My cat is very possessive of me, what should I do?

As with humans, cats can feel jealous and be very possessive of their tutors.While some people see jealousy as a demonstration of love, the truth is that a possessive cat can be a risk to themselves, their tutors and others people around them.Many times we see that a possessive feline becomes aggressive or hides when visitors arrive, or when a new family member is not properly introduced before entering their territory, which makes it impossible for a healthy coexistence in the home.

Do you feel that your cat is jealous and doesn't want to share your attention with others? So, we invite you to continue reading this Animals and Pets Online article to know what to do if your cat is very possessive of you .

Why are cats possessive of their owners?

To answer this question we can think of human behavior itself.When a person feels jealous of someone, it is usually a sign that he is afraid of losing his attention or be replaced by another person, for a job or for a pet.This means that the arrival of a new individual is not seen as an opportunity to share new and better moments, but as a possible threat to the stable relationship that existed before this arrival.This fear of losing causes a person to become possessive in relation to the other, rejecting the possibility of sharing it with other individuals.

Like humans, cats can be possessive of their tutors, and not wanting to share their affection and their moments of fun with other individuals.However, the feeling of jealousy as such is typical of humans, in the animal world this behavior is defined as resource protection because it protects n what they consider to be their property.Why? First, because felines cling to a routine as a way to preserve their well-being and avoid dangerous or unpleasant situations.A cat's routine includes not only its habits, environment and schedules, but also the people and animals that make up their surroundings .If a cat is used to living alone with his guardian, he can be very "jealous" with the arrival of a new pussy or a new person to the family, and we say jealous in quotes because the animal does not feel jealousy as we humans understand them.As we said, the possibility that a new individual alters the stability of their territory generates a natural rejection in cats.Not for evil or character deficiency, but for an instinct of survival inherent to all species.Thus, it is not that the animal feels jealous as such of other people or animals, understands that its guardian is its resource, wants its attention and affection only for it, and to maintain it it has theneed to defend it.

The protection of resources occurs, above all, with cats that have not been properly socialized and, therefore, have not had the opportunity to learn to relate positively with other individuals, with their toys and accessories, and also with their own territory.When they are abruptly exposed to living with an unknown being, without a previous presentation, they will feel that their space is being invaded and will immediately reject the presence of this new family member.

On the other hand, a cat may feel displaced if his guardian stops paying attention to devote himself mostly to another cat or another person.Unfortunately, this behavior is very common in couples who decide to have a child.As a child requires a lot of care and asks for constant attention from their parents, it is common for tutors to reduce the time they spend with their children.Then, the cat relates the legacy of this unknown individual with a break in the stable relationship he had with his humans, which generates a significant rejection.For this reason, we recommend consulting the article on "Living with the cat and the baby" to know how to carry out a Correct presentation.

How to recognize a possessive cat?

Cats mostly use their body language to express their feelings and perceptions.Therefore, by having protection of resources or feeling possessive of their guardians, they will demonstrate these moods through their postures and their behavior.To know if your cat is possessive of you, you can pay attention to the following signs:

• Alterations in elanimo: the cat may be depressed when he feels abandoned by his tutors, or develop some hyperactivity to capture the attention of his humans and invite them to play.
• Behavioral problems : a possessive cat with its owner can show up aggressive with other people or animals, and expressly express his rejection.If you receive visitors and your cat is possessive of you, it can also hide and refuse to leave until strangers leave, for example.On the other hand, if you sharply introduce a new member into the home, your pussy may become more irritated or anxious , spend a lot of time hiding or isolate of the living together, losing interest in their toys, following their tutors throughout the home, meowing excessively, being aggressive with new animals, etc.To prevent this from happening, do not miss the article on "How to present your cat with another cat" Likewise, if it already happens, the advice of the post will also help you reverse the situation and restore stability to your possessive feline.

What to do if my cat is very possessive of me?

When we talk about a possessive cat, we must follow the same basic rule that we use for diseases: prevention is better than cure.If you want to prevent your cat from being possessive of you and its territory, it is essential that socialize early.During their childhood, puppy cats form their notions of coexistence and their character is more flexible, which facilitates their education.Therefore, the ideal is to socialize your pussy in its first months of life, after completing its first cycle of vaccination and deworming.However, if you adopted an adult pussycat, you can also count on our advice on how to socialize an adult cat.

If you decide to adopt a new pussy, it is essential that you prepare your cat for its arrival and present them correctly before imposing a daily living, as we said in the previous section.It is also essential that you prepare your home to receive its new member.n Your new cat should have its own toys, drinking fountain, trough and sandbox, with its own space where it feels safe to develop and adapt to your new home.Remember not to make a difference in the tract that you provide to your cats: dedicate the same time to play with both of them and reward both for their good behaviors.

On the other hand, if you intend to start living with another person, or if you decide to have a child, you must present correctly to your feline the new members.Besides, it is crucial that do not stop playing and give affection to your cat for the arrival of a new family member.We know that a child is an unconditional love that deserves all our dedication and needs a lot of care to guarantee their health, well-being and education.However, our children must also feel part of the new family, and they do not deserve to be removed from the happiness and love that comes from the arrival of a baby at home or formation of a new So, always remember to dedicate your time to creating and enjoying quality moments with your animals.

If you notice that your cat is becoming aggressive and continues to be excessively possessive of you, you should go to a veterinarian specializing in feline ethology .On the one hand, it will be important to rule out any pathological cause that may be causing alterations in the behavior of your pussy; on the other, it will be essential to have the guidance of an ethologist to establish specific guidelines in the treatment of your cat's problems.

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