New research suggests cats exhibit mourning behaviors after the death of a fellow pet, challenging stereotypes about feline aloofness.
Cats may grieve the loss of other household pets—including dogs—according to a study published this month in Applied Animal Behavior Science. Researchers from Michigan’s Oakland University found that felines displayed behavioral changes consistent with mourning after the death of an animal companion.
The study surveyed more than 400 cat owners, analyzing pets’ behaviors following the death of another cat or dog in the home. Many cats ate less, played less frequently, and sought increased attention from their owners. Others slept more, spent additional time alone, or appeared to search for their deceased companion.
“It made me a little more optimistic that they are forming attachments with each other,” lead researcher Jennifer Vonk, a psychology professor at Oakland University, told NPR. She noted that behavioral shifts were more pronounced in cats who had shared strong bonds or long-term cohabitation with the deceased pet.
Vonk also challenged the perception that cats are less social than dogs. “We tend to think cats are aloof, but I think we’ve been mischaracterizing them,” she told The Sunday Times. The findings suggest feline emotional capacity may be more complex than previously assumed.
The study adds to growing evidence that pets experience grief, reinforcing the deep connections animals form within multi-species households.
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