my cat is grieving

Up until four weeks ago I had three outside cats. One cat got ran over and the other cat died of some kind of tick disease (she was the roamer of the three, would sometimes be gone for a couple days at a time). I have one cat left, she is 3 years old and the cats that are deceased were her mom and sister. After about 3 days she just started acting funny. She just lies around. She doesn't cry she just doesn't want to do anything. Today I brought her inside and she just sit at the door wanting out. At first she was lying beside the graves and now she is just not wanting to play, eat, drink, and she sleeps all day long. I have to carry her to her water and food and only then will she eat or drink. She doesn't have a temp and everything about her is healthy, she is just grieving terribly. When I try to play with her, she may play for just a few seconds and then she just wants to be left alone. I am sure that she is grieving....help, anyone.

My instinct says you just have to wait it out. Be there for her, make her feel safe and secure, give her extra love and eventually, she'll adjust to the new normal. I have a stray outside who's lost a couple of buddies - one just Monday - and she goes through a grieving process when she realizes they're not coming back. But just like with humans, time makes it better. Just give her a little more love and security.

That is what I am so worried about. I am afraid she will end up sick because I can't monitor her eating and drinking all the time. Luckily, I am home for the summer (teacher) and that helps but I am just worried. I check her for dehydration (105 degrees here today) and so far so good. Has anyone else experienced this?

My cat at moms house is in same boat-they were best buddys(shared a room) and she died quite suddenly-was put to sleep yesterday. I went to petsmart and got him catnip play mat and some new things. Moms been brushing him ALOT and just being there with him
Far as the drinking and heat-If you pull up the loose skin on cats neck/back and it stays then its dehydrated and you should go to vet if it won't drink to get it some fluids.

That is how I've been checking for dehydration. Today I got her to eat just a small bit twice today and I got her to drink 4 different times, she may have had more to drink when I wasn't watching but I doubt it.

I've been brushing her alot too but probably need to even more. She just has no interest in anything and lays and sleeps until I go and move her to another place....it is pitiful just watching her be so sad, never quite experienced anything like this before.

Since you are off for the summer, and have some time - it may help both you and your kitty through the grieving process if you were to find another furry friend to love...

Yes, I agree. Spend a lot of time with her. It sounds silly, but some people here say it helps when you "explain" to the cat what happened. In other words, talk to her. Time is a great healer, but if you are worried I second and third the suggestions to take her to the vet in case of not only dehydration, but of liver issues which can occur if a cat suddenly stops eating.

When Banshee died last year, BooBoo went through a period of grieving...it lasted a good month, maybe even longer. He ate his meals, but spent most of his time sleeping and looking out of the living room window. He didn't really cry or meow tha much, but he wasn't himself at all. I remember that it took a long time for him to come around again and get over her death. BooBoo and Banshee were very close; they were always lying together, bathing each other and playing.

In the morning while we were preparing their breakfast, Banshee and Boo would fight it out on the kitchen floor. She'd be biting his ear, growling at him and tussling with him. He'd get so frustrated he'd bodyslam her to the floor. He'd walk away and she come right after him again. We'd tell them to knock it off and behave, but it became their morning ritual, I guess.

After she died, he seemed lost at breakfast. He'd just kind of sit there and passively wait for his food. It was very sad. And even now, he's not quite sure what he should do at breakfast.

You sure its grieving and not that she also has a tick issue or is sick in some other way? Just something to think about and maybe take her in for a office exam and some baseline testing.

Originally Posted by catsallaround

You sure its grieving and not that she also has a tick issue or is sick in some other way? Just something to think about and maybe take her in for a office exam and some baseline testing.

Click to expand...

Again a good reason to take her to the vet.