Many cat parents can’t help but be indulgent with their furry babies. Which is totally fine and understandable, and if you’re like that, know that no one is judging you. But what if you’re a bit too lenient with your cat, to the point where she takes charge in your home?
And what if you have other cats in your household? Is the one overly bossy towards the others? How can you know if your feline is dominant or not?
Here are eight common behaviors a dominant cat might exhibit, so you can know for sure.
1. She only eats fancy gourmet food
I used to believe that cats aren’t that picky when it comes to food and that they’ll eat any type of cat food you give them. This was partially because all my life I had exceptionally lenient feline buddies who weren’t at all high maintenance when it came to feeding.
My fluffballs would eat pretty much any brand of cat food I gave them – they’d appreciate both kibbles and wet food equally. So naturally, I thought all cats are just like that: not picky whatsoever and genuinely grateful to be given food.
At least, until I had a conversation with my coworker one day. We were both devoted cat parents, so naturally, we had to talk about our furry babies.
We had a nice little chat on our break, after which he offered to give me some of the cat food his kitty refused to eat. “Please take it, before it goes bad!” he told me, adding how his spoiled little purrincess has only one cat food brand she likes (the expensive one, of course).
At that point, I realized she has him wrapped around her paw and that she’s successfully asserted dominance in his home. She runs his house (and wallet) and there’s hardly anything he can do about it.
2. She needs to be the center of attention
You know how some parents let their toddlers rule their home and take center stage, always? Especially when they’re having guests over – their kid will climb on top of the coffee table and demand everyone’s eyes to be glued on him?
Well, some felines are just like that, too.
We all know that cats are avid attention seekers and will do anything to keep the spotlight on them. But some fluffers take this to a whole another level.
Cats who demand any type of attention on their own terms are usually the ones who consider themselves to be the dominant ones in the pack.
A dominant kitty will demand food whenever she feels like it, or playtime with her owner at 3 am, ignoring the fact that he’s asleep. Since her owner is a part of her pack, she believes she has the full right to dominate him, too.
3. Oftentimes she gets aggressive
Some felines tend to have a bad reputation and be more aggressive than others. Which is totally fine considering the fact that each kitty is different and unique in her own way.
However, dominant cats tend to show their aggressive side more often because they want to establish the upper hand and assert their supremacy in the feline world.
This is especially evident in the way they approach other cats. When two cats meet, they will naturally “challenge” one another, after which one will take the submissive and the other the dominant role.
These face-offs, apart from including the puffed tail, hissing, or growling, regularly lead to physical encounters that can involve paw-hitting, scratching, and biting.
4. She may sit on top of another cat
The sight of one feline mounting another is laughable and calls for snapping a picture and posting it to your Instagram, but it’s not that innocent and funny.
When one cat decides to sit on top of another, he or she is trying to let everybody know she’s the dominant one.
Oftentimes, that cat will also aggressively lick or groom the other cat, which can be mistaken for affection. But in reality, she’s actually marking her territory and claiming the submissive kitty as her subordinate.
5. Her owner answers her meows immediately
Some kitties meow only when they need help of some sort, while others are meowy divas by nature. Dominant felines will meow just because they can! And because their servant (a.k.a. owner) will come as soon as he hears them calling.
These mousers know that only one adorable meow will get them their all toys, snacks, cuddles, and basically, all the attention they want at that moment.
6. She takes up the majority of the space in her owner’s bed
I know a dominant kitty when I see her lounging across her owner’s bed, not leaving much space for him to join. No matter how many cat trees or cat beds she has, she always chooses to lie across the sleeping zone her human tends to use.
And not only that, but her owner also fears moving or getting out of bed, thinking he will end up waking her up and driving her away.
7. She does everything considered forbidden (and she gets away with it)
Whether it be sitting on top of kitchen counters, sleeping in her human’s bed, playing with (a.k.a. destroying) plants around the house, or snooping in the closet, a dominant feline does all the things that her owner swore he would never let her do.
And, the best part is, she always gets away with it! No accountability whatsoever. Talk about living the life!
8. She may assert her territory by spraying
And lastly, one way a dominant cat will assert her dominance is by spraying with urine. Since cats are territorial creatures, scent marking is a great way for them to claim the territory they’re in as their own, and show that they’re the boss of the house.
When it comes to spraying, it is more common in tomcats than it is in queens. A dominant cat will usually spray vertical surfaces, like the sides of certain furniture or walls, and will very rarely do it on the floor.
