My cat had kittens about three weeks ago. Five days ago, one of the kittens went to sleep on my bedroom floor and never woke up. My cat sniffed the dead kitten, yowled, and proceeded to ignore her other three kittens. We tried bottle-feeding the kittens, we tried tuna juice, we even tried a wet nurse, but the kittens wouldn't eat. Five days later, and all the kittens were dead. Their mother now walks around, making this piteous, tiny meow that she's never made before. She still eats, drinks, and uses the cat box normally, but she walks around the house crying, won't clean her fur, and is very very snuggly with me, but not in a joyous way. If I didn't know better, I would say she is grieving. Can cats grieve?
2006-07-13 12:42:33 · 11 answers · asked by Bastet's kitten 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
We did call the vet. The vet wasn't able to work us in, but he said that we could rub the kittens down with rubbing alcohol to stun any fleas, then pick them off one by one, which we did. The vet suggested all sorts of stuff, which we tried to no avail. The vet simply wasn't able to work us in to see him with the remaining three kittens. We tried our local humane shelter, but the lady there said that if they get kittens that young who are that sick, they simply put them down.
We had no warning with the kittens being sick. They were fine one day and dead the next. We though that maybe there was something wrong with them (a birth defect) that didn't really show itself until now.
We held little funerals for the kittens, complete with crying and all. I named them, too: Charlotte, Monkey, Crimson, and Evan.
2006-07-13 13:58:20 · update #1
The same thing happened to my cat Sugar. We had gotten her when she was a kitten, and we already had a three year old male cat named Alex. They were instantly best friends, and Alex was like a brother to her. Then, about three years later, Alex was killed while outside, we think due to a fisher cat. Everyone was sad, but Sugar was devastated. At first she was just confused, but when she realized he was gone, she went into depression. Eventually, though, she learned to move on. Last year, we got a new kitten, a little boy named Milo who looks a lot like Alex did, and that helped to end her pain.
Cats experience the same emotions we do, just in different ways. Be extra sweet to your cat, and make sure she feels loved.
2006-07-13 13:55:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I feel enormously sorry for your poor mama kitty :(
And yes, when a mother cat loses her kittens, she grieves. Don't let anyone try to tell you cats don't grieve.
I was just wondering, maybe you did do this, but why didn't you take the kittens to the vet when they wouldnt eat? They may have been able to save them with an IV or a number of other things.
2006-07-13 19:50:02 · answer #2 · answered by skillet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can become depressed. Mine did when I moved out from my old roommates house into my own.....which meant leaving behind my roommates kitty. My cat cried and yowled all the time, especially at night, walking around "looking" for her friend. I would ask your vet what you can do, but as far as home remedies, you can go to Petsmart and buy Feliway, which mimics the pheremones that cats give off and is supposed to calm kitties and make them feel better. Also, please get you cat spayed! Many humane societies will do it for under $50.
2006-07-13 19:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by jmollard01 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats have the same emotional capacity as humans do. That she is still eating is a good sign. Like was said already, just give her lots of attention. Other than just being there for her, there is not much else you can do.
2006-07-13 20:11:03 · answer #4 · answered by tigrera84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they do though it is great that she is eating and drinking because mine didn't which worried me more. (though he is now). So are you brushing her since she is not grooming herself? If she doesn't start grooming herself in a couple of days I would take her to the vet to see if she has a medical problem other then grieving it is just normal for a cat not to clean itself.
2006-07-13 19:54:31 · answer #5 · answered by kittymeow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm really sorry. That almost made me cry. =(
They have emotions just like humans, so I'd say that yes, she is depressed, poor thing.
When our hamster died, my cat was sad. He'd walk past the hall and look at the cage and see it empty and quiet.. He moped around for days. They were pals. (Thats rare, eh? A cat and a hamster being friends. Who would've thought?) She'll be fine eventually. I'm sorry about your loss. Take care.
2006-07-13 22:30:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes but its a diferent kind of grieving. She is still looking for them and it will take a few weeks and she will be back to her old self. Poor kitty. She is just still trying to find them and do her momma job. Dont worry tho, she will get better.
2006-07-13 23:52:00 · answer #7 · answered by The Kings 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is terribly sad. Yes, cats do grieve, and she is likely feeling a tremendous loss right now.
2006-07-13 19:46:23 · answer #8 · answered by Audrey A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sure can. Just give her time, and give her extra love & attention. Let her grieve at her own pace, and just make sure she doesn't get so depressed that she stops eating and/or drinking.
2006-07-13 19:47:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course they can be greived. she is probably lonely and depressed about her kittens. take her to the vet and try to play with her or amuse her.
2006-07-14 14:55:03 · answer #10 · answered by twinklee_x3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋