By Maggie Johnson
When my mother was dying, her 14-year old Himalayan Cat, JuJu,
didn’t leave her bedside except to nibble on his dinner
and use the litter box. We think he knew what was happening.
He was tender and patient and quiet. What’s more, he
was uncharacteristically tender and receptive to the rest of
us, whom he usually turned his nose up at. It was as though
he was feeling the pain right along with us. He seemed smart
enough to know that it’s a little easier if you don’t
have to go through the loss of a loved one all by yourself.
After five days at her bedside, she passed away. JuJu stayed
in her room for about a week, until we had to bring him to
his new home. Since my mother lived alone and he had to go
somewhere, my sister and I thought the best place for him would
be our Aunt Deb’s house. He knew Deb well, he liked her,
and her home offered plenty of space and affection for him.
Whether it’s the loss of a companion animal or the loss
of a person within the home, animals may experience feelings
of grief and depression just as people do. And just like people,
no two pets grieve the same. Signs that a pet may be grief-stricken
include a loss of appetite, an increase in sleep, depression,
restlessness, aimless wandering, confusion and/or excessive
barking or meowing. Chances are, as long as there are no underlying
health problems, it is safe to assume that these behavioral
changes are a natural part of the animal’s mourning process.
While animals typically grieve for 2-6 weeks sometimes mourning
can take place for up to six months. A pet’s reaction
to the loss of a human caregiver will often be different than
his reaction to losing another pet companion. When a family
member dies or moves out of the house, a pet may pace, whine,
or engage in destructive behavior. When a companion pet dies,
they exhibit more depression and more inactivity. In either
case, a pet will often be seen searching to house for their
missing companion. If you see this happening, feel free to
give your grieving pet something that still holds the scent
of his lost companion and let him be comforted by it.
It is quite common for a grieving pet to demand more affection
and attention from others. Extra love and affection can be
a healing comfort to both you and your pet. Your pet needs
extra
love and affection just
as a person would during a time of mourning but be careful
not to mistakenly reward certain behaviors that you don’t
want your pet to adopt permanently. There is always a balance
to everything. It is understandable to hand out extra dog treats
or bring out the cat-nip more frequently if you see that your
pet is sad but keep it balanced so your pet won’t develop
bad habits, such as becoming more dependent on treats, being
finicky, or demanding too much extra attention. If you worry
that this may be happening, you may, instead, try to distract
your pet during sad times by playing with him, taking her for
a walk, or talking to him. Keep the animal’s routines
as normal as possible. Maintain consistency in exercise, feeding
schedules and the amount of attention being given. Eventually
your pets will return to their normal behavior. Don't underestimate
your pet’s ability to adapt. Time is the great healer
for grieving animals just as it is for grieving people.
Back
to Top
Copyright ® 2006
Sojourner Farms. All rights reserved.
