Many people say that their cats are jealous when they carry out behaviors related to aggressiveness or possessiveness towards a third party, whether we are talking about a feline, a dog or a human. However, is it true that cats are jealous or are we facing another form of humanization?
In this article we will reveal if cats are jealous, how to identify jealous behavior in this species and what to do about a behavior that we consider inappropriate, do not miss it!
Jealousy in cats
To begin with, we must ask ourselves if it is correct to affirm that cats are jealous, since “jealousy” is emotions and feelings that until recently were attributed solely to humans. But if we dig a little deeper into what jealousy really is, we understand that it is an important adaptive emotional response in gregarious animals.
However, although the domestic feline is a solitary animal, domestication has allowed the species to receive important advantages by participating in social dynamics , apart from those it maintains during reproduction, such as living with the human being, who provides food, shelter and care. Or with other domestic animals, which become an important source of enrichment.
In this way, the cat acquires a person or animal as a “figure of reference” with whom it relates, socializes and carries out daily interactions. Technically, the figure of reference is known as a “valued social partner” and, as we have discussed, it can be another cat, a dog or a human being. It is, in short, a social figure with which the cat feels safe, thus being the feline’s favorite person. On the contrary, the “social rival ” is the figure that stands between the two and before whom he can show what we interpret as jealous behaviors, that is, rejection and aggressiveness .
However, although it is more common to speak of jealousy in dogs, since there are studies that use this term (although of course highly disputed), there is no publication of clinical ethology in domestic felines, so it would be a very imprecise term even today.
Still, there are many owners who say that their animals experience jealousy. In fact, a study that collected the behaviors of various domestic animals pointed out the similarity between them, also showing the existence of secondary emotions in animals that are not primates.
Symptoms of a jealous cat
Without scientific studies that can support the existence of jealousy in domestic felines, it is difficult to find a pattern of behaviors that can alert us to the appearance of jealousy in cats, however, if we look at those frequent behaviors in dogs or horses, we highlight the following.
The jealous cat and its behavior:
- The cat seeks the attention of the “landmark” regularly.
- Pay attention to the socialization of the “reference figure” and the “social rival.”
- It interrupts the relationship between the “reference figure” and the “social rival.”
- Makes negative calming signals or becomes aggressive toward “social rival.”
Why are cats jealous?
What we can perceive as jealousy in cats may actually be various behavioral problems caused by poor socialization of the puppy cat, the appearance of fears due to negative experiences or territoriality, among others. But, assuming that cats are jealous, below we will talk in more detail about the frequent situations that can cause cats to show “jealousy” towards a third party and what we should do:
- Jealous baby cat: pregnancy and the birth of a baby entail a significant loss of attention from the “valued social partner”, in addition, many parents often scold their felines when they approach the newborn with curiosity, which usually causes a negative association towards the baby. It is essential to avoid punishment, fighting or yelling on these occasions.
- Cat jealous of the couple: many people warn that the cat is jealous of the boyfriend or girlfriend, but in this case we are talking about a situation that usually causes a certain “grace” so they unconsciously encourage it, something not only not recommended, but even dangerous.
- Cat jealous of another cat: previously we have explained that cats are solitary animals, but also, you should also know that they are very territorial. For this reason, the adaptation of a new individual at home is usually complicated when one of the felines is in its adult stage. Different negative behaviors may appear such as aggressiveness, surface marking, fear or depression.
- Cat jealous of a dog: especially in cats that have not socialized with dogs in their early stages, the adoption of a canid usually causes a lot of stress, since the lack of knowledge of the body language of this species added to its large size causes, an again, fear, depression or aggressiveness among other behavior problems.
Now we know how to identify the causes and symptoms of “jealousy in cats”, however, what should we do when they occur? In the next section we will talk about it.
How to treat a jealous cat?
Many people do not know what to do with a jealous cat, is this also your case? To begin with, especially if we are talking about a cat jealous of a baby, it will be essential to take the relevant safety measures to prevent the cat from scratching the little one. We will prevent the feline from having access to the baby’s room.
In milder cats we can try to work with the cat ourselves, trying to make the presence of the “social rival” positive, making their appearance translate into pleasant experiences. We can use tasty treats, caresses, or kind words. It is also possible to apply soothing pheromones to improve your well-being using applicators or necklaces. In the event that it becomes upset, we will try to calm the jealous cat by leaving it alone, thus providing it with calm and security.
However, in the most serious cases, it will be essential to go to a veterinarian specialized in ethology, the social figure of reference that can help us diagnose a behavior problem in the cat, offer us management guidelines and even conduct behavior modification sessions.
