Do Cats Have Jealousy? A Look into Their Emotions

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① Fundamental Emotions

Firstly, let's clarify a fundamental point: it's not just humans who possess basic emotions; animals do too. These include joy, sadness, fear, unease, anger, and terror, among others.

② Advanced Emotions (Second Tier)

As per Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, beyond our basic physiological and safety needs, humans strive for social connections, respect, and selfactualization. This leads to complex emotions like selfesteem, guilt, shame, and jealousy. Cats, however, do not experience these. To have such advanced emotions, one must possess selfawareness.

③ Explaining Confusing Behaviors Without Jealousy

Let's address the question of how to explain the confusing behaviors in cases where jealousy isn't present. The answer lies in a disruption of the cat's routine. When the orderly flow of their life is interrupted by a third party, their sudden emotional shift can lead to perplexing actions.

For instance:

The cat used to enjoy a halfhour of petting from their owner daily, but today, it's only ten minutes.

The cat's domain, once the entire house, is now restricted.

The owner's midday nap, which was always at 1 PM, is now delayed and shared.

These subtle changes in daily life can make a cat express its discomfort, dissatisfaction, or unhappiness through its behavior. From a human perspective, these actions might seem like jealousy, but they are simply the cat's way of communicating its unease.

④ Additional Insights on Selfawareness

Some cat lovers may have heard of the "mirror test," a test designed by psychologist Gordon Gallup Jr. in 1970. However, this test was primarily designed for primates, and cats are merely along for the ride. What's more, cats' strongest sense is their sense of smell, not visual stimuli. Therefore, the mirror test is not a rigorous measure for cats.

PS: While some cats may indeed recognize their reflection, this ability is not widespread. The extent to which they can recognize themselves is still a topic for further exploration by experts. Until then, it's best to maintain the belief that cats do not possess selfawareness.