Mediating Feline Jealously in a Multi-Cat Household
No, you’re not imagining your cat giving you the side-eye — feline jealousy is real and common in all breeds and ages of cats. It’s their natural instinct to be protective over the things that affect their well-being such as toys, treats, sleep spots and even people. This can cause your feline friend to retaliate through aggression, inappropriate elimination and other ways to assert their dominance in the household, especially if they’re living with another cat in their space. We’re here to share a couple ways you can mediate feline jealously in your household in a few simple steps!
Managing Meal Times and Treat Distribution
Cats can feel more threatened by another cat when it comes to meal times. Animal instincts tell them to be possessive over food and to assert dominance over any other creature who might be trying to take it from them. One helpful way to diffuse the tension between cats when it comes to feeding them is by placing their bowls on opposite sides of the room, and giving them their treats separately so they don’t get competitive.
Litter Box Privacy
Vets aren’t lying when they say that one litter box per cat is necessary! The phrase “pissing contest” will become all too real for pet parents who try to squeeze two pets into one. Cats are territorial creatures and want to make their mark without the interference of another feline and their scent. They can perceive the other cat as a threat and start to act out if they feel like their space is being invaded. If you’re having behavioral problems with your pets and they’re sharing a litter box, opt to have one litter box per cat plus one extra in order to diffuse the tension. If you’re feline is still having problems with inappropriate elimination, try out Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract®️ for a little extra help when it comes to bringing your furry friends back to the litter box.
Sharing Toys and Spaces
When playing with multiple cats, you might notice one of them sitting back to observe while you play with the other. It’s important to play back and forth between the two and also encourage them playing at the same time so they can get used to the other. If you notice tension or aggression when trying to get them to play simultaneously, go back to playing with them separately but equally until they get used to the other feline.
Owner Attachment
If you notice that your cats can get possessive or jealous when it comes to you and the attention you give them, it’s important to start giving your cats more personal space. Although we love cuddling our furry friends, it’s important to help them be independent. Try to dedicate a space that’s just for them so they can get comfortable feeling content alone. If you have multiple cats, make sure those spaces are separate from each other. When it does come time for giving pets or cuddling, try to make it equal or cuddle with both at the same time! Similarly to play time, if you notice your cat becoming stressed with another cat around, give the attention individually and build up to group cuddling.
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