Cats appear to grieve death of fellow pets – even dogs, study finds

Concept of Death vs. Absence

• Many argue cats likely distinguish “gone for now” from “gone for good,” especially after seeing/smelling a body; searching often stops afterward and behavior shifts to lethargy or clinginess.
• Others doubt cats grasp an abstract, human-like “concept of death,” suggesting they mainly perceive absence, changed smell, and non-responsiveness.
• Several note that being predators or killers does not automatically imply an abstract understanding of death.
• Debate centers on definitions: is grief about understanding death, or about distress after a major loss regardless of cognition?

Anecdotal Evidence of Grief (and Non-Grief)

• Numerous stories of cats and dogs:
  • Searching the home, vocalizing, checking favorite spots.
  • Reduced appetite, excessive grooming, lethargy, heightened need for human contact.
  • Some pets visibly distressed until a new companion arrives.
• Some opposite anecdotes: survivors appear indifferent or even more relaxed and outgoing after another pet dies, possibly due to reduced competition or increased human attention.
• Reports extend beyond pets: farm animals, squirrels, and other species behaving as if distressed by a companion’s death or disappearance.

Anthropomorphism, Projection, and Memory

• Several commenters worry owners project human emotions onto pets, especially when grieving themselves.
• Others respond that while animal experience is different, their emotional lives are clearly complex and not well captured by dismissing it as projection.
• A theme: humans grieve heavily via reflection on past and future, whereas animals may be more present-focused, so their grief may be different in quality.

Evolutionary and Methodological Questions

• Some expect grief-like responses to be widespread in social mammals because strong attachment is adaptive; grief may be a byproduct of attachment mechanisms.
• Others say the evolutionary value of grief (even in humans) is unclear and need not be positive.
• Methodological concerns about the cited study: reliance on owner surveys during emotional periods, lack of strong controls, and difficulty objectively measuring animal emotions.

Practical Approaches and Broader Ethics

• Multiple commenters advocate letting surviving pets see/smell deceased companions, often reporting less searching afterward.
• At-home euthanasia is highlighted as less stressful and better for both humans and animals.
• Some use the discussion to question human treatment of non-pet animals, given evidence of widespread animal emotional capacity.