Hi I only joined the group yesterday and a member suggested I might enjoy this forum.I lost my 9 year old Boxer,Harry almost 3 weeks ago.I'm just about coping and now we're looking forward to the arrival of a new puppy anytime.My main worry is Tigger our 6 yr old cat!He's known Harry all his life and I'm sure he's fretting for him
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He's a very nervous cat ,he was ill treated as a kitten before we got him,but since Harry died he's worse than ever and just seemss soooo sad,he must wonder whats happened to his big best friend.I'd be grateful for any suggestions as to how I can help him,he's getting a lot of cuddles and I'm trying to coax him with his favoutite food etc.I'm hoping the puppy will help,at least it'll be smaller than Tigger,so he'll be able to be the boss for a change(for a while anyway lol) Anyway,any tips on how I can help both his fretting and nervousness would be very welcome,take care and thanks.Love Ginnie.
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[Doody]

Hi ((Ginnie)) I'm sorry for the loss of your precious pet.

I've had cases of my pets mourning, but one in particular was really bad. We almost lost her due to depression and anorexia because she wouldn't eat, drink, go potty, nothing. Took extreme intervention to save her life.

So I guess my best advice would be to be sure to keep your pet eating and drinking right now. They can lose their will and stop eating and once they do that, you have to play catch up.

And of course lots and lots of love and lots more once the new puppy comes. They will adjust.

Bless your little babie's hearts!

[Doody]

Oh! And we had a thread going not long ago about pets and their feelings. You might want to read that as well.


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[Bannet]

Ginny
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I do believe that pets mourn. I lost my beloved golden last year at 16 years old. My yellow lab wouldn't eat for a few days. Moped around the house and when we went outside he sniffed all over the place like he was looking for her.

Within a week or so he was back to his self but I felt sad for him. She was his playmate.

Hopefully your new furbaby will be good for your cat.

Good luck
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[braingonebad]

Even my birds grieved when Sophie died. Jes said Ow ow ow.. tucked his head under his wing and didn't eat for days. Jake climbed out to me and said for the first time "Love you"

My other dog was still a pup, and he would look up with those sad eyes and sigh.

I would pick him up and cuddle him with Sophie's pillow, so he could smell her. We would bring flowers to her grave under the pear tree and I'd talk to him, hug him while I bawled my eyes out.

You know, he still snags a flower now and then, if I'm dead heading, and drags it over to her.

I let him know she was gone. And that it hurt me too. But that we had each other and that's how we'd get through it.

Aw crud I'm crying now...


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[mrsD]

Our middle cat was very attached to our Rufus ...he was a male, they had a great relationship. He used to come up to her and put his paw and leg around her shoulders. They'd wrestle and play and she would scream and he'd do that more...both were neutered too.

Then he was hit by a police car who used to hide behind the bushes in our yard.
He was about 2 yrs old. It was tragic..he never went in the street, and the police took him to the vet at 6am, but he was gone.

Well we all cried buckets, because Rufus was funny, but not too bright...but very lovable

We didn't expect the huge depression to hit our middle girl. She was out of action for a good 3 months. So I had to get another cat for her, to play with, but it was never the same.

This same cat mopes when my husband is not around for a while. On vacation he leaves us and comes home to work, and returns in a week or so. She always reacts to that. It is like he is leaving forever-she'll stop eating etc. I have to put out his shirts and jackets(unwashed) for her to lie on to keep her sane.

Our oldest cat does complain when I used to go to work, or if I am gone all day...she'll vocalize to my husband about it around 4pm. But that is the extent of that.

The deer up North allowed Rufus to hang with them. The deer always chase our other cats. I guess they thought he was a squirrel because of his coloring and bushy tail? This is a picture of him watching Effie (years ago) eat. We thought he would get stomped for sure, but nope! The deer always chased and tried to stomp our black cats!