Why Narcissists Pose a Danger to Your Dog or Cat
And that includes anything more vulnerable or less powerless
My friend’s ex-husband kept her dogs during the breakup, not because they were his or even because he loved them, but because it would hurt her. She still gets periodic updates from him on their predicament. He texts that he’s run out of money and dog food or that one or both are sick.
As the years have passed, she speaks less often about these dogs.
“I have to make myself pretend that they’re dead. It’s the only way to cope,” she says in a low voice as she blinks rapidly to stave off the tears.
Another survivor took her toy dog everywhere after catching sight of her soon-to-be ex kicking the small animal across the room.
Pet abuse is common in narcissistic relationships. The mistreatment can range from neglect, such as forgetting to feed or attend to the animal’s daily needs, to mistreatment and violence.
Narcissists and other antagonistic personality types often view pets as an extension of the owner. The animal becomes an easy target for the hostile person’s pent-up rage, resentment, or jealousy. All the things they cannot express to their partner or family member can be directed at that person’s pet.
Pet abuse can be hard to imagine, especially when your dysfunctional partner or loved one may have been the very person who bought you the animal as a gift. Why would someone surprise you with a new cat or dog, only later to harm it?
Here are two reasons for pet abuse
First, the narcissist’s emotional immaturity stifles their ability to value anyone or anything outside of their immediate feelings, drives, and needs. They see the world unreasonably. When things look up, they imagine it in an overidealized way. In their minds, life is fantastically perfect. But when things become difficult, their perspective sours and their rage grows. Since they are never the source of the problem; someone or something else is to blame.
And what better way to hurt you than to harm something you love—your pet?
The second cause is rooted in the narcissist’s struggle with jealousy. Narcissists’ belief in their superiority creates entitlement. They are worth the best, the most, and only the perfect because their specialness deserves it. When they see their partner’s dog or cat get good care, resentment builds, especially if, in their minds, they aren’t being treated as well.
This distorted thinking can lead them to conclude that the pet is getting the attention they deserve, so they get even by punishing the animal.
Sadly, none of this is logical.
Has this happened to you and your pet? Hit reply and share your story with me.
In this week’s Subscriber’s Edition, you will:
Learn the top seven ways narcissists will weaponize pets against their loved ones and partners
Be given a list of assessment questions to evaluate if pet abuse is happening to your animal
Discover three possible solutions to resolve this situation if it’s happening to you in the podcast video extra.
And a list of resources on how to protect your animal from toxic people
To listen to this week’s podcast, “I Think My Pet is Being Hurt! The Danger Narcissists Pose to Our Animals,” click here.
And be sure to join me live tomorrow at 4 pm CDT on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. I’ll be taking your questions about narcissists’ toxic treatment of the vulnerable.
Sneak Preview of the Podcast Extra
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse Podcast Extras to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.