Do cats get jealous?

I'm just curious, b/c I was outside with the kitties (there is 6 now, not 5 like I previously thought!), trying to get the ugly awful woodtick off Zeb, and eventually the kitties came out to play. Pepe stayed for a bit, but she was doing her little growl kind of thing, and then Shorty was. Shorty was also in her "little miss attitude" role, and as soon as she saw any of the babies, or heard them (they are very quiet), she started hissing at them and growling. Pepe left and Shorty eventually left too, but I'm just curious as to whether or not this is jealousy?? Any one's cats do this around the new babies?

P.S. Shorty is a fixed female, Pepe is Shorty's Aunt, Zeb is Shorty's mother and sister to Pepe. Both Pepe and Zeb aren't fixed yet....They are going to be soon!!! In case this helps.

It could be because these kittens are getting ferral. You said they were outside? Are they ouside a lot? Do you ever bring them inside?

A few questions, and just to let you know, some kittens can get Jelouse, if they have chosen a particular person or thing as their own. They could also be play growling, trying to entice another of the kittens into acttacking them. It's a common play tactic from my indoor kitties.

Just keep an eye on them, and try and see what is a trigger for them growing. It may just be play... you never know.

~ Salem

I don't know really. The babies are still quite young, they still have blue eyes, if that's an indicator of age, I don't know. I think it may be b/c Zeb is Shorty's mother, and she grew up as an only cat with Zeb all to herself, and now that there are 6 babies (at least) she might be thinking that they are going to take Zeb away on her. I don't think it's play growling, b/c she sits a good 10 feet back from them and just sits and growls and hisses at them. It's not like she's playing with them. And I had cat food for them when I was trying to bribe Zeb, so I put it out for Shorty, a little ways away, and then she started hissing at me! She is such a little miss attitude it's unreal! I have never had a cat that does that! You look at her, and she'll hiss at you! I was playing with her while she was eating (well not really but kind of), and she started batting my hand.....Maybe it is her way of playing....she just sounds so mean! I always tell her to go back home, or go away b/c I don't want her to hurt the babies....Maybe, now that I think of it, it could be her way of playing. I've just never seen her do that before the babies came. She used to always just play, but then we always had her inside, she was an only kitty, and now that it's nice outside, she likes to be out there more. Hmmm...... :thinking:

It could be because these kittens are getting ferral. You said they were outside? Are they ouside a lot? Do you ever bring them inside?


Yes they are outside all the time. I haven't brought them in, I just found them on wednesday (today is friday--just for later reading), and they are kind of scared of me, but they are getting better. I hope they'll be able to come inside for awhile....I'll have to do it when no one is home! lol Is there a certain time when I should bring them in? Thanks!

Did you get the tick off? Is the cat anemic at all or dehydrated? Or can you even get that close to check?

Hissy, No Zeb seems to be doing fine. She eats and drinks fine still, as far as I know. I'm going to be taking her to the vet next week, well technically the week after, b/c my days off don't coordinate with the "long weekend" up here....the long weekend is going to turn into one "long week" lol, so I'm going to do the week after, and by that time, the babies should be ok by themselves for awhile, right? I think Pepe and Zeb kind of share responsibilities, do cats do that? Anyways, so far that's my plan. Hopefully it will work!