Do cats grieve ??

[Lovemusic33]

We lost our ddog a few weeks ago, the cat was pretty friendly with the dog, they shared a sofa, followed each other around the garden and groomed each other. Since the dog passed away the cat has not left my side, he rarely goes outside during the day, just pops out to do his business and comes back, he follows me around the garden meowing at me. I wouldn’t say he seems unhappy but then I don’t know how to tell if a cats unhappy? He’s eating and seems pretty relaxed, just wants a lot of cuddles and to be glued to me. We old like to introduce a rescue dog to the house but I’m worried how he will react.

Could he be grieving? Or does he just like the fact he now has me to himself?

yes, he's probably grieving. Our cat grieved when his brother died. He yowled and yowled and had a droopy tail for about a fortnight.

My cat was a bit more clingy when her sister was PTS. (It took her along to the vet and she was with her sister) so she knew. She never looked for her, but She wasn't quite her normal self. When I got a new cat, I put her down in her carrier and Magic came for a sniff. And I saw her visibly relax. Cheddar soon stop any grieving!

Thank you for your replies, he does seem to be more clingy than usual and going out a lot less, I thought maybe it was because of the weather but it’s sunny and dry today and he’s still indoors (not like him). I’m unsure what to do for the best, would introducing another doggy friend make him more upset? I’m not sure if he even saw the dog as a actual dog so he may not react well to another one unless the same breed and colour.

Wait and see how he adapts to being an only. Of all the cats I've had, not a single one has grieved for a sibling or housemate. At least 2 of them were positively delighted 🤷🏼‍♀️😢.

Mine grieved alot after losing our other 2 cats within the space of a week.
He used to groom them and when they were PTS he started grooming himself so much he lost patches of fur and got sores around his mouth he became very clingy too.
5 months later he seems alot more himself but can't help but think he'd be better off with another cat friend!

Our cat definitely grieved for our dog and to be honest it took over a year for him to go back to her normal self. She yowled day and night ( calling for him ) lost so much weight and her fur went thin too! In the last few months she has been a lot happier and put weight on and her coat is thickening back up, visitors have commented how much better she looks and when i look at photos of her from 12 months ago its a sad state. We have other cats so she is not lonely, I genuinely believe she just missed our old boy.

Ours grieved and sadly died a few weeks later. The mum was 15 and she died of old age, her son was a year younger so had been together for many years. He just stopped eating, wasnt happy and passed away not long after. Seemed healthy before his mum died.

I was going to wait, to see how Magic got on as an only cat. As she's always been dominated by her sister so wanted to give her the chance to be queen bee. But the right cat came up 10 days later. I almost didn't go and see her, but I did and she was perfect. She is a huge character. But doesn't dominate. Magic has absolutely blossomed. And is definitely top cat. It's been wonderful to watch her learn to 'cat'.
She was sitting in next doors garden, looking me in the eye and totally ignoring my attempts to get her indoors so I could go out. Massive progress for her to be naughty!

Cats definitely grieve and he could be feeling the need to be close to you through his heartache. I had two kittens - sisters - they grew up and did everything together. When one of them died, the other one wandered the house for months meowing in every corner. Her sister would always run to her when she meowed so I really think she was looking for her. It broke my heart. She also got more cuddly with me.

We are looking at another dog hopefully next week (if home check goes ok), it’s the same breed but different colour so I’m not sure how the cat will take to him. My cat seems to think he’s a dog, he even chases a tennis ball around the garden 🤣 we got the cat a few years after the dog so the dog kind of mothered the cat.

I’m so worried about my cat. His twin died suddenly and I am grief stricken. I hope he isn’t suffering as I am after the loss. He wants food constantly which has been one of my reactions too! They have been together always. 9 years old. I hope he’s not in the same pain as I am. He started vomiting and I took him to the vet but he’s ok now.

Some do and some don't. I had two male cats they adored each other.
The older one died and I showeed the younger one his body like I always do so he knows what happened to him and he completely freaked out, he hardly ate for weeks and went around the house miaowing.
He's go and look at his grave as he was there at the burial. It was heartbreaking.
My current cat was completely different. The boy died and I showed him to the girl who just sniffed him for a few seconds then strolled off. She didn't seem bothered at all.

My little girl was distraught when her big 'brother' died, she totally idolised him and followed him everywhere. She sank into a deep depression for two months and became very clingy This was three years ago and she's fine now but gets extremely panicky if she sees me carting off other (new) cats in the car to go to the vet, she obviously thinks they aren't coming back

Hope it all works out with your new dog OP!

I could not imagine showing the dead body to another cat. I am traumatised enough by losing my adored cat and no one but me saw him. Absolutely awful and I’m still crying. I couldn’t share that experience. Much too devastating.

My cat spent most of today under my bed, he’s still acting oddly but doesn’t really seem distressed.

Candy I think it took my cat a few days to realise that his friend wasn’t coming back, there have been times where the dog had to stay at the vets so I expect the cat assumed the dog was coming back. It will be 4 weeks on wed . I did consider having the dog PTS at home with the cat here but I wasn’t able too, the cat did see the dog the night before when she was in pain. I’m sorry for your loss, it’s so hard losing a pet, I still miss my old girl .