Cats appear to grieve death of fellow pets - even dogs, study finds

[Jilly_in_VA]

Cats are often considered aloof, independent and fickle in their affections. But, research suggests, they also show signs of grieving after the death of another pet in the same household – even when it is the family dog.

Some cats struggled to sleep, went off their food or made yowling noises. Others were more needy around their caregivers or went off their favourite games, owners reported.

The team behind the work said the findings challenged the view that cats were antisocial and suggested that the psychological experience of loss might be universal.

“They [cats] engaged less in sleeping, eating and playing but more in seeking attention from humans and other pets, hiding, spending time alone and appearing to look for their lost companions,” the authors from Oakland University in the US wrote in their study, which was published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/07/cats-appear-to-grieve-death-of-fellow-pets-even-dogs-study-finds

A cat owner could tell you that! I saw a semi-feral cat of my acquaintance let out a loud yowl when her kitten was run over. She carried that dead kitten around for several days until she realized it wasn't coming back, then laid it tenderly under a tree and covered it with grass clippings. Saddest thing ever. They also grieve their humans, which I see all the time in the shelter., especially with older cats.

[PittBlue]

1. Our healthy 20 year old cat stopped eating the day our golden retriever died.

Our Callie cat died one week later. It was heartbreaking.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Yes, I agree. We lost our 2nd dog (out of 3) just recently and so now, we're concerned about the 3rd one,

who is now all by herself. So we've been watching her, giving her tons of treats, and giving her lots of attention. The two that died were approximately 17 years old, and so is she. We knew that this sad moment was coming, but when it does come, who is ever ready?

Oh well. Like you know, you just have to bear it, and keep her happy, as best as you can, you know, the works.

We don't really want to get another pet too, so that choice is out, but if we see one that is lost, a young pet roaming around, we would but not now. We want a little break after having animals for so long, and plus, it's not easy to lose your babies. You know that.

Have a nice day, and best wishes to you.

[NNadir]

3. When my son was away in China, our cat kept going in his room and crying.

She was very happy when he returned.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Yes. When we lost Gabby, suddenly in Oct. 2021, his BBF of 11 years, Andy, freaked out. Stopped eating, was hiding,

not using his litter box, and biting me. I spent a ton of money having the vet run tests. It lasted about 60 days and then he went back to normal.

[HeartsCanHope]

5. I know from personal experience cats grieve.

My husband had a cat, named Cat, when we married. My sister asked me to take in a stray she found at her apartment complex. I really was going to find Alexandra another home, but you know how that goes! When Cat passed away, Alexandra stopped eating. I took Alex to the vet and after a workup they told me she was grieving Cat. So then we got another cat, Obie. Alex started eating again, and they were best friends. We added another cat, a stray that showed up on Christmas Eve, Beethoven, (pure white, blue-eyed with hearing issues--hence the name.) When Obie died years later at 16, both cats grieved. They walked around meowing for Obie--heartbreaking. They cuddled together and followed each other around. When Alexandra died several years later, Beethoven died a week later. He was ill, but he just kind of gave up. A few months later we adopted kitten litter mates, Seb and Osie. Osie died years later at age 18 right before the COVID lock down, and Seb followed me everywhere for several months. If I was too far away he'd meow till I came back. I guess I was his support human. We didn't get another cat because Seb had epilepsy, and stress could set off a seizure. He always got upset when another cat came in the yard, even though he was an indoor only cat. We were afraid the adjustment period bringing a new cat in would be too much. Seb hung on for 2 more years and passed at 20 years old. I am glad scientists are finally recognizing that animals have feelings. They have an emotional life just like humans do. I read a remarkable book a few years ago by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy called When Elephants Weep about animal's emotional lives. I highly recommend it.

[Figarosmom]

6. Dogs grieve too. Nt

[niyad]

7. NSS.