You’ve probably heard someone say that cats are very jealous of guards, territory and even their toys. In fact, you’ve probably heard or even said, “My cat doesn’t accept another cat at home because it’s very possessive.” Or worse, perhaps someone has already told you that adapting cats to other cats is an “impossible mission.” But to what extent is all this true?
When two? under the same roof, is this really the result of a cat jealous of another cat? Or is it a strangeness? Will it happen because the new kitten was not introduced correctly into the context of this house, causing a negative reaction in the other?
- In this new peritoAnimal article.
- We’ll talk about a cat jealous of another cat.
- Adapting the cat cub to the new home and how to make two cats get along.
- Read!.
First of all, you have to understand if it’s really true that there are jealous cats. Or, to put it another way, whether cats are jealous or if it is us, the guardians, who attribute typically human emotions and feelings to.
Jealousy is a very important adaptive emotional capacity for gregarious animals, i.e. those living in groups or communities, such as wolves or elephants, for example. Although this emotion is similar to human jealousy, it is not expressed in the same way, because systems and codes of language and social behavior are different.
Jealousy in animals often occurs when an individual realizes the possibility of being deprived of something or someone he considers important or fundamental to his survival or well-being. And, when we talk about a pet, which has gone through a domestication process, the keeper imposes itself as its point of reference, because it offers food, safety, stability, protection and? Above all? that allows us to generate a bond based on mutual trust.
However, does it make sense to think that an independent animal like the cat is also jealous? The answer is: yes, it’s true! Although they are not completely domesticated like dogs and naturally tend to maintain more solitary habits, cats also consider their guardians as their landmarks. Thanks to them, they can feel protected in a safe home, free of parasites and impurities, with abundant food and many other resources that allow them to fully develop their physical and cognitive skills, in an enriched environment.
Therefore, when a strange individual intervenes in this bond of affection, trust and mutual benefit, the cat naturally reacts in a negative way, moved by the fear of losing its reference figure. That’s why we often hear about a cat jealous of a baby, another cat or other pet. To prevent this emotional ability, which is completely natural in the cat, from affecting the balance of your home, it is essential to know how to introduce a new member into the family, always respecting the adaptation times of your.
Another common question from the guardians is how to know that a cat is jealous of another cat. As each cat is a world full of possibilities and surprises, it is possible that jealousy is expressed in different ways, depending on the personality of the cat and the education it received from its tutors.
However, some common signs will help you clearly see that you have a jealous cat. Like what:
Generally, cats that are not sterilized flee mainly out of sexual desire, after identifying that there are females in heat. Others may escape simply because they are used to walking away from home, always out of sheer curiosity, because the streets offer thousands of stimuli, such as smells, noises, other individuals, among others.
It is not very common for a cat jealous of another cat to flee and leave its home and its reference figure (its guardian), as this would pose a serious risk to your well-being. Chances are that the jealous cat will hide, avoid interacting with the other individual or present the symptoms we have already mentioned. However, one can imagine that, in extreme cases, when do you feel? or despised by her guardian, the cat decides to leave home, to get the impression that the link to her reference figure has been broken.
Although jealousy is a natural reaction of cats, in such circumstances, there are several guidelines that you can follow to prevent your cat from feeling threatened by the presence of a new individual in its territory, and also to encourage the new family member. feel welcome.
So, are we going to briefly review some of the steps you can take? And should I? consider adopting a new kitten and presenting it to your cat.
Socialization is the best way to avoid jealousy problems and possessive behaviors in cats. During the socialization process, you will learn to have positive relationships with other individuals and stimuli.
The ideal is to start socializing your puppy cat from the second week of life to the second month, because during this period the puppy assimilates the basic codes of social behavior, that is, the rules that have guided the behavior towards others. stimuli in adulthood. However, it is also possible to socialize an adult cat, always relying on a lot of patience, affection and helping a positive reinforcement.
Remember that inadequate socialization is the main cause of a jealous cat. So, before you decide to adopt a companion for yourself, make sure it’s properly socialized to live this experience.
For guardians, it usually seems a good idea to adopt a kitten to keep you company, which usually stays home alone for most of the day. However, it’s important to consider the personality and routine of your cats. Your cat doesn’t necessarily feel the need to have the company of another animal, as you imagine.
Some are naturally more sociable, while others prefer to lead a more solitary life and enjoy an environment enriched with toys, scrapers, intelligence games, etc. So think about getting to know your feline partner better and ask yourself if it’s better to have one. or two cats at home (for you and him, of course!)
As mentioned, the arrival of a strange animal in the house may make your cat uncomfortable as its territories and the resources it contains may be threatened. To avoid conflicts of territory and forced interactions, it is essential that each cat has its own belongings and objects, such as bedding, food and water pots, sand, toys, scratches, among others.
Alem disso, é recomendável não posicionar os pertences do novo gato muito próximo à área de descanso e alimentação do seu bichano. Basicamente, a ideia é que os gatos só comecem a interagir movidos pela vontade própria e não que se vejam obrigados a conviver ou compartilhar objetos ou territórios. Nesse artigo do Animal Expert, você pode conferir outras dicas para preparar a casa para a chegada do novo gato.
This is the most critical and important point of this process, how to promote the interactions of the new kitten with you in a positive way? First, you’ll have to respect the adaptation times of each cat, especially the newcomer who will perhaps be afraid in the first few days. Remember that adaptation is a gradual process and that each individual has their own time.
But can you? and should – start encouraging interactions between the two cats, as long as they are comfortable with each other’s presence. When that time comes, I’m sure these tips for your cat to get used to the new puppy will be of great help.
If you discover that your cat’s behavior is very deteriorated or aggressive after the arrival of the new kitten, it is best to seek the help of a professional. The first step will be to take your cat to the vet to check if everything is going well with your health, as certain diseases and hormonal imbalances can cause various behavioral changes, such as hyperactivity, depression or aggression.
After ruling out any health problems, we recommend that you speak with a professional specialized in feline education or ethology, as it will be able to identify the specific causes of your cat’s inappropriate behavior and guide treatment focused on education and environmental enrichment.
If your cat is very nervous or hyperactive in the presence of the other kitten at some point, you can leave it alone for a few minutes until it calms down. In most cases, the correct stimulation of the interaction, using positive reinforcement to encourage both cats to assimilate the presence of the other as something positive, is effective in preventing these stress episodes and promoting peaceful coexistence within their home. However, if this anxiety or nervousness appears consistently or very often, you will need to take your cat to a veterinarian who specializes in ethology.
In cases of mild or occasional nervousness, there is also the possibility of using cat pheromones to reduce your cat’s stress level and prevent the episode from happening again. However, again, we remind you of the importance of consulting a veterinarian before subjecting your cat to any new treatment.
Learn more about jealous cats in our YouTube video
If you want to read articles similar to The Jealous Cat of another cat, we recommend that you visit our Behavioral Problems section.