A recent study has provided compelling evidence that cats, often perceived as aloof and independent, can indeed experience grief after the loss of another pet in their household, including dogs.
The notion that mourning is exclusive to humans has been long debunked, with numerous observations of grief behaviors in dolphins, elephants, and other social animals. However, cats have not received as much scientific attention in this area. A team of scientists from Oakland University in Michigan aimed to fill this gap with their latest research.
Published last month in the journal *Applied Animal Behavior Science*, the study involved surveys from over 400 cat owners who had lost another pet. The researchers gathered data on behavioral changes in the surviving cats following the loss.
The findings revealed that cats exhibit similar grieving behaviors to those observed in dogs. These behaviors included reduced appetite and sleep, altered social interactions with their human companions, and signs of searching for their lost pet companions. Notably, the intensity of these grief responses was correlated with the length and positivity of the cats’ relationships with their deceased companions. Approximately two-thirds of the surveyed cats lived with other cats, while one-third had lived with dogs.
The study’s reliance on subjective reports from cat owners introduces the possibility of bias, as grieving owners might project their own feelings onto their pets. However, the researchers emphasized the need for further investigation to validate these findings.
“Future work is needed to determine whether these results reflect caregivers projecting their own grief onto surviving animal companions or whether cats may also experience grief following companion loss,” the researchers concluded.
Given the increasing body of research challenging the stereotype of cats as unfeeling creatures, it is plausible to consider that cats can indeed mourn the loss of their fellow pets.
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