Do cats grieve? The idea that animals, especially pets, can feel grief has been a subject of interest for a long time. Much of our understanding about grief comes from stories and observations, not from scientific research.
A survey of 1,000 people published in Animal Welfare found that that 90% of respondents believed that some or all animals can experience grief, with 23% thinking that all animals can grieve. More recently, a published study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science has taken a closer look at the topic of grief in domestic cats after the loss of another animal from the same household.
The study: Surveying cat caregivers
In the study, researchers surveyed 412 cat caregivers, who reported on the behaviors of 452 surviving cats following the death of another companion animal in the household. The study look at indicators of grief, namely what were any immediate and long-term behavioral changes in these cats.
The researchers from Oakland University also wanted to understand whether these changes could be linked to the nature of the relationship between the surviving and deceased pets, as well as the caregivers’ own grief responses.
How cats show their grief
Cats may display grief-like behaviors after the loss of an animal companion, reflecting their emotional response to the absence. These behaviors often include a noticeable reduction in activities such as eating and playing, indicating a lack of interest in their usual routines.
Additionally, many cats become more attention-seeking, frequently seeking comfort from their human caregivers. Other signs of grief might include increased vocalization, hiding, or spending more time alone, suggesting that cats, much like humans, can experience a form of mourning when they lose a close companion.
Key findings: Behavioral changes in grieving cats
The study found several significant predictors of grief-like behaviors in surviving cats:
Time spent together
The amount of time the cats spent engaging in activities together was a strong predictor of grief-like behaviors in the surviving cats. Cats that had spent more time with the deceased animal were more likely to exhibit increases in fearfulness and other grief-like behaviors.
Quality of relationship
The nature of the relationship between the surviving and deceased animals also played a role. More positive relationships between the two pets were associated with decreases in sleeping, eating, and playing in the surviving cat after the death of their companion.
Length of the relationship between companion animals
The longer the surviving cat had lived with the deceased animal, the more likely they were to show increased attention-seeking behaviors following the loss. This suggests that the depth of the bond between the pets could influence the extent of the grieving process.
Caregiver influence on cat response to grief
Interestingly, the caregivers’ own levels of attachment to the deceased pet also impacted their perceptions of the surviving cat’s behavior. Caregivers who reported stronger attachment bonds with the deceased animal were more likely to notice changes such as increased attention-seeking, hiding, and spending time alone in the surviving cat. This raises the possibility that some of the reported behaviors might reflect the caregivers projecting their own grief onto the surviving pet.
Projecting human concepts of grief onto cats
One of the key challenges in studying grief in animals is the risk of anthropomorphism—attributing human emotions and behaviors to animals.
The study’s findings suggest that caregivers who experienced greater grief were more likely to report behaviors in their surviving cats that align with human expressions of grief, such as increased sleeping, isolation, and searching for the lost companion. This could indicate that at least some of the perceptions by pet owners that a cat is grieving might be influenced by the caregivers’ own emotional state rather than being a direct reflection of the cat’s experience.
Supporting a grieving cat
Overall, the results indicate that cats may indeed experience grief-like behaviors, particularly when they had a close relationship with the deceased animal. However, the influence of caregiver perceptions and the possibility of anthropomorphism complicate the interpretation of these findings.
Cat owners who notice changes in their pets’ behavior following the loss of another animal should consider the possibility that their cat may be experiencing a form of grief. Providing extra comfort, maintaining routines, and giving the surviving cat time to adjust may help them navigate this difficult period.
References
McGrath, N., Walker, J., Nilsson, D., & Phillips, C. (2013). Public attitudes towards grief in animals. Animal Welfare, 22(1), 33-47. DOI: 10.7120/09627286.22.1.033
Greene, B., & Vonk, J. (2024). Is companion animal loss cat-astrophic? Responses of domestic cats to the loss of another companion animal. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 277, 106355. DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106355.
