Do Pets Grieve the Loss of Another Pet?
By Angelina Simmons, January 7, 2025
Losing a pet is devastating for your family, and that’s not just limited to humans. Studies indicate that dogs and cats also show signs of grief when a fellow pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge.
Discover how your pet may be handling the loss of their furry companions, and what to do if your dog seems depressed.
Do Animals Grieve?
Research suggests that dogs and cats do grieve when another pet in the household dies.
As part of a 2016 study, 279 dog and cat owners shared the most noticeable changes in their pets’ behaviors after another pet in the house passed away. The researchers found that both dogs and cats wanted more attention from their humans and became more affectionate after losing their companion pet. They also tended to spend time in the favorite spots of the deceased animal.
About half of the dogs and cats in the study saw the body of their deceased pet companion. But those who saw their companion’s body after death didn’t appear to have any different grief symptoms than those who didn’t.
Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of Another Dog or Cat?
When the study authors took a closer look at how dogs grieved their furry friends, they found that the most common behaviors were:
More demanding of attention from their owners (35%)
More clingy or needy (26%)
Less interested in attention from their owner (10%)
More territorial (60%)
More interested in visiting the deceased animal’s favorite spot (30%)
Changes in sleep habits (42%)
Ate less (35%)
Ate more slowly (31%)
How Long Do Dogs Grieve the Loss of Another Dog or Cat?
Dogs who became more affectionate and those who changed their sleep habits after losing their pet companion experienced those changes for about two to six months, the study authors wrote. The dogs who showed changes in being territorial and the way they ate grieved that way for two months or fewer.
The dogs studied displayed the same types of grief whether they lost a companion dog or a cat. The only difference was in the speed of food consumption. The dogs who said goodbye to a dog companion were more likely to start eating slowly after their dog friend died. They didn’t change their eating speed when it was a cat that they had to say goodbye to.
Do Cats Feel Grief?
When it came to cats, the study authors found that cats grieved their furry friends by exhibiting these common behaviors:
More demanding of affection from their owners (40%)
More clingy or needy (22%)
Less interested in attention from their owner (15%)
More territorial (63%)
Interested in visiting the deceased animal’s favorite spot (36%)
Began vocalizing more frequently than before (43%)
Began vocalizing more loudly than before (32%)
How Long Do Cats Grieve?
Cats who became more or less affectionate after losing a furry friend experienced those changes for between two and six months. Cats who became more territorial or vocal grieved that way for two months or fewer, the study authors wrote.
Managing Your Pet’s Grief
If you lost a pet, you’re likely grieving and trying to take care of your own sadness. But you may be wondering how you can comfort your other pets, who are probably grieving as well. Just as others may not know what to say after you lose a pet, you may not know how to comfort your living animals.
Take the cue from your pets to get a feel for what they might need from you. If they seem to need space away from you for a few days, don’t hover over them or try to get them to come to you. Likewise, don’t push them away if they need to cuddle in the days after your other pet passes away. They may help you through the time and you can be there for them as well.
It’s also important to keep your pet’s routine similar to how it was before you lost your other pet. In addition, don’t rush into getting a new pet to take the place of the one you lost. Taking time to process the feelings that you and your living pet are experiencing will be important as you both heal.
If time passes and your living pets still don’t seem like themselves, talk to your veterinarian for advice. Don’t hesitate to speak up in particular if your pet has stopped eating. You want to make sure they stay healthy in the wake of your other pet’s death.