Bereaved cat advice needed

[freelancescientist]

13 years ago we adopted 2 cats from cats protection. They had been living together and were rehomed together.
Anyway sadly on Monday the slightly older one had to be put to sleep.
The surviving brother spent last night quite distressed and vocal, rushing round the house.
Is he looking for his brother or am I putting human feelings onto an animal? Do cats grieve? And can I do anything to help him?

I'd say that they can - they certainly miss a companion for at least a bit. (And 13 years is a very long time.)

Did the pair sleep with you? I'm wondering whether you could allow him into your bed tonight.

Not allowed in bedrooms normally but may consider it!

It might be a way to get some sleep yourself. (I can't possibly comment on the setting of precedents of course. )

Probably too late, but if you show a cat the body of their friend they accept it, it seems they understand death.

I experienced this with one cat. Fortunately it only lasted a few days, and then he was fine. I just had to ride it out. It was really sad - he sat by the other one's grave for ages! He had seen the body, so knew she was dead, but just seemed very sad.
Strangely, when the next cat died, the same cat who had done the mourning was completely fine, even though he had known this second cat for much longer.
Really sorry you have lost your cat, by the way - it's horrible, isn't it?

How did it go last night?

Maybe slightly different because we have siamese boys (or rather we HAD 2 elderly gents....). They were always a bit noisy. We lost the noisiest boy just before Christmas.

We've been warned to expect grieving for 3-6 months. I think we are 2 months in. Our remaining cat has grown to fill both roles. He's filled the noise that his noisier brother made and panics a bit if too many of us leave the house.

Our lads were always jealous of each other, but obviously cared. Yes the remaining brother is still grieving (the 5:30 am wake-up call is a particular joy), but I think he likes being a solo cat.

Thanks for all your comments. He still cried last night but not for as long. Harder hearted hubby was worried about letting him into the bedroom so he stayed shut downstairs.
He's always been the noisier one and he seems less distressed during the day today so maybe this is passing. Let's hope so.
Thanks also for all your kind thoughts. It's been upsetting for the kids especially as the cats have been their pets for their whole lives, and now they are worried about the one who is left as he does seem sad(although he is enjoying the extra attention from DD so I think he'll cope!!)

I reckon they often do - and by the way, my own boy also panics a bit these days if he can't find me easily around the place. (He's most elderly and I think his vision is also now a bit.....approximate.)