Aggressive show cat

Question
Hi - I have a question about cat behaviour, during showing. I have 2 bengal neuters, both 14 months old. At home one is very out going, into everything, brave, willful, and basically fearless. The other is very timid and doesn't like strangers. We have been TICA showing for about 6 months, initially they were both wary of the noise and smells etc as expected but, during the last few shows the brave one has started growling and hissing as soon as he is vetted in, and again when he is put in each ring, he then has a go at all the judges, hissing and growling and turning on them as they take him out and put him back in the pens. When he is waiting in the pens to be judged he's fine - he sits up and looks alert looking completely unflustered and sweet. During travelling and when in our pen he's as good as gold. He seems to be trying to push the limits as at our last show he swiped at a judge's face and caught her on the chin (very embarrassing for all concerned). When he's with me when I put him in a ring pen he'll protest a bit, and attempt to growl and hiss etc but he knows not to go to far, but then he'll try to bit the judge that takes him out - its terrible ! So far I've tried Catnip, Bachs Rescue Remedy drops, Valarian drops, feeding more than usual to make him drowsy, any nothing has worked. It seems as though he thinks he can get away with this nastiness with other people. (We would withdraw him from showing but we've entered and paid for him to go into 5 more shows !  Your advice would be most welcome as he's a lovely boy to look at, and so far has done quite well showing. Hope you can help, kind regards.

Answer
Elaine,

Sigh!!!!!  First, let me assure you I understand the issues and have been there.  That does not say the "aggression" can be overcome.  

First of all, is your house quiet?  If so, you need a radio or TV playing all day while the cats are at home.  The chaos of the show hall can be daunting to cats that enjoy very quiet home lives. In fact having young children around can be very helpful!!!!!

Second, is he spoiled?  If so, he does not like when he does not get his way!!!!! Often, when cats do not get there way and in a strange situation, they act frightened.   

What you are probably seeing is more fear than aggression.  In most judging cages, the cat is surrounded by white panels and feels very secure in the confinement. Then a total stranger takes this cat out of the cage and the security is gone. Think of it like a fear of wide open spaces!  If the judge shows any fear, the cat will feed off this and multiply his bad behavior.  BTW. one of the things I learned when I judged my first shows in the mid 1970's, is NEVER let the cat get within paws reach of your face.  Every judge should know this, so, while it is unpleaseant that the cat scratched the judge's chin, with the cat already a bit upset, she should have known better.

Along the lines of the cats feeding off a judges apprehension, if you are sitting in the front row and your cat can sense your apprehension, he will feed off that as well.  So, you need to stand far back from the judging stand and only approach if the judge calls for assistance.

Most of the Rescue Remedy, Bach's Flowers, and the like really do not seem to be effective when given orally.  Try rubbing it in his ear (but wear a finger cot when you do this). In the inside of the ear, the skin is very thin and the drops can get into the blood stream faster, I am not sure how much of that stuff really survives stomach juices so as to do any good at all.

One thing I have suggsetd to people is to get Vitamin B1 and give the cat 50 mg morning and night starting Wednesday, every day before the show.  Give it 3 times on the first day or two of the show (morning, noon, afternoon), and twice on the last day of the show.  Sometimes this is enough to take the edge off.  Vitamin B1 is an active ingredient in stress tabs. Fortunately, this you can give orally.

Unfortunately, some cats are just not really show cats.  There is no way of knowing until you actually take them to the shows.  With a breed like Bengals, they need to be shown as kittens and, after 3 shows, if they like it, you are usually OK, if they don't, you have found out early.

We have Abyssinians and have spent years selectively breeding for good show temperament as they can be very high strung.  There seems to be as much nature as nurture in show temeprament.

Please let me know how he does.

Good luck and best regards... Norm.