Do Cats Get Jealous?

It’s easy to attribute human emotions to cats – they are, after all, emotional creatures. However, they don’t necessarily experience emotions like humans do. Cats are known to be independent and often aloof, but they can also form strong bonds with their owners, sometimes even becoming “Velcro” cats. One emotion that owners often wonder about is jealousy because of a cat’s seemingly heightened emotional awareness. This article will explore a cat’s psychology and answer the question, Do cats get jealous? once and for all.

Can Cats Get Jealous?

The short answer is that no, cats don’t get jealous of other cats or people, but they can experience an emotion similar to it, where you can almost feel like they are holding a grudge against you, or they are acting moody. Cats usually communicate feelings through behavior, and they can change their behaviors if they feel something is off in their family.

What Can Cause a Cat to Become Jealous?

A cat might change their behavior based on several different familial or environmental changes, such as:

• Another cat is introduced to the family.
• A dog is introduced to the mix.
• A new baby comes home.
• Being around children they don’t know.
• A change in your attention to them, such as working.
• Resource competition with other cats vying for the same food, space, or attention
• Changes in their environment, such as a new bed.
• Lack of socialization can cause cats to exhibit more possessive or “jealous” behaviors.

Signs of a Jealous Cat

Since cats don’t experience jealousy in the same way as humans, the way they show it isn’t quite the same either. Rather than jealousy in cats, they usually change their behavior based on higher stress or anxiety levels. They might even want to reclaim attention or resources and can often become territorial – think jumping into your lap while you are working, for example. How to tell if a cat is jealous will read differently than if a human were jealous. Cat jealousy signs can include:

1. Destructive behavior: Cats that scratch, knock things over, turn on water, or exhibit other “cat antics” could be experiencing stress.
2. Increased chattiness: Increased vocalization, such as loud meowing, is a way a cat expresses frustration.
3. Aggression: Cats that hiss, swat, bite, or are otherwise aggressive towards owners or other animals are often frustrated, anxious, or scared. They could even exhibit territorial aggression, where they spray or urinate outside the litter box. Litter box aggression between cats can be easily solved by having at least one litter box per cat.
4. Clinginess: It’s not just dogs that can be Velcro animals – cats are capable of it, too. Cats that are stressed could become your shadow, may become overly affectionate, or demand constant attention from you.
5. Interruptions: Jealous cats are smart and may try to insert themselves into a situation if they feel there is a threat.
6. Changes in habits: Any changes in litter box habits, eating, or sleeping might be one way that your cat is expressing discomfort or distress.

Are Certain Cat Breeds More Jealous Than Others?

There is no such thing as certain breeds acting more jealous than others, but some high-energy cat breeds might be more demanding of your attention or more prone to anxiety. These traits can sometimes be mistaken for jealousy in cats. High-energy cat breeds include:  

1. Siamese Cats: Siamese are naturally vocal and love attention, and they aren’t afraid to ask you for it, time and time again. They can become more clingy or chatty if they feel their needs aren’t being met.
2. Abyssinian Cats: Active and smart, these cats require a lot of stimulation and might act out if they are feeling ignored.
3. Bengal Cats: High-energy Bengals need lots of human interaction and can become mischievous if they feel they are not getting enough attention.
4. Persian Cats: Most of the time, Persian cats are calm and easygoing, but they can easily become stressed by changes in their environment, which might make them more clingy or anxious-seeming.
5. Maine Coon Cats: Large and gentle, Maine Coons are known for being laid-back and friendly, although that attitude doesn’t always apply to multi-cat or mult-pet households where they expect to be the main event.

Keep in mind that a cat’s personality is derived from breed characteristics, experiences, and environment, so there’s no one single factor that can determine how a cat will behave, jealous-like behaviors or otherwise.

How to Deal with and Train a Jealous Cat

Stress and anxiety read as jealousy in cats, but if you understand the root issues of their stress, it can be easier to get them to relax and be more content. If your cat is acting jealous, anxious, or stressed, there are many ways you can help them calm down:

• Offer attention. Offering quality time to your cat to play, cuddle, or do enrichment activities can help tire their brains out and make them more mellow.
• Maintain routines. Cats love a routine, and by sticking to feeding, playtime, and grooming schedules, they know what to expect and can be less anxious about day-to-day activities in the house.
• Provide resources. Make sure there is enough food, water, enrichment toys, resting areas, and litter boxes around the home if you have more than one cat. This will reduce territorial fighting or aggression issues.
• Use pheromones. Pheromone diffusers have been known to help reduce anxiety in cats.

Training can be the first line of defense against cat jealousy. You can:

• Reward calm behavior. Offer praise and treats for calm cat behavior, especially in jealousy-inducing situations.
• Create positive associations. If there is a new family member or pet, create a positive experience so that the cat associates good things with that person or pet.
• Gradually introduce new people or pets. It can take some time for family members to get to know each other! Go slow to minimize stress.
• Get professional help. If your cat seems unusually stressed or anxious, seek professional veterinary help.

Cats and pets in general cannot be “disciplined” like you might think a human child could. They don’t connect punishment with their behavior, and it can create fear, which can only add to the anxiety and stress they might be exhibiting, which in turn can lead to more destructive behavior. Instead, try to redirect them and set them up for success. For example, if they are counter jumpers, give them their own perch to jump onto instead, such as a cat tree.  

Conclusion

While there’s no such thing as “cat jealousy,” there are cat behaviors that should be taken seriously as indicators of your cat’s emotions. If they feel threatened, insecure, frustrated, or unhappy, it can read as jealousy. By taking preventative measures and knowing how to read your cat’s behavior, you can help them be calm and happy felines and strengthen your bond with them. 

For more expert tips on cat behavior, explore our other understanding cats articles.