Cat died yesterday - any ways of helping his brother adjust?

[Ketzele]

My cats came to us from rescue as a bonded pair of brothers. They are now 4 years old.

Sadly, one of them took unexpectedly ill yesterday and died at the vets. We are all so upset but at least understand what has happened. His surviving brother is bewildered, wandering around looking for him and being very clingy.

Is there anything at all I can do to help him? Wash things that smell of him or leave them around? I have a feliway plug-in.

I don't have an answer from personal experience but wanted to say how sorry I am that you lost one of your dcats. 💐

Would it be helpful to have your dcat visit his brother so he can understand (to the extent his little brain allows) that he won't be around anymore? Could you discuss with the vet?

It does take time. If he’s very social then a kitten would likely help him. I’ve never sucessfullly integrated adult cats together but (as I’m known locally as someone who’ll take in rescue feral kittens) I’ve intergrated many, many kittens in successfully. Some cats love them immediately and some tolerate them and then learn to like them after the kittens are allowed out around 5 months old.

It likely your upsetness is rubbing off on him too as he’ll sense you’re upset. I hope you’re doing ok.

Oh that’s awful. I have two and my vet told me it helps the remaining one understand what happened if they see their sibling after they’ve passed. I would just give him as much attention and love as you can.

Definitely agree re letting him see his brother if at all possible. I've always had between 2 and 5 cats over the last twenty years. I have had 2 cats PTS at the vets over the years, and after both, the remaining cats wandered around looking for them for days. More recently, one of my cats died peacefully at home, and the remaining cats all saw her after she'd gone and seemed to understand what had happened.
I also found that kittens helped after one of my cats lost his brother. I have integrated adult cats into my household a few times, but that was quite hard work. Saying that, if you do look at getting a kitten, unless you're desperate to live through the "complete chaos demon" stage, I'd try and get one (or more) aged nearer 6 months than 8 weeks - they're adorable when they're tiny, but also completely upend your entire life (and house!)
So sorry to hear of the death of your DCat.

Thank you all. I am very upset today and I'm sure that's not helping. He was such a lovely cat - a bit dim but so sweet-natured and affectionate, a peachy ginger with beautiful eyes. I'm shocked at how much I am missing him.

Unfortunately I think we have missed our chance to show him to his surviving brother (a tuxie). Yesterday, when I woke up and found ginger collapsed, tuxie was so concerned. He sat over him protectively till I took him to the vets; he must be so confused why I didnt bring him back.

Thanks for listening. I have lost cats before, but this one has really knocked e for six.

Did the vet keep his body? Could you let the other cat see him. I took both of my cats along when one was PTS. And they absolutely understood. They never looked for them.