In heat, your sweet kitty may be especially loving, headbutting you, rolling around on her belly and rubbing her entire body against your legs -- even if she's normally aloof and independent. Time heals all wounds, and if the cat is showing other signs of depression (poor appetite, change in sleeping pattern, excessive vocalization, overgrooming, pacing, searching), these often dissipate after a few weeks, although it can take as long as six months. There are clear differences between human and feline grieving. “Whether this is helpful or not is the subject of debate”, says Dr. Nicholas Dodman, board certified veterinary behaviorist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, and author of The Cat Who Cried for Help, “and there is little evidence to support either view.” Some researchers believe that a cat perceives death the way a young child might perceive it, i.e. It turns out that pets do: 46 percent of cats ate less after the death of a feline companion, 70 percent meowed a lot more or a lot less than normal, more than half became more affectionate and “clingy” with their people, and many slept more or slept in different places than they previously had. A neutered cat will be more affectionate and will be more likely to ask for more attention. If that’s true, then showing them the body “would be like letting a 2 year-old see a deceased family member at a funeral. The affection. Some may stop eating or become clingy. Map & Directions [+]. There, a cat will constantly be in territorial fights with others. Even if you don’t believe she understands the words your voice is saying, the words your heart is saying needs no interspecies translation. Amoxicillin for Cats: Dosages, Side Effects and More. A “use caution” sticker on Sarah’s record indicated that she was known to be feisty during veterinary exams. The internet also revealed a lot more about cat care in the 21st century. Your cat may seem more reserved after getting the surgery, but that’s because her hormones aren’t fluctuating like they used to when she had heat cycles. Clearly, they can.” Beck adds, “I suppose that denying animal’s human-like behaviors allows us to be more comfortable eating them and using them.” But attitudes toward animals have changed over the years. Vocalization is a form of communication for cats, so listen to your cat and pay attention to what she is saying. Anecdotally, people have reported that some cats stop searching for an absent companion after being shown the body of a deceased companion. If your cat stops eating and drinking, consult your veterinarian to see what you can do to stimulate her appetite. “We know, of course, that this isn’t true. Cats make excellent pets and are suitable for all kinds of houses, however, before adopting a cat, you should know about the behavioral pattern of your furry friend. But times have changed. If a cat doesn’t eat for a few days, she risks developing a potentially fatal condition called hepatic lipidosis. The consequences just don’t register”, says Dr. Dodman. The doctor pronounced the cat healthy, and told the client that in his professional opinion, Sarah was clearly grieving for her sister. Cats do not demonstrate the same ritualized ways of dealing with their grief as humans do, but they do exhibit their own signs of mourning. A new cat is stressful for the resident cat even under the best of circumstances, and getting a cat “on the rebound,” so to speak, is bound to create difficulties in your feline family. Overall, 65% of cats exhibited four or more behavior changes after losing a pet companion. Not long afterward, Pete’s other feline companion, Valentine, died of chronic renal failure, and once again, Pete grieved for weeks, moping, hiding, and overgrooming. Even if they tend to show it in less obvious ways than dogs, however, cats do want to give and receive affection. If your cat is grieving, you almost certainly are, too. What do you think — Do cats grieve? Visitors Ask Questions About Sudden Affection in Cats Cat Is Suddenly Affectionate. My female cat just turned fifteen and was extremely independent all her life. In a multi-cat household, the surviving cats will eventually work out the new social order. “But”, he adds, “I think we should give our pets the benefit of the doubt and allow them to, if we feel it might help. When your cat comes out of hiding and near you, reward them with a treat. My other cat, has been hidding since since the one that passed had the seizures the other day. Cats are resilient animals. I looked over at the cat, huddled on the exam table, disinterested in her surroundings, inconsolable. “The weight of opinion today is that a ‘viewing’ is not likely to help a pet understand the death of a companion”, says Dodman. Carol on March 06, 2018: Hey, my cat usd to be so affectionate and loving. I know you miss your Dahlia. Wants to Be Alone Since cats and other animals have an amazing sense of the death approaching them, they prefer quiet and lonely places for comfort during this phase. Dr. Nicholas Dodman, board certified veterinary behaviorist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Even the most affectionate and sweetest cat can become aggressive, biting or scratching anything when he feels frightened. Nothing on this site should be taken as medical advice for any individual case or situation. On the other hand, if dogs and cats do comprehend death more than we give them credit for, viewing a deceased companion may help to explain why that companion cat won’t be around in the future. In 1996, the ASPCA conducted the Companion Animal Mourning Project, a study to find out whether pets showed signs of grief. She witnessed the entire incident. How do cats show affection with their eyes? How have you helped a sad cat through the loss of a beloved animal or human friend? Alison adopted Iggy as a companion for the sullen Pete. She put up no fuss as the doctor poked and prodded. Still, playful, and maybe more affectionate (but it's probably because I babied them a lot after the operation). Based on these outward signs, it appears that cats do grieve when their feline companion dies. When Alison’s husband Rusty became ill, Pete got very stressed and began to overgroom, barbering his tail nearly to the point of baldness. That, not guilt or regret, is the legacy of your pet." Some cats may seem not to care about the sick cats, while others may even seem happy and desire even more affection from their parents.” In other words, one cat’s reactions to another cat’s sickness or death can be just as varied as ours are. A grieving cat might find the sound of your voice soothing. He died soon afterward. Our cat would only let dad and son pet her.growling and hissing at mom and daughter suddenly after five years the cat is the most wonderful cat in the world daughter who felt bad for years that she couldn’t even pet her now cuddles with her for hours. ... What is spraying? More than half of the cats became more affectionate and “clingy” with their owners, and many of the cats slept more, and changed the location of where they usually slept. A study of cat owners revealed that 1 in 4 felt that the spay operation made their cat more lethargic, according to University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. They may become aloof or lethargic. She hung out with cat #1 often but showed no interest in people. Overall, 65% of cats exhibited four or more behavior changes after losing a pet companion. Love Bites. Pete found Iggy to be a welcome distraction, but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. After Dahlia died, I took the time to hold Thomas on my lap at least once a day and tell him, “I know, sweetheart. Sarah was inside the house at the time, looking into the yard from the window. What are some reasons for cats becoming over affectionate and how can this be diminished?  |  Around 70% showed a change in vocalization pattern (they meowed significantly more often, or significantly less, than normal). The doctor asked the woman about the days preceding Sarah’s lethargy and loss of appetite, and whether anything in the cat’s environment had changed. Instead, the cat will focus his energy towards the owner. She wasn't a lovey dovey cat like the male cat I had before her. The connection to other people. Biting is generally something people associate with negative feelings, but cats are a little … I have also 3 other adults (former strays) that were fixed as adults. Four days prior, the sister was in the yard by herself when a neighborhood dog managed to get into the yard, chase down the sister, and attack and kill her. Sometimes an older cat can become more needy. As a veterinarian and advice columnist, I am often asked whether I think cats grieve or mourn the loss of a feline companion. A grieving cat might show a greatly reduced appetite or even stop eating. The answer is yes and we've found a few ways to help your sad cat mourn the loss of a kitty or human companion. ... even for a second, upon him. Vet Info provides some reasons why you might find a mother cat sick after giving birth.One reason might be something called galactostasis, which is characterized by full and swollen mammary glands. I feel so sad, and I know you do, too. Some cats may become very affectionate and be around the owner all the time. If your cat is grieving, you almost certainly are, too. This past August, however, tragedy struck when Iggy, who had been coping well with his heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), suffered an embolus and became acutely paralyzed in his rear legs. What shape is good? “People used to believe that animals didn’t feel pain”, says Beck. Do cats grieve? When female cats are in heat, one of the most prominent "signs" involves engaging in unusually affectionate behavior. Here are some of the things I did to help Thomas in those early days — and also things I did to help the rest of my cats in the wake of this year’s double cat-loss whammy. “Grieving the loss of a beloved cat is an extremely personal experience,” says Michelle on When You Feel Like You’ll Never Get Over Your Cat’s Death. The shared experience journeying through parts of life together. Gigi loved it, but her brother Brandy was indifferent. The loss of a beloved friend is a huge change. When not singing or dancing on Broadway, the Tony-nominated performer could usually be found doting on her cats, Iggy and Pete. After Surgery Don't be surprised if your cat acts a little weird for the first few days after her operation. NY they lack the concept of death being a permanent state. With my sights were set on becoming a veterinarian, I was working as a volunteer at a local veterinarian’s office in Gainesville, Florida, to obtain that all-important “real life” experience. “Spaying eliminates heat cycles, and cats can be extremely affectionate and vocal during a heat cycle,” Brömme says. Now that's very out of character. Cats lack the abstraction that allows people to grieve for those they’ve never met; cats only grieve for familiar and close companions. Humans can show grief for distant relatives or for public figures. Alison Fraser needs no convincing. This is crucial, especially in case of tom cats, as they can be unpredictable at times in exhibiting affection and aggression. “From that point on”, said the woman, “she’s been like this”, pointing to Sarah. Share in the comments. “Culturally, we try to deny human-like behaviors in animals,” says Alan Beck, Professor and Director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The study, which assessed many different behavior patterns, concluded that 65% of cats experienced four or more behavioral changes after the loss of a family pet which indicated grief. You can ease the stress of these turbulent times by doing things like keeping to their regular feeding schedules and being consistent with the times you’re at home and out of the house as much as you can. The walks. Cat mourns loss of human and feline companion Alison Fraser needs no convincing. But not that day. “In some instances, severely affected cats may require anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication”, warns Dodman. All rights reserved. See Also: How Do Cats Show Affection #4: He Could Be Transitioning from Street to Domestic Life ‘ Life on the streets is hard.’ That could be just a saying to you, but it carries more weight when you think of being a cat literally on the streets. Both cats had access to a small backyard through a kitty door, and would often hang out in the yard together. The veterinarian examined her from head to tail. Our stories are different, but the feeling is the same: we miss our cats so much. Stay informed! Cats are creatures of habit, and they tend to find any change disturbing. While cat #1 had a huge personality, cat #2 just seemed completely invisible. “About five years ... 230 W. 76th Street A few cats undergo personality or behavioral changes when a companion is lost. When Rusty passed away, Pete mourned for weeks. It happened 26 years ago, but my memory of the incident remains vivid. This subdued behavior had been going on for four days. Fortunately, Iggy and Pete clicked right away, with Pete acting as Iggy’s protector. Lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice? “Iggy died so suddenly”, says Alison, “that Pete never got to say a proper goodbye.” Until Alison came home with Iggy’s ashes. In the throes of your feelings, it might be hard to respond appropriately to a grieving cat’s behavior. It is a pretty good indicator that your cat trusts and enjoys your company… You can tell a lot from a cat's tail, and how it's shaped when they're around you. Others may be more vocal – walking around meowing as though looking for their companion. Not only that, but 65 percent of the cats in the study showed four or more behavior changes after the death of a fellow pet. Your cat — and you— need to take the time to work through your grief before you add another cat to your household. I grew up in a house with three cats, and I recall mainly purring, mewing, cuddles and the odd scratch. As Kelly… “Pete mourned for days”, says Alison. As with humans, cats need time to process the loss. ( see also: Do Animals Mourn posted in the The Sun UK ). Although cats have a reputation as solitary animals, they are social creatures and can thrive on forming close bonds with other creatures. In the … So that is why your cat has been acting weird ever since your dog died. Get tips and exclusive deals. A cat in the throes of grief may not be able to handle the additional stress of a new feline intruder. Surviving cats were often more affectionate with their owners and became clingy. “When I brought the ashes home, I placed the urn in the middle of the living room floor. “She has no interest in food, no interest in people; she just sits next to the couch and doesn’t move”, said the owner, a woman in her 50s. This may indicate that cats have at least some comprehension that something dead cannot come alive again. Read more about how to handle cat loss and grief on Catster.com: © 2019 Belvoir Media Group. If a pet exhibits distressed behavior in the owner’s absence, the owner needs to seek help from a veterinary behaviorist, a certified animal behaviorist or veterinarian to help guide them on how to help their pet. Likewise, if she’s not her usual cuddly self, don’t take it as a lack of caring. About two days ago she started having seizures, but bounced back and appeared to be feeling alittle better, but still weak. We gave cat #1 to a friend after we got a dog because cat #1 was absolutely terrified of the dog, and completely losing his mind. About 70 percent of grieving cats meowed either more often or less than was normal. She liked to stay by herself, wasn't a lap cat in any way and never slept in the same room as me. The idea, again, is to get your cat to associate you with positive feelings, and they may even begin … Curved. More than half of the cats became more affectionate and “clingy” with their owners, and many of the cats slept more, and changed the location of where they usually slept. I certainly feel that they do, but cats cannot speak, and we can only guess at what their true emotions might be at any given time. This may be linked to the fact that they are predators. When the Cats Keep Vigil Over a Dying Cat. I believe this was Pete’s way of saying his final goodbye.”, The question often arises as to whether it is a good idea to allow surviving cats to see the body of the deceased cat. I’ve never seen anything so sad in my life.”. “We can’t be certain if they mourn in the human sense of the word, but we should give them the benefit of the doubt”, says Beck. In a soft, forlorn voice, the woman proceeded to tell the veterinarian that Sarah had a littermate – a sister – and that they were inseparable. Certain changes in behavior, such as irregular sleeping, eating, or grooming habits, may indicate that a cat … After a wail we stated to suspect she was grieving so we called a Professional and they informed us that she was grieving. If your senior cat wants attention more often, she can show it in many different ways. He was a great cat, more like a dog in fact and so loving and sweet. Although cats are thought of as being aloof and solitary, they are, in fact, social animals, and are as capable as dogs of forming deep attachments to people and other animals. 7 Things That Help Me Cope with Grief After Losing a Cat, A Certified Grief Coach Talks About Death and Celebration. After all, if the human experience is anything to go by, it may help some come to terms with what has transpired.”. “Enriching the environment, by offering new toys, treats, etc. Hello. He’d been taken to the shelter with his sisters after his previous caretaker had gone to a long-term care facility, and I’d never seen such a mournful sight as this poor, sick and sad cat whose eyes reflected the broken heart that was destroying his will to live. Many people, especially non-“cat people,” think of felines as aloof, distant, disinterested, and basically anything but affectionate. Back in the dark ages of animal care, few people, including veterinarians, believed that cats grieve for deceased friends. If the surviving cat had access to the outdoors, this should be restricted, as the cat may stray off into unfamiliar territory and get into dangerous situations as it searches for the lost companion. While he believes that cats probably don’t perceive death the same way as people do, for pet cats experiencing a drastic change in their environment, it seems reasonable to think that they do grieve.