Is this amount of jealousy "normal", or should I be thinking of a child therapist?

[Evelight]

DS, 9, has always been a jealous child. Ever since I can remember, he would constantly ask "who do you love more, me or [sister/my younger brothers/sister]". Although I cannot honestly remember being anything less than fully loving towards him, or ever exhibiting any form of differential treatment, and I constantly tell him I love him more than my siblings, and the same as his sister, he keeps asking. He's also the "baby" of the (extended) family.

Anyway, recently my brother bought a cute Persian cat. DS seems to have gone absolutely insane. He hasn't seen the cat (except pictures on social media)- we live in different cities and we're not due for a visit until summer, when we all get together (with the cat) at my parents' place- but he makes really disturbing remarks - apart from the usual "do you love me or the cat more", he has mentioned wanting to stab the cat, and that he will kill it in summer. This really disturbs me- we are a very pc household, no form of violence allowed, no toy guns allowed- I don't know where he got this from? I've told him he's not allowed to say anything like that, but he's still feeling those feelings, right? is my child some sort of psychopath?

No expert, but surely he can say things like that as long as he doesn't do things like that.

Is that the only worry you and his school have with his behaviour?
If not I might want to see a behavioural paediatrician.

If it's the only worrying behaviour then I would suggest that you explain clearly that such talk is unacceptable, and that harming a defenceless creature is wrong. Maybe try to get him to empathise with the creature.

Keeping asking who is the favourite is not odd behaviour, one of mine does this and tries to trick me into saying they are eg getting me to say "you are my favourite Ezmeralda" but stopping me saying the last word. But that is more of a game.

Mine have asked that sort of thing. I usually reply with something that makes them giggle "you're my favourite chocolate fetcher (hint hint)" or "my favourite person with size 13 feet".
It's not a constant thing for mine, much more of a game, so to me it sounds like he's a bit insecure.

I think I would be worried too OP. Has anyone else (teachers, family) mentioned concerns? I think wanting to kill animals is worrying, whatever the underlying reason.

I think being jealous of siblings is normal to a certain extent. Being jealous of a cat seems rather worrying though. How is how behaviour otherwise? Do school have any concerns?

I've just been reading about "bad thought" OCD because I'm worried about my nephew. I wonder if it could be something like that with your DS. I could be completely wrong but it sounds like your DS' thoughts and questions are a bit obsessive. There's a link here which I found interesting: www.worrywisekids.org/node/120

Hi thanks for the responses. No, school has no worries- he's never got into any trouble there, and he generally scores well on the behaviour part of the report card (plays well with others; respectful of others and own feelings etc). I would not be so concerned with the "do you love me more" etc but the cat seems to take it to another level.
In general I have noticed that he seems to lack empathy (or even much interest, tbh) in anything not immediately concerning him. Eg, unlike my DD, I have never heard him express any interest in for example homeless people or panhandlers, whom we pass on the way back from school every day.