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Surviving cats and dogs can show behavioral changes after another household pet dies. Studies based on owner reports suggest these changes may be grief-related, but they do not prove what an animal feels or that its experience is the same as a human’s.
What changes might a surviving pet show?
Owners have reported changes in affection, territorial behavior, eating, sleep, play, fearfulness and vocalization after a companion animal dies. The pattern is not identical for every animal, and it can differ between cats and dogs.
In a 2016 preliminary questionnaire study, owners most commonly reported changes in affectionate behavior: 74% of dogs and 78% of cats. Changed territorial behavior was reported for 60% of dogs and 63% of cats. Owners also reported lower food consumption and more sleep in dogs, and more frequent or louder vocalization in cats. These are results from the study’s respondents, not population-wide rates or clinical measurements. The University of Queensland research team received 279 viable surveys concerning 159 dogs and 152 cats.
What do studies say about dogs and cats?
Dogs: behavior and the relationship between animals
A 2022 online questionnaire study asked 426 Italian adults who had owned at least two dogs about a surviving dog after another dog died. Respondents reported changes in play, sleep, eating and fearfulness. The reported changes varied with the relationship between the dogs; owners’ grief and anger were also associated with negative behavioral changes. The authors concluded that a dog “may show grief-related behavioural and emotional patterns” when a close dog dies, while noting that some patterns may relate to the owner’s emotional state. Because the findings came from owner reports, they cannot by themselves establish the dog’s subjective experience. The study was published in Scientific Reports.
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- Memorial Frame for Loss Of Dog: A beautiful pet memorial gift for dog memorial or dog loss sympathy gift for any friend who has recently lost their beloved pet. No longer by my side, but forever in my heart
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Cats: behavior and shared history
A 2024 study asked 412 cat caregivers about 452 surviving cats after a household companion animal died. It reported behavioral changes associated with the surviving cat’s previous interactions with the deceased animal and the length of time they had lived together. Caregiver attachment also predicted reports of increased attention seeking, which the authors noted could partly reflect projection of the caregiver’s grief. These findings are suggestive, not direct evidence of what cats feel. The cat study appeared in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
How the evidence fits together
All three studies relied on caregiver or owner reports, and they used different samples and methods. Their percentages and findings should not be treated as interchangeable. Taken together, they support the careful conclusion that a pet’s behavior can change after a companion dies; they do not settle whether the animal experiences grief as humans understand it.
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How long can behavior changes last?
In the 2016 survey, the median duration of reported changes was under six months for both cats and dogs. That is a result from that survey, not a deadline, prediction for an individual pet or assurance that changes will resolve within that period.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you contact a veterinarian?
A change after a household loss may be related to that disruption, but behavior alone cannot rule out illness or another cause. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine advises a physical examination when a behavior change persists. Contact your veterinarian if a change continues or you are concerned about your pet’s health. Cornell’s veterinary guidance discusses the need to assess persistent behavior changes.
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