Cats are known for being independent and aloof animals, but recent research suggests that they may actually experience grief when a companion pet dies. A study conducted by Oakland University in the US found that cats showed signs of mourning after the death of another pet in the household, whether it was a cat or a dog.
According to the study, some cats exhibited behaviors such as difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, yowling noises, increased neediness towards their caregivers, and a disinterest in their favorite activities. This challenges the common belief that cats are antisocial creatures and indicates that the experience of loss may be universal among animals.
While mourning is a well-documented phenomenon in the animal kingdom, with species like elephants, dolphins, and chimpanzees displaying complex behaviors after the death of a companion, it was less clear whether cats would exhibit similar signs of bereavement. The study revealed that cats engaged less in sleeping, eating, and playing, but sought more attention from humans and other pets, spent time alone, and appeared to look for their lost companions.
The research also found that the longer cats lived with their deceased companion, the more profoundly they were affected by the loss. Witnessing the death and the number of pets in the home did not seem to have an impact on their grief. Additionally, the study suggested that the quality of the relationship between the surviving and deceased animals influenced the cats’ behaviors, with more positive relationships leading to decreases in sleeping, eating, and playing.
Although the results support the idea that cats experience grief, there is also the possibility that owners may be projecting their own feelings of heartache onto their pets. Caregivers who reported experiencing greater grief themselves were more likely to observe changes in their surviving cat’s behavior following the death of another pet.
Professor Jennifer Vonk, a comparative/cognitive psychologist at Oakland University and a co-author of the study, noted that cats tend to form social bonds in the wild, contradicting the common perception of them as solitary animals. The study challenges the stereotype of cats as aloof and not social beings, suggesting that they may have a more complex emotional life than previously believed.
In conclusion, the research sheds light on the emotional lives of cats and highlights the importance of considering their feelings and behaviors in response to the death of a companion pet. It suggests that cats, like many other animals, may experience grief and loss in their own way, emphasizing the need for further study into the emotional lives of our feline friends.
