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Two of my cats lived together for 14 years. One recently passed away.
Now the surviving cat is constantly wandering around looking for her
sister. She is eating and drinking, but I sense some sadness. How can I
comfort her?
These two cats lived together for a very long time! Whether friends or
sparring partners, these cats were used to seeing each other up close
and almost all of the time! It is not uncommon for the remaining cat
(littermate or not) to look around for a departed one. When a pet
suddenly loses the companionship (or challenges) the housemate
provides, it seems that they do spend a variable time looking around
the house to check if their companion is just lost or hiding somewhere.
Sometimes calling in the form of meowing for the departed housemate can
also occur. Some pets, particularly dogs may even go off their food for
a short while.
Though in humans we term this state after a loss grief or mourning,
we do not presume to understand the mental process in our pets. Though
we cannot know how they are feeling or what they are thinking, the
symptoms sometimes expressed at a time of loss suggest that they do
miss the presence of their household buddy, and this seems to be
irrespective of how they got along. Tormenters and enemies seem to be
missed as much as best pals! Not all pets show signs of missing a
housemate. Some seem to cherish their new solo "queendom" and their
status as sole recipient of the owner's affections.
Any change of routine seems to put cats off. Cats cherish a regular,
ordered environment and major household changes, including loss of a
housemate can lead to pacing, crying, change in sleep pattern, and
sometimes a reduced or lost appetite.
Comforting the remaining cat is as simple as spending some extra time
with her. Keep the house routine as normal as possible, and provision
of the normal calm, loving attention she has come to know and
appreciate is all that is needed. Whether she cherishes a petting on
your lap, chin scratches, compliments, treats, or a rousing game of
"cat and mouse chase" with a favourite toy, stick to a familiar
interaction or activity. It can take days, weeks or months for a pet to
stop looking for a housemate. Note that since you are still dealing
with the loss too, the cat may sense a change in your emotions, your
activities or your schedule.
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