I have no doubt that cats can be jealous of anyone, and they are especially so if they suspect there is an attraction between their human and another cat-owning human. When I was younger, my best friend (a male) had a cat who HATED me, but was very affectionate toward everyone else. At the same time, my oldest female cat HATED him, but was okay with everyone else. It never occurred to either of us that each cat was trying to keep its respective human from falling in to the clutches of someone they considered a scheming gold-digger.
babs - 9 years ago
Oh, I know they can be very jealous. Mostly of other cats in the household but with other things too. We had a darling cat when I was a kid who was jealous of my sister's stuffed animals. They played with him like he was a baby, but when they got out the other toys...especially the stuffed animals, he'd knock them off the bed or chairs and sulk. So funny.
Gina - 9 years ago
Certainly some cats can be extremely jealous. I have a multi-cat household and the only cat I raised myself by bottle from 1 day old (he's now 16 months old) is terribly jealous. He often strolls up wanting "momma" and if some other kitty is getting love he will stare a moment then turn his back to us and sit with his ears cocked as if eavesdropping. If I get up to pick him up then he will retreat to another room for awhile. And if I commit the ultimate sin of petting another cat while out of the house he smells me (or them) and will the retreat to a high perch and glare at me for an hour or so.
Wanda - 9 years ago
My dear sweet Mullet is obsessed with me. He's incredibly possessive and can't stand other cats getting near me. He's okay with his brother getting a little petting but any cats he isn't directly related to? Forget it! His mother decided to climb into bed with me and give birth to the little dude on my belly so I think he became bonded with me on some level right from the start. I don't know how that would be possible but his brother was born a few hours later (tough labour for Mama) in her litter box and isn't nearly as attached to me so it seems there's something to my theory. I wouldn't change any of it for the world though. Our furry family (we have Mama, Daddy and their two babies) is now all spayed and neutered so there will be no more kittens in our home so I treasure the time I got to spend with them as they grew up.
Tina - 10 years ago
Be patient, it's hard to watch, I know. But when your 8 month year old has had enough she'll give the older one a taste of his medicine. I know from experience. Hang in there.
Pat Ward - 10 years ago
That is a current problem i am having now, my very large tuxedo kitty neutered hunts down my 8mo. old little Savannah x spayed kitty, she screeches and screams and he stand over her all hair up, while she is on her side with 20 claws ready to defend herself. She loses control of bowel, often urine in her fear. this makes for an unhappy little kitty, pet mama, and of course Tux. I have come to locking/shutting the door from one room to the others to prevent damage, but it is nervewracking when he sneaks in to "get her". I love both my kitties, other than what i am doing now, i don't have any alternatives. I use a spray bottle to stop the attack, and say Get Out. Both cats understand English, simple things, but they do what i tell them, and come by name when i call them. All of my cats that i have had through the years know their name and came running.
I have no doubt that cats can be jealous of anyone, and they are especially so if they suspect there is an attraction between their human and another cat-owning human. When I was younger, my best friend (a male) had a cat who HATED me, but was very affectionate toward everyone else. At the same time, my oldest female cat HATED him, but was okay with everyone else. It never occurred to either of us that each cat was trying to keep its respective human from falling in to the clutches of someone they considered a scheming gold-digger.
Oh, I know they can be very jealous. Mostly of other cats in the household but with other things too. We had a darling cat when I was a kid who was jealous of my sister's stuffed animals. They played with him like he was a baby, but when they got out the other toys...especially the stuffed animals, he'd knock them off the bed or chairs and sulk. So funny.
Certainly some cats can be extremely jealous. I have a multi-cat household and the only cat I raised myself by bottle from 1 day old (he's now 16 months old) is terribly jealous. He often strolls up wanting "momma" and if some other kitty is getting love he will stare a moment then turn his back to us and sit with his ears cocked as if eavesdropping. If I get up to pick him up then he will retreat to another room for awhile. And if I commit the ultimate sin of petting another cat while out of the house he smells me (or them) and will the retreat to a high perch and glare at me for an hour or so.
My dear sweet Mullet is obsessed with me. He's incredibly possessive and can't stand other cats getting near me. He's okay with his brother getting a little petting but any cats he isn't directly related to? Forget it! His mother decided to climb into bed with me and give birth to the little dude on my belly so I think he became bonded with me on some level right from the start. I don't know how that would be possible but his brother was born a few hours later (tough labour for Mama) in her litter box and isn't nearly as attached to me so it seems there's something to my theory. I wouldn't change any of it for the world though. Our furry family (we have Mama, Daddy and their two babies) is now all spayed and neutered so there will be no more kittens in our home so I treasure the time I got to spend with them as they grew up.
Be patient, it's hard to watch, I know. But when your 8 month year old has had enough she'll give the older one a taste of his medicine. I know from experience. Hang in there.
That is a current problem i am having now, my very large tuxedo kitty neutered hunts down my 8mo. old little Savannah x spayed kitty, she screeches and screams and he stand over her all hair up, while she is on her side with 20 claws ready to defend herself. She loses control of bowel, often urine in her fear. this makes for an unhappy little kitty, pet mama, and of course Tux. I have come to locking/shutting the door from one room to the others to prevent damage, but it is nervewracking when he sneaks in to "get her". I love both my kitties, other than what i am doing now, i don't have any alternatives. I use a spray bottle to stop the attack, and say Get Out. Both cats understand English, simple things, but they do what i tell them, and come by name when i call them. All of my cats that i have had through the years know their name and came running.
Are you kidding, LOL?!?