How to Tell You've Got a Jealous Pet
Sometimes we are witnessing our pets behave in a way that indicates they are jealous.
When we want to pet another dog or cat, our pup may shove his way in front of us or knocking our hand away from his canine companion.
Our cat may excessively meow when we’re not paying attention to him, or a dog may annoyingly whine when another pet in the house gets a treat and he doesn’t.
But are these really jealous behaviors?
Experts state that pets don't experience jealousy in the true sense of the word.
When a pet is determined to get our attention, we have no idea if a pet's emotional state is equivalent to what people label as jealousy.
Most often, this is better described as a competitive situation where the pet is competing with another individual or otherwise for something it wants.
Jealous Behavior in Pets
Regardless of what we call it, this behavior is often unwanted or unhealthy.
Here are some jealous behaviors that pet parents should be on the lookout for:
Aggression.
This can often be in the form of biting or nibbling of the animal or person getting attention over the.
Paying Extra Attention to The Owner.
This can come across as a pet cuddling up extra close to us and suddenly licking our hand or face.
This is a sign of caring and they are trying to get our attention.
Trying to Scare off Strangers.
Pets may aggressively bark or hiss when owners are greeted, or visitors arrive.
Doing a Trick.
This is a surefire sign that our pet is trying to get our attention.
Crowding Our Space.
Cats sometimes will lie down on our worktable to get attention or even start knocking things off the table.
A dog may sit up and beg to try and get our attention or sit up on their hind legs.
Leaving the Room.
Sometimes when our pets get mad, they may tend to leave the room or even the house.
What Causes Jealous-Like Behaviors in Pets?
According to experts, jealous-like behaviors in pets commonly suggest boredom or a ploy for attention from their owners.
Sometimes, just like people, they feel insecure.
They need individual attention, cuddling, and a lot of activities to keep them busy and to keep them from being bored.
Our pets just want to spend time with us and they don’t want to share us with another pet or person.
Experts advise pet owners to pay close attention if one pet is receiving more attention than another, a new pet has arrived in the household, or there is inequality in the amount of food between pets.
How to Stop Jealous Behavior in Pets
Here are some helpful tips for nipping this type of behavior, before it gets out of control:
You should avoid giving much attention to one pet versus another.
Train your dogs to feel relaxed in their crate during their “time out” period. Give your cats a space to call their own as well.
Try to feed pets separately to avoid conflict during mealtimes.
Ignore your pets when arriving home so they don’t feel like one is getting more attention than the other.
You shouldn’t pet one animal at the expense of the other.
Have at least two of all toys and beds and remove food-based toys unless supervised.
Catch your pets being good. Give them attention and always praise them when they are acting the way you want them to.
Conclusion
As experts state managing unwanted behaviors and keeping our pets mentally healthy are the keys to avoid unpleasant situations.
As pet parents, we should attend to their physical and emotional needs, just like we do for our children since our pets want to feel loved, too.