Do Cats Feel Grief?
If you’ve ever taken in the cat of a departed friend or relative you will be in no doubt that cats do in deed feel grief. Cats just seem to know that their owner has died and won’t be coming back. They can display many symptoms. They may be listless, refuse to play or eat and just generally mope around. What can you do to help this feline through this sad phase?
No one knows if cats go through the same stages of grief that humans do but we can’t sit them down with a cup of tea and get them to cry it all out so we have to think of other means to get them beyond their grief. Patience and care are going to be your best allies here.
With patience you will start to build up trust with the cat. Remember not only have they lost their old owner but they are having to get used to a new one. Take time to work out where they like to be touched and stroked. You may earn a few scratches along the way but this is all positive communication. You’ll get there in the end! Some people believe you should talk to your cat because although they cannot understand the word they can intuitively pick up on emotions and will know you are grieving too.
Over a few weeks the cat will begin to eat better and start to interact more openly. You’ll notice the change immediately and you should have bonded with your new friend.
Some things I've noticed