a 4yo, 5lb little runt I got at a discount because she was shy and neurotic. They are besties and sleep in the bathroom cabinet together, where Tanoshii dragged her bed. Had to remove all the stuff.
I got two bengal sisters (Miku and Yuuki) in Nov 2024, after my two older Bengals-Mizuki and Hanako - passed in September (they were 15 & 18)from cancer/older age.
Miku is smaller and more annoying in that she opens doors, leaps 5' from the counter to top of the cabinets, knocks shit off the mantel, knocks pictures off the wall (but strangely my favorite, God help me). Yuuki is rangier and more of a typical cat. She doesn't really act out, makes biscuits, chirps and seems rather innocuous.
Most of the time they all get along. Either by just ignoring each other,. Bumping noses. Laying beside each other in front of the fireplace. Peaceable Kingdom and all.
But once or twice a day, Tanoshii will just randomly attack Yuuki. It's a Tasmanian devil whirl across the room, screeching, spitting, sounds of furey and LOUD ANGUISH. Yuuki has little scabs from the attacks.
I know the consensus about water bottles. But it's legit my only way of breaking this up. I can yell or stomp or chase after them, but it won't stop until I squirt the bottle.. And then, if I don't squirt Tanoshii a couple more times, she'll just go right back to it. I have to drive her off and distract her from her deathly(!) intent.
Like, I don't understand what is setting this off. Because five minutes earlier, they can be sitting right beside each other, chilling. And I've seen it start. Yuuki sitting by me on the couch (an example, not the usual scenario) and I'll see her tense up, and then I see a Tanoshii tail, stalking back and forth like... Jaws circling, right below the couch.
I don't get it. It's only this cat attacking this other cat.. Never happened before.. And they sometimes actually cuddle. I'm just baffled.
And yes, my cats have plenty of play, toys, energy outlets, etc. I work from home. The attacked cat doesn't go around giving off weak vibes or being a scaredy cat.. She's the most normal of all my cats. Tanoshii does weigh almost twice as much as she does, but Yuuki is actually the 2nd largest cat.
Halp!