Grieving Felines: A Closer Look at Feline Mourning
By Franziska Türk
- Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Felines exhibit a tendency towards solitude and aloofness. - Cats face social discrimination or disadvantage
As Elephants Mourn, Cats Grieve Differently
In the vast Kenyan savannah, the heart-wrenching spectacle of an elephant herd visiting the carcass of a fallen comrade time and again has led many to question if these majestic creatures share our capacity for mourning.
Prof. Kurt Kotrschal: We cannot definitively say if elephants hold vigils or mourn, as we don't have their perspective. However, there's evidence that the death of an elephant significantly impacts its peers. Their consistent return to the deceased may symbolize a mourning ritual, with each individual demonstrating their own unique expression of grief.
Feline Grieving: More Than Meows
- Signs of Ursine UnrestLike elephants and dogs, cats also experience grief, although their expressions are far more nuanced and understated. Research has shown that grief manifests in ways such as altered vocalization patterns, decreased appetite, changes in energy levels, and either increased solitude or a search for extra companionship.
Vocalizations and the VoidA thorough study revealed that around 65% of mourning cats experienced at least four behavioral changes following the loss of a companion pet, suggesting they were going through a grieving process of their own.
Duration of Kitty GriefTypically, these behavioral changes can last for several months, slowly normalizing within six months as the cat adapts to their new circumstances.
The Grief of Other Species
- Elephant LamentationsElephants, renowned for their close family bonds, exhibit clear signs of mourning when a loved one departs. Upon the death of a family member, they are known to revisit gravesites, touch and caress the remains, and partake in behaviors such as pacing and spending extended periods near the last known location of the deceased.
- Canine LongingDogs may experience grief in the form of separation anxiety, manifesting as increased clinginess, loss of appetite, or altered moods and activity levels. In some cases, they may display behaviors like searching for their missing companions or distress when left alone.
Species-Specific Grief
While all these creatures can experience grief, their unique behaviors and social structures shape how they express mourning. Cats, elephants, and dogs each offer a different perspective on the universality of loss and the remarkable ways in which creatures cope with it.
[1] Behavioral changes in pet cats: Assessment of the influence of social environment, age, and health on a psychoevolutionary model of behavior – Cristina M. Linares-Gоmez, Irina A. Ryabinina, Ramon Serrano, Silvia del Bosque, Laura Macher, Carlos Castillejo, Juan Bernal, Cristina Castiñeiras, Vicente Mollá, Fernando Iniesta, David Espinosa.[2] Elephants – The Big Picture.[4]Mourning My Dog: Coping Reactions to Canine Death — Lee C. Niel, PhD, ABPP[5] How Do Cats Grieve? — CATCH (Carly's Animal Care and Training Hub)
- Cats, part of various animal species, show their grief subtly through altered vocalization patterns, decreased appetite, changes in energy levels, and either increased solitude or a search for extra companionship, much like elephants and dogs do.
- A prolonged grieving process can be observed in cats, with behavioral changes lasting for several months on average before normalizing within six months.
- Regarding personal-growth and education-and-self-development, understanding the grief of pets like cats is crucial for enhancing the bond between them and their owners, aiding in the healing process and promoting a better lifestyle for both.
- Elephants, a disadvantaged species in the wild due to poaching and habitat loss, exhibit signs of mourning by revisiting gravesites, touching and caressing the remains, and spending extended periods near the last known location of the deceased.
- Each animal species has its unique way of dealing with grief, from the pacing and touch behavior of elephants to the vocalizations of mourning cats and canine displays of separation anxiety, offering different perspectives on the universality of loss and the remarkable ways in which creatures cope with it.
