Cats are pretty smart, and although they don't think like humans, they can get jealous sometimes.
Although they experience their emotions differently than humans, you can clearly see signs that they are not lying.
That's why your house cat feels this way.
Territorial nature
Cats are territorial animals, and they can become possessive of their resources, including attention and affection from their human caregivers.
When they perceive that another person, pet, or object is receiving attention that they desire, they may display behaviors that seem jealous.
Limited resources
Cats may become jealous when they feel that their access to resources, such as food, water, toys, or cozy spots, is threatened.
They might exhibit territorial behaviors or try to monopolize attention to ensure they maintain their access to these resources.
Social hierarchy
If a new cat or pet is introduced into the home, an existing cat may feel threatened by the potential change in their social position.
This can lead to behaviors that may be perceived as jealousy, as they attempt to assert dominance or protect their territory.
Attention-seeking behavior
Cats can be naturally attention-seeking animals, and they may exhibit behaviors that appear jealous as a means to gain more attention from their owners.
Human interaction
Cats can form strong bonds with their human caregivers and may display possessive behaviors when they perceive that attention is being directed towards someone else.
