Do Cats Grieve When Another Pet Dies? Signs and How to Help

If you have lost one pet from a household with two or more, you have probably noticed that the survivor is not quite itself. It may wander the house calling, sleep in the other animal's favourite spot, stop eating or follow you from room to room. Whether this is grief in the human sense is debated, but the behavioural changes are real, common and worth taking seriously. This guide covers what cats seem to experience, the signs to watch for, and how to help.

Do Cats Really Grieve?

Nobody can ask a cat what it feels, so scientists are cautious about the word "grief". What can be measured is behaviour. In a survey study of owners who had lost a companion animal, run by the ASPCA in 1996, most surviving cats changed their behaviour after the death: many ate less, slept more or differently, vocalised more, and became more or less affectionate than before. Later owner surveys have found similar patterns.

Several explanations are plausible and they are not mutually exclusive:

• Loss of a social bond. Cats that grew up together or share a long relationship often groom each other, sleep in contact and share territory. When that partner disappears, the bond ends abruptly.
• Disrupted routine. Feeding, play and rest patterns built around two animals suddenly change.
• Your own emotional state. Cats are sensitive to changes in their owners. If you are crying, quiet or out of routine, the cat notices.
• Scent and absence. The familiar smell of a companion fades over days, which may prompt searching behaviour.

Not every cat reacts. Cats that were never close, or that merely tolerated each other, may show little change, and some become more relaxed once a bullying housemate is gone. That is normal too.

Common Signs of a Grieving Cat

• Searching and calling. Walking through the house, checking favourite spots, and meowing or yowling, especially in the first days.
• Appetite changes. Eating less, or occasionally more.
• Sleeping more, or being restless and unable to settle.
• Clinginess. Following you, demanding contact, or distress when you leave.
• Withdrawal. Hiding, avoiding play, or sitting alone in the other pet's spot.
• Reduced grooming or, in some cats, over-grooming.
• Litter box changes, including accidents outside the box.
• Irritability or hissing at people or other pets.

Cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy on whether cats grieve and how multi-cat homes cope.

Rule Out Illness First

This is the most important point in the article. Lethargy, poor appetite and hiding are also the classic signs of illness, and a cat that has lost a housemate may be unwell for the same reason that housemate was, such as a contagious infection or a shared environmental problem. Cats also hide pain.

Call your vet if any of the following apply:

• Your cat has eaten little or nothing for more than 24 to 48 hours. Cats that stop eating can develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), which is serious, particularly in overweight cats.
• There is vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, drinking much more than usual or straining in the litter box.
• Behaviour has not started to improve after two to three weeks, or is getting worse.
• Your cat is hiding constantly or seems in pain.

A check-up gives you a reliable baseline and lets your vet decide whether the cause is medical, behavioural or both.

How to Help a Grieving Cat

Keep the routine steady

Feed, play and go to bed at the same times as before. Predictability is calming. Avoid big changes in the first weeks, such as rearranging furniture, moving a litter box or changing the food.

Offer extra time and attention

Short, frequent sessions work better than one long one. Gentle play with a wand toy, brushing, or just sitting nearby while the cat chooses how close to be all help. Let the cat set the pace; do not force contact on one that is withdrawing.

Tempt a poor appetite

Warm a little wet food, offer a favourite flavour, or hand-feed a small amount. If eating does not pick up within a day or so, call the vet rather than waiting.

Add enrichment

A window perch, a puzzle feeder, a new cardboard box or a rotated set of toys gives the cat something to do. Enrichment is especially useful if the lost companion was the cat's main playmate.

Consider a pheromone diffuser

Synthetic feline facial pheromone diffusers are widely used for stress. The evidence is mixed, so treat one as a gentle extra rather than a fix.

Do not hide what happened, but do not overthink it

Some owners ask whether the survivor should see the body. Evidence is limited and opinions differ. Some vets suggest it can help a cat understand that its companion is gone rather than missing, while others consider it unnecessary. If the death happens at home and it feels right to you, letting the cat sniff the body calmly is reasonable. If the animal died at the clinic, the cat will simply notice the absence. Either way, the cat should not be forced to approach.

A walkthrough of the signs of a grieving cat and practical ways to comfort one.

Should You Get Another Pet Right Away?

It is tempting, but a new animal is not a cure for grief, and bringing one in too soon can add stress to a cat that is already unsettled. Introducing a stranger also brings its own challenges, covered in our guide to introducing a second cat.

A sensible approach is to wait until your cat has returned to its normal eating, sleeping and play, which often takes several weeks to a few months. Then decide based on your cat's temperament. A very social cat may benefit from a new friend; an older or shy cat may prefer to remain an only pet. When you do add one, introduce them slowly.

How Long Does It Last?

Most cats gradually settle over a few weeks, though some take several months. The first week or two is usually the most intense. Improvement tends to come in small steps: a regular meal, a bit of play, a nap in a new spot. If your cat is not improving, ask your vet about a referral to a veterinary behaviourist. For persistent anxiety or depression-like signs, medication is sometimes used alongside behaviour support, but only under veterinary direction. Never give your cat human medicines.

Looking After Yourself Too

You are grieving as well, and that can make it harder to care for the cat. It helps to remember that comforting a surviving pet is also a way of looking after yourself. Many people find that talking to friends, joining a pet-loss support group, or contacting a pet-loss helpline eases the load. Your remaining animals can be a comfort, and sharing the loss with them is nothing to feel odd about.

The Short Version

1. Many cats change their behaviour after losing a companion, even if scientists debate the label "grief".
2. Common signs are searching, calling, eating and sleeping differently, clinginess or withdrawal.
3. See a vet first to rule out illness, and urgently if your cat stops eating.
4. Keep routines steady, add gentle attention and enrichment, and let the cat set the pace.
5. Wait before adding another pet, and introduce them slowly.
6. Most cats recover within weeks to months; ask your vet for help if they do not.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your cat, contact your vet.