7 Signs That Your Pet Is Jealous
First, you should understand how a jealous (or territorial) pet might act. Here are some of the signs that your cat or dog may be jealous:
Sometimes, this behavior might be directed at the object that is triggering the jealousy. For example, a cat may hiss at a new baby that has been brought into the family. A dog may bark at a new kitten that’s hanging around the house.
Other times, your pet may hiss or bark at you, particularly when you are giving your attention to the triggering object. Your dog that never barks may suddenly start barking at you every time you pick up the baby.
Your pet may try to claim your attention by being around you more than usual. Cats that aren’t normally lap cats may start crawling onto you; dogs may never want to be in a room unless youre there, too.
In contrast, your pet may act sulky and stop spending time near you. Cats are more prone to this than dogs are, but either type of pet may exhibit this behavior.
Your dog or cat may start licking itself far more than usual as a means of making up for the lack of attention it feels.
Animals may change their eating habits in response to the household change that is causing their jealousy. Animals that have ready access to food may overeat (this is more common in dogs). Alternatively, animals may not eat as much as normal (this is more common in cats).
If your pet suddenly starts tearing things up, chewing on things, or acting unusually wild in the house, you should ask yourself if he or she has a reason to be jealous.
Peeing or Pooping in the House
If your pet is house-trained but stops acting like it, then you may want to consider whether or not your pet is jealous.
How Can You Tell Whether a Behavior Indicates Jealousy?
Basically, if your pet’s behavior changes in any way, and it seems to be in direct correlation with a change in the household (e.g., the introduction of a new pet or human newborn), then he or she may be feeling territorial and jealous.
If your dog is always underfoot, it may be a sign of jealousy.
When your dog is calm around the kitten in the container, provide treats and praise. Distract your dog with play with a toy. Repeat over several sessions if necessary until calm is achieved.
Eventually, allow the dog and kitten in the same room, supervised. Reward your dog for being calm and not approaching the kitten. Allow the kitten to approach your dog while you reassure and pet your dog.
Reward your dog for being calm in the presence of the kitten on the other side of the gate.
You want to add a feline furry, friend to your family, but your family already contains a dog, who happens to have very little experience with cats. Is there any hope of integrating a new kitten into your home, in a way that is peaceful and safe for all parties involved?
Put a baby gate or barrier in the doorway and open the door part way so that the dog and kitten can see each other and meet through the barrier. Remember that while your dog may not be able to get over the barrier, most kittens can. You will want to supervise closely when just the barrier is present.