Adult Bengal Cat/Aggressiveness

Question
i have 2 adult cats, 1 is an 11 yr old Bengal, loving, and attentive. 2nd cat is 11 yrs old and just a regular mix.  For several years, my bengal would have brief spurts of going out my other cat, to the point of actually extracting clumps of hair, and usually aiming for the throat.  I would put on of the 2 cats in a seperate room, until he had time to calm down.  Now, he is becoming much more aggressive (bengal) he waits until we are not home, or sleeping.  my other adult cat was declawed by someone else, so he doesn't really have the means to protect himself. But never has the bengal brought out blood, but has left teeth marks.  I am worried the Bengal might just kill him.  I have tried seperating them while we are out, and that just adds more aggression to the issue. my bengal is very attached to me, and is with me or at my side whenever I am around. If I am doing something that takes away from his attention, he will constantly interrupt. Even if the distraction is my husband.  I have talked to my vet several times on this issue, no resolution.
What can I do from here? how can I dissolve some of the aggression? I also would like to add, my bengal has bowel imflammatory disease and he is more aggressive when he is symptomatic. If anything..Thank you for your time and consideration.  Sharon

Answer
Hi Sharon.  Have you and your vet discussed putting your Bengal on an antidepressant?  Antidepressants can help because most aggression issues in neutered males are feuled by anxiety, which antidepressants help control.  I think when aggression gets to the point where you fear the cat could kill your other one, antidepressants are not an unreasonable solution by any means.  Also, I spoke with my veterinary internal specialist a couple of weeks ago about my cat with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, who also has a bladder condition.  I trust his opinion above all other vets on these issues, because he's a certified specialist in the area of gastrointestinal and urinary tract disease.  And he told me that recent studies are linking Inflammatory Bowel Disease more and more to a nervous disorder.  He stated that amitriptyline, an antidepressant, might have some benefit for cats with IBD and obvious anxiety issues.  I think this might be a good topic to discuss with your vet or a specialist.  If it will not only control his aggression but can improve his IBD a little, it would be excellent.  There are other antidepressants to choose from, as well.

I use a product called Feliway in my home to reduce aggression, and I always recommend it in these cases.  I think it would be a good idea to try, although I'm not entirely certain it will be all that's needed in this case.  You could use it for a couple weeks to see how he responds and then make a decision about the antidepressants if those are something you're considering.  You can learn more about how Feliway works at www.feliway.com.  I use the plug-in diffusers for ease of use.  They're available at pet stores, through some vets and online.  I have found the initial set ups least expensive at amazon.com, and refills least expensive at entirelypets.com.

Finally, you might consider using flower essences to help calm him down.  I have used Spirit Essences (www.spiritessences.com), formulated by a holistic vet and an animal behaviorist.  Their Bully Remedy formula would be good for your Bengal.  You might also consider their Ultimate Peacemaker package, which would contain the essences Peacemaker, to treat both cats, and Self Esteem, to treat your domestic.

I hope his behavior improves with some of these treatments.  Best wishes!

Jessica