
How to Stop Cats From Using a Sandbox as a Litter Box
If cats are using your child's outdoor sandbox as a litter box, then you have a few optio...
Do cats get jealous? Not exactly. Like people, cats have different personality traits. One of those happens to be jealousy—or, at least, what looks like jealousy. In fact, hissing, swatting, scratching, or spraying can all be ways that cats will attempt to control their environment. These behaviors are often symptoms of anxiety, not jealousy, but can mimic jealousy all the same.
Here's some more information about kitty jealousy and how to handle it.
Just like some people, cats can become anxious when they feel they're being excluded or their environment has changed drastically or suddenly. The anxiety may be triggered by any number of events:
Like it or not, your cat considers you as a resource. You are their source of comfort, food and all sorts of things. If they think that there is something impeding their access to this resource, they will act. When cats are anxious and feel like their territory or access to a resource is being threatened, they can act out in some aggressive ways, including:
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
It can be difficult to manage an anxious cat, but there are things you can do to eliminate or lessen the unwanted behaviors.
The first thing you need to do is determine what exactly is provoking these behaviors. Once you figure out the cause of the anxiety, you can address the problem. Ask yourself what has changed in your home:
The easiest way to decrease anxious behavior in your cat is to simply spend more time with them. The extra attention can usually curb bad behavior, as cats sometime get possessive of their owners. There are many ways you can give your kitty extra attention.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Many cats really like their own personal space. If you have introduced a new family member—whether a person or animal—you may have inadvertently taken away from your cat's established area.
To correct this, give your cat a place to call its own again. This may mean moving the new pet's feeding station to another room or giving your cat a new perch where it can observe the family undisturbed. Make sure your cat's favorite toys are not available to the newcomer as well.
When it's a new person in the home, try to keep their personal belongings out of places your cat previously claimed. It can also be helpful to have that person interact with the cat in or near that location.
If you cannot completely avoid the person, pet, or item that is the subject of your cat's anxiety, work on helping your cat adjust to the change. You can reward your cat with treats, praise, attention, and petting when it is near the object or person, for example.
For example, toss your cat treats while holding your baby. Consider white noise machines and other sound barriers if construction or work is being done in or around the home. Allow a visitor or significant other to feed and toss treats to your cat.
If you notice your cat is not improving, please contact your veterinarian to discuss anti-anxiety supplements, pheromones or medications that can help them adjust faster and help avoid escalating signs of anxiety. The sooner the issue is addressed the more quickly your cat can return to a feeling of comfort in their own space.
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