Lost One & Now I think Two Are Hurting

I just lost One cat on10/11/05 from what the vet said was cancer. It was hard for me to put him down because he was a part of the family, but now one of the remaining two isn't eating and seems to be hiding around the house. He did see me take the sick cat away and return without the cat. Is he as heartbroken as we are ? The other cat seems to be taking it well, except that she wants to sleep with us now. Is this normal for them to go through?

Your kitties will grieve this loss, also, just differently than you. But yes, they notice the absence, and they also sense your emotions. Cats are extremely intuitive, and are sensitive to your grief, as well. When I had to put down Tank, I was advised to not cry in front of his sister, as these kinds of intense emotions will stress her out.

I know you are hurting, too, but try to spend quality, happy time with your remaining babies. They will find comfort in this.

Originally Posted by MidNightWeeWee

I just lost One cat on10/11/05 from what the vet said was cancer. It was hard for me to put him down because he was a part of the family, but now one of the remaining two isn't eating and seems to be hiding around the house. He did see me take the sick cat away and return without the cat. Is he as heartbroken as we are

? The other cat seems to be taking it well, except that she wants to sleep with us now. Is this normal for them to go through?

Click to expand...

Your kitties are grieving. It's completely normal. They also pick up on your grief as well. Which is fine.

I know it might sound a little in left field to say this, but you might want to consider getting a new baby kitty. I'm not sure if your kits were close so it might even be a BAD idea...but I know in multiple cat households when one resident cat passes, the kitties left behind are generally perkier when a new cat comes into their environment.

Sorry for your loss

It's normal, yes.

Two of our family cats, Skunk and Smoky grew up together, even though they were about a year apart in age. Once they became friends, they were inseparable. They're outdoor cats, per my dad's rules (one of the few he made, with my mother being the main rulemaker in the household). When they were about 9 and 10, Smoky died. She got hold of a poisoned gopher or something, I can't honestly remember right now. Skunk knew her best friend was gone. She stopped eating, grooming herself. You name it. I insisted we get another cat ASAP. My mother got a kitten, who couldn't go outside just yet, he'd have gotten his behind whupped by neighborhood toms. But I think Skunky knew there was a new boy in the household. As he got bigger, we invited Skunky inside to meet her new baby bro. It had been so long since we had a kitten, she wasn't so sure of him. The funniest moment (to me, at least) was the first time he went outside. he wanted to play, so he snuck up on Skunky as she walked along our sidewalk. he pounced on her tail and she turned and gave him a swift PAW to the head. He learned very quickly who was Queen o' the Yard. She is now about 17, and although she's not in perfect health, she's still Queen.

Your others will mend their broken hearts in time. They grieve for lost friends and siblings just as we do. Extra hugs and pettins' for them will help both you and them in this time.

Amanda

Its a different case, but Sugartoes seemed really sad after her last two kittens were adopted out, and she was spayed. She did eat, but she spent a lot of time in "their" room, isolating.

She slowly warmed up a little more, and is doing well now. But for a week or two, she just looked...lonely.

Condolences on your loss.

Bossinova, doctors used to tell people to hide grief and emotions from children, now we know it is best to be honest. I would never be afraid to cry in front of my cats, especially if they were grieving too. I think that was bad advice.

I am so sorry for your loss. When we lost the 2 kitties that Fred was closest to, both times he grieved. When we lost Webb, he looked for him and cried for months. He was inconsolable until we got him a new friend. He was not accustomed to being an only kitty, and was very unhappy and lonely. When we lost Loe, he just laid around and moped for a few weeks. We had other cats then, and he was not so lonely.
Scooter and Pepper semed to look for Fred for a little while, but we moved right after Fred died, so their whole lives were different. Now we have the battle for alpha kitty raging.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss!

Cats do grieve, and each does it in their own way and their own time. I have seen some of mine grieve for their cat mates for over a year, and my Stumpy grieved over losing his dog buddies until we got another dog a year later. Some cling to you, some get distant, some start having behavioral problems. Love them and give them as much as a normal routine as you can give. Changes in their lives at the time of loss can throw them off more. I usually wait on adopting new members until they show signs of normalcy again.