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.