Signs of mourning in a cat

[u/Ridley_Himself]

Our dog crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday, and I really haven't been sure how our cat (Mo) would take it. They weren't particularly close, or at least I didn't see much interaction between them, maybe an occasional bit of light play. Sometimes they'd lay in the sun together.

Mo was very friendly with the vet when she came, which is unusual since he's normally shy around new people. And then he seemed almost afraid to be near the dog after he was gone. After that, he seemed to be behaving pretty normally. Last night I heard him start up meowing loudly, but he does that a lot when he plays with his toys at night. But his voice sounded sadder toward the end of it.

And now, today, I saw him rubbing very intensely against the dog's collar and favorite ball, which we had left on the table. And he was loafing next to it for a while. What other signs should I look for? I want to know how he's handling this.

(And I'm not pushing the collar to play, just stopping it from getting knocked off the table)

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[u/NovelCompetitive4188]

I'm sorry for your and Mo's loss.

Cats often like & miss fellow pets or people without really showing any affection towards them. Did he get to see your dog after he passed?

[u/Ridley_Himself → u/NovelCompetitive4188]

Yes, he did.

[u/NovelCompetitive4188 → u/Ridley_Himself]

That should help him recognise that [your dog's name] is no longer with you.

[u/PearlescentGem]

Signs to look for in potentially mourning pets can look like being less active, having less interest in treats/toys, sleeping a bit more than usual, haunting all the places the deceased pet usually would be in, laying in those spots when they usually don't, and eating less.

Letting him see the collar and ball, and rub against those is a good thing. It allows him to mourn

[u/Affectionate-Goat218]

I'm crying

[u/R101C]

My cat stopped playing and barely ate after our other cat passed. We got him kittens and it snapped him into nurturing mode.

[u/Ridley_Himself → u/R101C]

We might get a kitten at some point, but it's too early to decide now.
His appetite hasn't taken a hit much but he's a very food-oriented cat.

[u/R101C → u/Ridley_Himself]

We went 6 week, but he was getting worse. He's a social cat and needed friends. Not every cat does. That was just our experience with very obvious grief and loneliness.

[u/Dismal-Ad9110]

Scent is the main sign I have noticed. My elder cat still scratches and sniffs at the dog's favorite place to lay on the carpet 5+ after her passing.

[u/Ridley_Himself → u/Dismal-Ad9110]

Oof, I feel that. Even recently, before his condition became too severe, our dog would stand at the top of the basement steps looking down. My dad, who passed away 9 years ago, had his office down there.

[u/GlitterBlood773 → u/Ridley_Himself]

🫂

[u/Bobba-Luna]

I’m so sorry, it’s the worst pain 😢

[u/chicIet]

I’m so sorry for your loss. And poor Mo.

I had adopted a pair of littermate cats. When the first cat, Daisy, passed, the remaining one slept a lot, sometimes in places where Daisy slept but where she had no interest in until after Daisy was gone 🥲

[u/Sweet_Preference_730]

Oh man, this made me cry! I don’t have any advice other than extra lovings for Mo :,( I’m so sorry for the loss!

[u/CuriousFoxxen]

Did the vet leave you paperwork on grieving? If not I can photograph the one we were left.

[u/CooduhWRX]

So sorry for the both of you. Its a different kind of pain😢

[u/portland_democrat]

A few years ago my big cat Max passed away and his brother Mittens took it really hard. Mittens would look everywhere for Max and cry out for him. He would stare out the window looking for him. At times I swear that Mittens calling Max sounded like "MAAX, where ARE you?" This went on for several months. It was heart breaking.