Do cats get jealous?

Of all the emotions there are none that seem quite so quintessentially human as jealousy. It’s the stuff of cheating couples and “sexting,” of paranoia about the successes of colleagues at work at the seeming expense of our own, and the tiny humiliations every human being has suffered at one time or another. But do cats feel jealousy, too?

Jealousy refers to a feeling of almost painful envy when another has what we want. Psychology Today describes jealousy as a spectrum of emotions that range from fear of abandonment to rage and humiliation.[1] We tend to think of jealousy in a romantic context – we might be jealous of our beloved’s attention to another – but jealousy is equally at home in sibling relationships, work relationships, and friendships.

When we witness certain behaviors in our pets we may see parallels in own experiences. Our pets can’t tell us what we’re feeling, but when they conduct themselves the way we do under similar circumstances, it’s easy to take the leap and assume we know how they feel.

Just today, for example, I was at the cat shelter where I volunteer. I’d taken one of my favorite girls out for a snuggle: a shy, petite black-and-white cat named Basil. Just then, Autumn, a fluffy Maine Coon-mix who was enjoying the run of the shelter, sidled up for some petting, too. The normally reclusive Basil reached a swift paw out to smack Autumn, who then quickly retreated.

If that’s not jealousy, then what is it?

Do cats experience jealousy the way we do?

The bigger question is whether animals experience emotions at all. It’s a question we humans have been asking about our pets since our earliest relationships with them. In The Descent of Man, published in 1871, famed evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin noted, “Every one has seen how jealous a dog is of his master’s affection, if lavished on any other creature.”[2] Darwin, who painstakingly developed his theory of evolution and natural selection, was not a man to draw conclusions lightly.

But the idea that animals might experience the same feelings that we do goes back much further than Darwin. In the 6^th century BC philosopher, mathematician, and teacher Pythagoras became an “animist,” believing that humans and non-humans had the same kind of soul. He gave up eating meat, and stopped wearing leather shoes, and bought animals from the market to “liberate” them.

The question of animal emotions is, unfortunately, one to which scientists have devoted “relatively little systematic empirical research.”[3] And yet, just because animal emotions have not been studied directly does not mean we can deny their existence. An animal’s face, eyes, body posture, gaze, and gait sometimes make it easy for us to guess what we think they’re feeling. “Even people with little experience observing animals usually agree with one another on what an animal is most likely feeling,”[4] said Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado biology professor, in an article he wrote for the American Institute of Biological Sciences in 2000.

The conclusion is that we don’t know if cats experience jealousy. One of the problems with studying cats’ – or other animals’ – emotions is that their minds are their own. (In fact, we can’t really even know if another person’s experience of emotion is the same as ours.). Some scientists think that it’s worthless to study an animal’s unknowable state of mind for this reason. Others contend that it’s so unlikely that human emotions evolved without precursors in the animal kingdom that we have to assume that animals do experience emotion. In other words, humans, who evolved alongside, with, and from other creatures, cannot be the only animal in the history of the world to emote.

What are the signs that your cat might be jealous?

There are some outward cat behaviors that might be a sign that your cat is experiencing jealousy. They’re worth paying attention to because jealous behaviors create chaos in your home and reflect the unhappiness of your cat.

Improper eliminating

Is your cat suddenly peeing on your pillow, or pooping just outside the litter box? There many reasons a cat’s bathroom habits may change, and many of them relate to medical concerns. Before you assume that your cat’s toileting behavior is a sign of jealousy, bring her to the vet for a checkup and inform your vet about the behavior. If your cat is eliminating improperly as a sign of jealousy, remember that he doesn’t have words to explain his dissatisfaction. When he’s telling you his problems in the form of pee in corner of the dining room, listen up. For more information about this frustrating behavior, read this post, "Why is my cat peeing on my bed?"

Aggression

Under what circumstances did your cat just bite? When did that hiss first start? At whom is the aggression aimed? Consider the context when a cat suddenly begins behaving in an aggressive way. Is another animal or person in the house getting attention or resources your cat wants? For more information about biting in cats, read this post, "Why does my cat bite me gently?"

Pushiness

Withdrawing

Do cats get jealous of…

Do cats get jealous of the new baby?

One minute your living room is filled with cat trees and cat toys and you’re cuddling up on the couch with your old best friend every night after work. And the next (from your cat’s point of view) all of her things are pushed to the edges, and you’re spending all of your time cuddling and petting this new creature you’ve brought home.

It is absolutely essential that a newborn is kept protected from any pets in the household. A tiny baby cannot protect himself and even a well-meaning cat could accidentally harm a baby. Supervise all interactions between pets and children and keep your cat out of the baby’s bedroom when he is sleeping.

Do cats get jealous of kittens?

You may have convinced yourself that you got the kitten as a “friend” for your cat. And naturally, you think the new kitten is irresistible. But there’s a good chance your older cat will disagree.

For one, do not add to the “scarcity of resources” problem that engenders jealousy. As fun and adorable as a new kitten can be, spread the love around. Do not focus all of your attention on the kitten.

Do cats get jealous of other humans?

If you’re asking this question, you’re not the only one. Quora.com, a question-and-answer site, is filled with questions along these lines, “Are cats possessive of their humans?” and “Do you have a cat this is jealous of your boy/girlfriend?”

How to deal with a jealous cat

Jealousy in humans and cats often stems from the same type of circumstance: scarcity of resources. For humans, the “scarcity” might be related to some complicated love triangle between you, your ex and co-worker, while in your cats’ case, a jealous rage may originate from the fact that there are too few of those bouncy balls with the feather tails in the living room. Whatever the cause, you’re the master or mistress of your household and it’s up to you to establish and maintain peace for the good of all concerned.

Eliminate scarcity of items

Make sure each cat gets attention

The more cats you have, the harder it is to make sure that each one is getting what she needs. Grooming is a great way to spend one-on-one time with an individual cat. Let them know – each one – that his or her place with you is secure.

Do not make cats share food dishes

Give your cats an escape hatch

For a cat who needs to withdraw, make sure he has a place to go. Give cats an opportunity to separate themselves to let household tensions simmer away. Give cats access to as many rooms in the house as you can, provide a catio (a cat-dedicated outdoor space) if you are able, and make sure that there are different vertical levels where a cat can perch. Sometimes all a cat needs to get away from it all is to get up and away from it all.

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Dawn LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who always seems to have a little pet hair in her keyboard. Her blog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians better understand and care for the special beings they share their lives and homes with. Her cat-products business, Cat in the Box, sells beautiful, well-made, and award-winning products that she designed to meet the biological needs of cats.

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FOOTNOTES

[1] “Jealousy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/jealousy.

[2] Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man. Project Gutenberg EBook. Page 207.

[3] Bekoff, Marc. “Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures.” BioScience, vol. 50, no. 10, 2000, p. 861., doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:aeepn]2.0.co;2.

[4] ibid