Cats show grief after a pet dies, study finds

Cats are often seen as independent and aloof, but new research suggests they may grieve the loss of a fellow pet, challenging the perception of them as antisocial creatures.

As The Guardian reports, a study by Oakland University researchers found that many cats displayed signs of distress after the death of another pet in the household, including changes in behavior such as disrupted sleep, loss of appetite, and increased vocalization. Some cats became more clingy with their caregivers, while others lost interest in their usual activities.

The researchers argue that these findings suggest the psychological experience of loss might be universal among animals. "Cats engaged less in sleeping, eating, and playing, but showed more behaviors like seeking attention from humans and other pets, hiding, and spending time alone," the study, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, noted.

Mourning is well-documented among animals like elephants, dolphins, and chimpanzees, who often display complex behaviors after the death of a companion. Previous studies have also suggested that dogs grieve, but the idea of cats mourning is less explored.

The study involved over 450 cats that had lost a pet companion, either another cat or a dog. The findings indicated that cats who spent more time with their fellow pet exhibited more pronounced grief-like behaviors. Interestingly, the length of time the pets had lived together had a greater impact on the surviving cat's behavior than witnessing the death or the number of pets in the household.

Despite the evidence, the researchers caution that some of the observed behaviors might be influenced by the grief of the cat's owner. "Caregivers who experienced greater grief were more likely to report increases in their surviving cats’ sleep, time spent alone, and hiding," the study noted.

These findings challenge the long-held belief that cats are inherently antisocial and suggest that their capacity for grief, like that of humans and other animals, may be deeper than previously understood.

[Information sourced from The Guardian]