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Writer's pictureHills Pet Nutrition

How the loss of a pet affects your other pets


Harry (left) keeps looking for Stewie by the front door. Stewie passed away Oct. 16 at age 9.

It goes without saying that the loss of a pet comes as a hard blow to you and your family. But what about the non-human members of your family? It's well-documented that animals are capable of experiencing grief and loss, so it should come as no surprise that the death of a pet has an impact on the remaining animals in your household. Keep reading to learn how you can help your grieving pets in the event that your family is faced with such a loss.


Cats and dogs tend to notice when a companion is no longer showing up in their lives, and they often react to that absence in a way that makes it clear that they miss their friend. Even if your pets weren't close and the surviving pet doesn't appear to notice the loss of a pet, dogs and cats are extremely sensitive to the emotional states of their human guardians and may become sad or despondent because they're sensing those emotions in their pet parents.


Dogs can have a particularly rough time adjusting to a change in the family makeup because of their pack-oriented nature. Dogs tend to see the family, including other pets, as a unit and come to understand their position and role in relation to the rest of the pack. When another pack member dies, this may leave your dog feeling uncertain about his role and how he fits in.


In general, here are some signs that your pet might be struggling with grief:

  • Changes in appetite

  • Acting withdrawn or despondent

  • Whining or howling in dogs, or yowling and crying in cats

  • Changes in personality; your aloof cat suddenly wants lots of attention, or vice versa

  • Pacing or searching the house for the lost pet

  • Hiding from or avoiding other family members

  • Changes in grooming or bathroom habits, especially in cats

  • Your pet might also show signs of separation anxiety, such as crying and carrying on when you leave or, as is more common regarding cats, engaging in destructive behavior, such as scratching furniture or urinating outside the litter box while you're gone.


To learn how to help your grieving pet, continue reading this article here: 


By Jean Marie Bauhaus


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