Hi All.
About three weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our beloved boy, Winston. Something that my partner and I had not expected was the change in our other cat, Artemis.
Artemis has been with me since she was a kitten and she's always been a little "prickly". She doesn't like to be touched, sudden movements freak her out, and she would sooner claw your face off than sit near you. She's the cat that the veterinarians dread to see come in and the big leather handling gloves come out (even though most visits end in sedation).
When she was about three years old, I adopted Winston. It was a rocky first couple of weeks but eventually everything evened out. I wouldn't say they were ever BFFs but Artemis tolerated Winston's presence, which for her, was better than I ever could have hoped for. Five years passed, I met my fiance, Alonzo (whom Artie HATES) and now here we are, having just said goodbye to Winston.
Artemis has changed completely since Winston's passing and frankly, it's freaking us out. She is with us at all times, literally by our sides constantly. She lets Alonzo pat her which is absolutely unheard of. She sleeps on his pillow right beside his head at night. The change is dramatic and while I'm thrilled that she's almost acting like a "normal" cat, it's also breaking my heart because I wonder if it's her own form of grief. Or maybe it's her way of comforting her humans? Is she maybe happy that she's an only cat again? Cat behavior truly eludes me, especially with Artemis!
Either way, I know how much it's hurting Alonzo and I to lose Winston and if Artie is hurting too, I want to help. Have any of you dealt with this before? If so, did anything help? We've been giving her extra attention, treats and play sessions with her favorite red dot but I wish that I had a sense of what is going on in her head. Any advice is very appreciated.
About three weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our beloved boy, Winston. Something that my partner and I had not expected was the change in our other cat, Artemis.
Artemis has been with me since she was a kitten and she's always been a little "prickly". She doesn't like to be touched, sudden movements freak her out, and she would sooner claw your face off than sit near you. She's the cat that the veterinarians dread to see come in and the big leather handling gloves come out (even though most visits end in sedation).
When she was about three years old, I adopted Winston. It was a rocky first couple of weeks but eventually everything evened out. I wouldn't say they were ever BFFs but Artemis tolerated Winston's presence, which for her, was better than I ever could have hoped for. Five years passed, I met my fiance, Alonzo (whom Artie HATES) and now here we are, having just said goodbye to Winston.
Artemis has changed completely since Winston's passing and frankly, it's freaking us out. She is with us at all times, literally by our sides constantly. She lets Alonzo pat her which is absolutely unheard of. She sleeps on his pillow right beside his head at night. The change is dramatic and while I'm thrilled that she's almost acting like a "normal" cat, it's also breaking my heart because I wonder if it's her own form of grief. Or maybe it's her way of comforting her humans? Is she maybe happy that she's an only cat again? Cat behavior truly eludes me, especially with Artemis!
Either way, I know how much it's hurting Alonzo and I to lose Winston and if Artie is hurting too, I want to help. Have any of you dealt with this before? If so, did anything help? We've been giving her extra attention, treats and play sessions with her favorite red dot but I wish that I had a sense of what is going on in her head. Any advice is very appreciated.