Do cats
grieve the loss of a pet or human companion?
People often don't
realise that just like humans, cats can suffer from the loss of
a pet or human companion. Cats are sensitive creatures who
commonly form close bonds with other pets or humans.
We will never know
if cats understand the full meaning of death, it is unlikely.
But some cats do form particularly close bonds with others &
when they are suddenly no longer around (be that they've gone to
college, divorced, died), there is a possibility your cat will
miss the person or pet.
We shared our
lives with two Burmese cats who from the second day of meeting
had formed an extremely close relationship with one another.
They played together, slept together & wherever you found
one, the other one would be there also. They really were an
inseparable pair. Sadly, one of our Burmese cats recently passed
away & his "sister" has struggled to come to terms with the loss
of her lifetime companion. Walking around the house
looking for & crying out for her companion.
How do I know
if my cat is grieving?
Some signs your
cat may be suffering grief include:
The first stage of
grief is known as activation, where the cat is looking for it's
missing companion:
-
Pacing the house looking for their missing companion.
-
Crying out, as if trying to find find their companion.
Following activation is depression:
-
Loss of appetite -
This is a serious & potentially life threatening. Anorexia
in cats can lead to Hepatic Lipidosis. It is important to
seek veterinary attention if your cat stops eating.
-
Lethargy.
-
Depressed
behaviour.
-
Withdrawal/loss of
interest in surroundings & other interests.
-
Clingy/needy
behaviour & or separation anxiety.
How can I help
my cat?
It is important to reassure the grieving cat, but this should be
done at the cat's pace & in it's own time. Also making
allowances for the individual cat's nature & current condition.
-
Plenty of extra tender loving care, this includes lots of
cuddles, grooming, stroking and making time to play with
your cat.
-
This may sound contradictory to the above suggestion, but
also provide your cat with a quiet & private spot where it
can have some time alone if it desires.
-
Offer it some special food to encourage it to eat. Try
warming the food up slightly.
-
Keep your pet's routine as normal as possible.
-
Bach's rescue remedy. Speak to your veterinarian about
dosage.
Multiple pets:
If you have numerous pets in the house & one dies, then the
hierarchy will possibly change.
Should I get
another pet?
If your cat is suffering from the loss of an animal companion it
is probably best to wait for a few months until you & your cat
have had some time to heal. Getting a new pet won't stop your
cat grieving the lost companion.
It has been suggested that if you know that an animal is going
to die, to possibly introduce a new animal before this happens,
so the remaining cat has another familiar companion when the
animal dies.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice.
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