PTS - do cats miss their housemates?

[HuggedTheRedwoods]

Our lovely old boy hasn't been in great health recently and he's not responded to his most recent treatment. Today has been a bad day for him, very unsettled, and I have a sinking feeling he wont be coming home from his vet appointment in the morning. I am just devasted thinking about it, he's been part of the family for so long.

But he also has a little 'sister' - not a litter mate, but our younger cat of 9 who came to us as a small kitten and neither of them go beyond the garden so he's always been a big part of her everyday world. They dont curl up together but rub along nicely (after he eventually calmed down when she first joined us) and I'm worried how she will be if he just disappears. Surely she'll notice - or am I overthinking this with human feelings? I'm sure I've read threads about letting cats see deceased housemates for some sort of closure. Is it a good idea to do that or is it potentially more confusing for them?

And any positive thoughts for a miracle perking up overnight most welcome..

With guinea pigs they groom their deceased pal and then walk away when they've done what they need to do but only if they have bonded. It could well be the same with cats. We've only ever had one cat though.

I think a lot of people seem to think that letting them see the body helps them understand and 'move on'.

You just don’t know how they will react. One of mine grieved deeply when her older companion died. He had acted like her mother since the day I brought her home. On the other hand I had brother and sister Siamese who were very close and always curled up together. When the girl was PTS the boy didn’t bat an eyelid. In fact I think his ambition in life was to be an only cat. 😻

I took my cats sister with her when she was out to sleep. They didn't really like each other, but if they were scared they would want each other. Maia Clive's into her sisters basket while we waited for the vet. And I had them both on the table next to each other. It was perfect. Magic sniffed Maia when I put her body down and instantly recoiled. She seemed to know. She never looked for her. She seemed a bit clingy afterwards. When I brought my new cat home, she sniffed the carrier and I saw her visibly relax. She's so much happier with cheddar and much more confident. Makes me a bit sad. As I miss Maia

Animals do grieve. My rabbit went into shock when his bonded partner died and I spent two days syringe feeding him and had to put a furry toy in with him so he could cuddle it!

You never know how they will react. I would recommended showing the body to the remaining cat to help them understand.
I didn't do that with mine, and one of the remaining cats kept looking for the deceased cat for 3 or 4 months, looking in every place and calling for him.
My other cat who didn't actually get along well with the deceased cat, was also a bit depressed, I think she missed her feuding partner.

Thank you all.

The strangest thing happened last night, although they have cosy beds downstairs little cat without fail comes and sleeps on my bed everynight (she started coming upstairs when she was very young and was scared when rain hit the windows and clearly then worked out she preferred a duvet in a proper bed!). But last night she stayed downstairs, even though we had the most awful howling wind and rain in the night she stayed downstairs with her big brother. I think she already senses something.

And now I've made myself cry again! So much for trying to be calm for the cat and the vet. Setting off shortly and will discuss this point with the vet if thats the way the morning goes.

When my cat died her sister was bothered for all of about a day.

Then she appeared to be delighted that she had all of the house and all of the attention for herself.

This was not how I reacted - wailing and sobbing.

Then a week later I ruined her life by getting kittens as I couldn't bear being a one cat house any longer.

One of our cats went missing. He was only gone a couple of weeks before we got him back but our other cat was awful! He took to grooming us instead of his friend and was really clingy. Completely fine once the other cat came back

Some do some don't. Ive had cats that have grieved for weeks and won't be comforted. Others who couldn't care less. My current cat didn't turn a hair when her companion died. I showed her his body. She took a sniff then walked off. She didn't grieve at all.
I always leave the body out for several hours so the there k ow their friend has gone.
It seems to help and then I let them grieve in their own way giving them lots of cuddles.

When our cat died her sister who remained cried for months after and became very clingy. She only stopped when we got another cat who she dislikes but she did stop crying

The worst happened and we had to let our lovely old boy go. I'm devasted. Especially now thinking about his recent vet care and something being missed, he must have been suffering more than we realised these last few weeks. I let him down.

I asked the vet about letting the little cat see his body and she was on the fence about it. So I left the basket out for a couple of hours (old boy was tucked in under his blanket) but she stayed upstairs all afternoon - but that could have been just the sight of the basket, which usually means a trip to the vet or cattery which she hates, or she could of been reacting to my upset so she didn't actually see him. But I think she is missing him, she's been very quiet for a couple of days (and waking me in the night touching my face which is unusual) but seems a bit brighter today.

I haven't been able to face clearing out old boys bed and stuff but might try and do it tomorrow in case that's confusing her.