Lora Lee 
That is a great question. Do cats get jealous? The answer really depends on who you ask. Some say absolutely not. That jealousy is a human attribute that we place on cats. Others say yes, cat can absolutely get jealous. I am a mix of both of those answers. I believe that cats do get jealous, but not for the same reasons that humans do. Cats will show signs of what we know as jealousy as a response to their survival and their resources. Not because they envy another cat.
Resources for All
Cats walk the line of being both predators and prey. Their access to resources in their environment plays a big part in which side of that line they fall day to day. Resources can include food, water and shelter. For our indoor cats, it can also include toys, treats, litter boxes, sleeping areas, and even, us. When a cat perceives their resources to be in danger, you may see signs of “jealousy”. They may start to demonstrate a behavior known as “resource guarding“, where they start to protect their resources.
Cats are territorial creatures and want to protect their resources. This protection can come in the form of marking their territory through rubbing their scent glands on the object in particular, or even spraying it. Sometimes this protection comes in the form of fighting. Your cat may see their favorite resource being threatened and instinctively act to protect it. We have all seen it with our cats. One is in the favorite cat tree, the other one tries to join, and a fight breaks out. A new toy can be the catalyst of “jealousy”. Especially if it is stuffed with primo catnip. Food and treats are another resource that may be a cause for “jealousy”. In my house, I am the resource that is sought out and fought over. Sometimes, my babies don’t want to share me, and little disagreements break out.
Curbing the Green-Eyed Monster
Whichever school of thought you are in about jealousy in cats, at some point you will experience signs of the green-eyed monster showing up. It is inevitable if you live in a multi-cat household. Someone is going to feel as if their prized resource is being threatened and will act to protect it. There are ways to curb the monster before it even appears. Ensuring your cats have enough resources is crucial. Feed them out of separate bowls, maybe even away from each other. Place separate water bowls around. Following the “1 litter box per cat plus 1” rule. Buying multiple toys, so each will have their own. Those are a few ways that you can help your cats to not feel the need to protect their resources against the other cats.
I have all of those areas perfected. Food bowls are separated. Multiple water bowls around. Litter boxes in three different areas. More toys than most cats could even dream about. Plenty of sleeping spots in the primo areas. The only resource that we still have issues with is me. We still struggle with Bodie, Zazzles & Hemingway learning to be around each other while being around me. We are getting better. They all get individual play and love sessions. Sometimes, we are actually able to enjoy Mom’s love and company all at the same time without any jealousy. And those have been the best days.
‘A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.’ – Ernest Hemingway
