Young Cat’s Reaction to Death of Sibling Has Everyone in Tears: ‘Scared’

A family recently grieving the loss of their older cat has turned their worry to the younger cat who has not been eating since the passing.

The cats’ owner, Zaikeel, who posted on Reddit under the username u/ErtonPll69, explained on the r/cats channel that Azu, the nearly two-year-old cat, looked up to the older cat, Freya. Azu lost her mother as a kitten and when she was brought into the family, Azu thought of Freya as her mother. But since Freay’s passing, Azu has been blue.

“It hurts me seeing her be sad like we are all devastated that our cat died, but seeing her sad makes it even worse for me and my family,” Zaikeel said in a comment on the post.

Azu’s behavior since Freya passed has concerned the family. She has not been eating and continues to sleep in Freya’s usual spot. She seems scared and is looking around confused. Zaikeel turned to social media to see what he should do, if anything, to help Azu during this time.

Reddit users jumped in quickly, offering their condolences and sharing that they think Azu is grieving like the rest of the family. As of Tuesday, the Reddit post had over 8,100 likes and 265 comments.

“Poor cat I hope you and your cat get through this sad time,” one commenter said.

“She’s grieving. Bring her treats and make a fuss of her. It’ll take time,” wrote one Redditor.

Another said: “She is grieving like you. I think she will come around. Maybe take her to the vet if you are super concerned.”

Zaikeel told Newsweek that, luckily, Azu has come around since the post last week.

“We stayed a lot with her she is doing way better now,” he said. “She is eating way better now. She also became more friendly.”

Do Pets Grieve?

Owners know the heartbreak that comes with the passing of a beloved animal, but do pets understand loss? Do they grieve as well?

PetMD reported that while it is unlikely a pet understands one is gone forever, there is evidence that pets grieve based on their behavioral changes. A few signs of a grieving pet include demanding more attention, increased sleep, decreased eating, or increased vocalization.

Like humans, pets do not have a timeline for how long grief will last. The best thing a pet owner can do is let them grieve and help them through the process. PetMD recommends sticking to daily routines, offering extra attention and affection, providing new, mentally stimulating games, or trying calming aids to help alleviate pet anxiety.

If your pet starts showing more severe behavioral changes like house soiling, destroying toys and furniture, or excessive vocalization, then speak with your vet. They can offer a course of action to help get your pet back feeling like themself.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.