Pet Health - grieving cat sbarah - Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:50 am Post subject: grieving cat
Hello I wonder if you can help me. I had two cats: Holly, 9yrs, mother to Pattie, 8yrs. Sadly Holly died fairly suddenly about 2 months ago - she suffered kidney failure and had to be put down a week later. Before this time she was very healthy and happy and very maternal towards Patty, who still seems 'kitten'-like, despite her age. They would do everything together, Patty would often mimic Holly's behaviour and Holly always gave Patty a little clean after she had done herself.
Since Holly died Patty has been very sad and confused - she has developed a new meaow which is like a heartbreaking little whimper. She still goes out roaming for a couple of hours each day so I don't think she's depressed or anything, just sad and lonely, and I wondered if anyone had any little tips, beyond a lot of love and attention and the occasional hot water bottle to snuggle up to.
Also I'm moving in a couple of weeks and am worried that this extra stress will be completely over-whelming for her - sometimes the most important thing in this sort of situation is familiarity and consistency - She's never moved before or been on her own so much. Any advice?
jenvetnurse - Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject:
Sorry to hear your sad news.
You could try using Feliway which is good to reduce anxiety at times like this. Its a feline pheromone which has a calming effect - totaly safe etc.
Get it from your vets - spray is more effective than the diffuser. You should spray it on her bed/where she sleeps.
She will settle and moving although stressful will create a new situation/enviroment and she will have plenty of places to explore etc and will take her mind of the cat she misses - also her smell will not be there.
Lots of reassurance and spending extra time with her helps too - good luck. jenvetnurse.
poppydog83 - Sat Mar 24, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:
Our family cats were a brother and sister. The female cat pinny was put down in july 2005 due to having an inopperable tumor on her tongue,and victor her brother did pine for her,meowing alot,wondering round the house looking for her,but he found comfort in sleeping on a blanket pinny used to sleep on,and gradually with alot of fuss from my mother he got better although he did occassionally wonder round the house we thought looking for her. However sadly he was dianosed with kidney failure last year and was put down 2 weeks before my mums birthday.