Common Signs of Jealousy in Cats
When a new cat is introduced to the home, the resident cat may start to exhibit jealous behaviors in response. Some common signs of feline jealousy include:
Changes in behavior when new cat is around: The cat may hide, act timidly, or avoid the new cat when they are together. They may seem more clingy or needy for your attention when the other cat is around.
Aggression: Cats displaying jealous behaviors may hiss, swat, or attack the new cat, especially if they get close to resources like food bowls, litter boxes, or favorite napping spots. They may block access to these resources.
Inappropriate urination: The jealous cat may start urinating outside the litter box to mark territory. This sends the message that the space is theirs.
Attention-seeking: The cat may meow more loudly, rub against you, or try to sit on you when the other cat is around. They want to be sure they still have access to your affection.
These behaviors stem from the cat feeling threatened by having to share attention and territory with the new arrival in the home.
Underlying Causes of Feline Jealousy
There are often deeper reasons behind a cat’s jealous or territorial behavior when a new feline enters the home. According to veterinarians, the root causes frequently include:
Lack of confidence: An insecure cat who lacks self-assurance may become jealous more easily. The new cat poses a perceived threat to their territory, resources, and owner’s affection. This triggers defensive behaviors aimed at protecting what they feel is “theirs.” Building up timid cats’ confidence through training, playtime, and positive reinforcement can help (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/rqhg3t/how_do_i_deal_with_cat_jealousy/).
Fear of abandonment: Cats who have been abandoned before may worry their owner is replacing them with the new cat. Extra reassurance and individual affection can help these anxious felines feel secure (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/ut2q3e/is_it_true_that_cats_get_jealous_because_theres/).
Need for reassurance: A new cat means competition for territory, resources, and human attention. The existing cat’s jealousy surfaces from anxiety over losing their favored status. Comforting the insecure cat helps them understand the new cat isn’t a threat (Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/z4g0vg/do_cats_get_jealous/).
How to Introduce a New Cat
The key to introducing a new cat into a home with an existing cat is to do it gradually. Rushing the introduction can lead to stress and conflict. Here are some tips for gradual exposure:
Keep the cats separated at first, with the new cat in a separate room with their own food, water, litter box, toys, and hiding places. Allow the existing cat to roam the rest of the house as normal.
After a few days, start letting the cats experience each other’s scents. Rub a towel on one cat and put it in the other’s space so they get used to the new smell. Do this scent swapping daily.
After a week or two when the cats seem comfortable eating on either side of the door, you can start short supervised meetings. Open the door just a crack at first so the cats can see each other. Over multiple sessions, open the door wider as they become acclimated.
When face-to-face, give both cats treats and happy attention. This helps them form positive associations with each other. Avoid scolding or yelling at this stage. Stay calm and patient throughout the process.
Once the cats are friendly in small spaces, allow them to roam freely together while keeping a close eye on their interactions. Make sure each cat still has their own food, water, litter box, scratching posts, toys, and sleeping areas.
For more tips, check out this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/110pr3d/any_tips_for_introducing_a_new_cat_into_a_home/
Managing Territory Issues
When introducing a new cat, it’s important to manage territory issues that may arise. The existing cat likely views your home as their domain, and the introduction of another feline can be seen as an invasion. To ease tensions, provide multiple resources like litter boxes, beds, cat trees, and scratching posts so each cat has their own space. Vertical space is especially helpful – add tall cat trees, wall-mounted shelves, and window perches so the cats can climb and perch up high.
Set up separate feeding stations in different areas so the cats don’t have to compete over food. Provide multiple water bowls throughout the home as well. Place scratching posts and beds in quiet corners or separate rooms to give each cat their own retreat.
Be sure to give the resident cat lots of love and attention during the transition. Spend one-on-one time petting or playing with them daily so they don’t feel neglected. With patience and plenty of territory for both cats, the new feline addition will likely be accepted over time.
See this article for more tips on managing territory when introducing cats: How to Manage Territory
Redirect Aggressive Behaviors
Redirecting aggressive behaviors between cats can be challenging, but there are effective techniques to try. The goal is to interrupt the aggressive response and redirect the cats’ attention to a positive activity. Punishment should be avoided, as this can exacerbate anxiety and fear. Instead, focus on distraction and rewarding calm interactions.
Try interrupting aggressive incidents with a loud noise like clapping, then immediately provide a high-value treat when the cats disengage. Give each cat a treat to distract them and prevent the aggression from continuing. Provide plenty of enticing toys for playtime, food puzzles, catnip, or other forms of environmental enrichment to redirect energy and prevent conflicts.
Reward calm, friendly behavior between the cats with treats, praise, or play. For example, if you notice them resting near each other without signs of tension or fear, offer a treat. This reinforces the notion that coexisting peacefully is positive. Be patient and persistent, as it can take time for aggression triggers to subside.
Consulting a cat behaviorist can also help identify the root causes of aggression and provide customized training techniques for your pets (source). With consistency, you can help your cats get along again.
Ensure Both Cats Feel Loved
When introducing a new cat, it’s crucial that you continue showing equal love and affection to your existing cat. Jealous or territorial behavior often stems from a cat feeling neglected or like they need to compete for your attention. Make an effort to spend one-on-one time with each cat every day.
Create separate play sessions for each cat so they both get exercise, stimulation, and bonding time with you. Try to pet, cuddle, groom, and talk to each cat equally. Feed them, treat them, and give catnip on separate schedules.
Make sure each cat has their own food bowl, water bowl, litter box, scratching post, bed, and toys. Place multiple resources in different areas to help minimize tension over territory. Give each cat equal affection and don’t play favorites—in your existing cat’s eyes, they were your companion first.
With dedicated effort to make each cat feel loved, both your new and existing cat will feel more secure. Be patient, as it can take weeks or months for cats to fully adjust to each other. But showing equal love and resources to both cats will help ease the transition.
Use Pheromones and Medications if Needed
If behavioral techniques alone aren’t helping ease tensions between cats, synthetic pheromones and medications can provide additional support. Feliway diffusers release a synthetic pheromone that mimics cats’ natural facial pheromones and helps create a state of comfort and security. Placing diffusers around the home, especially near resources like food bowls, beds, and litter boxes, can help both cats feel less threatened. Ingestible options like calming treats or sprays can also promote relaxation during stressful situations.
As a last resort, prescription medications might be recommended by your veterinarian for extreme cases of aggression or anxiety. Medications like antidepressants or sedatives can be used on a short-term basis along with behavioral modification to help dramatically anxious or aggressive cats over the initial hurdles of acclimating to a new cat in the home. Work closely with your vet to find the lowest effective dose and safest medication if trying this route.
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/18bxsl9/our_cat_is_attacking_us_when_we_try_to_care_for/
My cat’s been attacking me recently, completely unprovoked, and I don’t know what to do.
byu/DepressionEraMomJean incats
Be Patient During the Transition
It’s important to be patient and allow enough time for cats to adjust to each other when introducing a new cat into the home. Cats are territorial by nature and it takes time for them to become comfortable with sharing their space. Expect the adjustment period to take anywhere from 2 weeks to several months.
During the initial transition, you may see aggressive behaviors like hissing, swatting, or chasing from one or both cats. This is normal as they establish boundaries and work out the new social hierarchy. Don’t punish this behavior, as it’s part of the acclimation process. With time and positive reinforcement, these behaviors will diminish.
Make sure both cats have their own food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, scratching posts, beds, and toys during this adjustment period. This helps establish their own territories within the shared space. Give them vertical territory as well, like cat trees, shelves, and window perches.
While it’s tempting to want to force interactions, let them happen naturally and at their own pace. Some cats take quickly to a new friend, while others need much longer. Let them interact on their terms and don’t leave them alone unsupervised until you’re confident they get along.
Be attentive to both cats’ needs for love and playtime during this transition. You don’t want either cat to feel neglected. The more positive experiences they have together, the faster they will form a bond.
According to cat owners on Reddit, the adjustment period can range from 2 weeks up to 8 months for bonded cats that get along well. But every cat relationship is unique. [1] [2] Have realistic expectations, show patience and love, and let your cats acclimate on their own schedule.
When to Seek Professional Help
If aggressive or anxious behaviors persist for weeks or months without improvement, it may be time to seek professional help from an animal behaviorist or certified cat trainer. Prolonged aggression that is not getting better over time, or cats that start harming themselves due to stress, are clear indicators that the situation is not improving on its own.
A professional can observe the cat’s behaviors and environment first-hand to pinpoint the triggers and provide customized training techniques. They may recommend adjustments to the litter boxes, food bowls, cat trees, or other items in the home to minimize conflict. Prescription medications or pheromone treatments may also be prescribed in extreme cases of anxiety or aggression. Don’t wait too long before getting professional assistance if the tensions between cats remain high.
Some signs that it’s time to seek outside help include frequent aggressive encounters that often lead to injuries or neither cat able to comfortably access resources like food and litter. A professional can intervene before the situation escalates further. They can also identify if medical issues are contributing to the problems. Getting help quickly leads to the best outcome for peaceful relations between the cats over the long-term.[1]
Success Stories
Though introducing a new cat into the home can initially cause tension and jealousy, there are many uplifting success stories of cats overcoming these issues and eventually becoming friends. As shared on Reddit, one user saw their cat become jealous when her brother was getting attention, but after some time she decided she wanted the affection too. The two cats bonded and were able to work through the jealousy after about a year (https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/17u4akq/adoption_success_story/). Another Reddit user asked for positive stories about adult cats who initially hated each other but became friends. Many responded with heartwarming tales of territorial cats that learned to get along through slow introductions, separate spaces, and patience (https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/17kjfay/would_like_to_hear_success_stories_of_adult_cats/).
These stories demonstrate that with proper techniques to reduce anxiety and aggression, consistent effort and affection for both cats, and allowing time for them to adjust, jealous felines can eventually accept a new companion. While the process takes dedication from cat owners, there are many uplifting examples of patience and care leading to a harmonious multi-cat household.
