Can cats grieve? They are also devastated by the loss of a loved one

Many believe that animals, like humans, are capable of mourning. Moreover, they experience losing their owner as a similar trauma as losing a loved one. And this is perfect proof of how deep and sincere a relationship can develop between humans and animals.

Even though cats can’t tell you exactly what they’re feeling, you can clearly tell from their behavior what they’re going through. Similar to humans, they are capable of experiencing deep emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and grief.

What are the signs of a grieving cat?

Grief is such a deep emotion that it is impossible not to react, both physically and emotionally. Thus, there are clearl symptoms that indicate that the cat is going through a serious mourning process. Below we have collected the changes in behavior that indicate that the cat is trying to process a trauma.

• It becomes depressed and listless.
• Its appetite decreases.
• It doesn’t want to play.
• It sleeps more than usual and moves more slowly.
• It withdraws and does not want to be in company.

Changes in behavior clearly indicate that the animal is suffering and going through a serious mourning process. Unfortunately, this feeling cannot be reduced, as it is an absolutely natural process of loss.

Often waiting for the deceased to return

It can also be observed that they often wait for the deceased to return, since they cannot fully comprehend the finality of the loss. In such cases, it can be observed that they are waiting for their owner at the door, or they are rummaging through its clothes, trying to show that they do not understand the reason for its disappearance. For animals that are extremely attached to their owner, this can even last for years.

Detectable signs of a grieving cat

Many people are still extremely skeptical about the subject, however, several studies have now proven that cats do indeed mourn. A survey conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 1996, as well as a study called the Companion Animal Mourning Project, conducted extremely serious research on the subject, thereby proving that animals are indeed capable of feeling grief. For the research, they examined animals that had lost their loved ones. They observed the following changes:

• 46% of the cats had a decreased appetite.
• Many kitties slept more than usual, while some suffered from insomnia, and a few changed their previous sleeping place.
• About 70% of cats have changed their meowing habits.
• They often became more affectionate.

Overall, 65% of the cats showed clear signs that their behavior had changed after the loss of their loved one. Incidentally, this was shockingly true not only for humans, but also for feline companions.

How can I help my cat cope with grief?

You may be wondering how to help a grieving kitty through this process. Well, first of all, it is important to emphasize that it is impossible to get the animal out of this completely. It is struggling with deep pain, which is basically a natural process. You can help it feel better temporarily for certain periods of time. The following can help with this:

• Spend more time with it. In such cases, try to divert the animal’s attention from grief, so play with it, pet it, talk to it. This will probably help distract it for a while.
• Be more affectionate. At this time, it is worth showing as much emotion as possible towards your cat, as this will help it get over the grieving process more easily. Care for it a lot, caress it, love it so that it doesn’t feel that it is alone with its problem.
• Even if you leave it alone, make sure it has fun. It is important that if you leave it alone, hide small surprises for it in the apartment that are guaranteed to capture its energy. For example, hide treats in different parts of the house, or leave a toy at home for it to keep its attention.

If you feel that these do not help, and the animal is still in a similar condition after many months, then it might be worth considering asking a veterinarian for help. Because it is possible that your pet will need more serious therapy if it cannot get through the grieving process properly. This is also necessary because if the animal is mentally ill, it will very quickly manifest itself in the form of physical illnesses as well. So it is definitely worth asking for professional help as soon as possible.