Has anyone had any experiences with a pet and someone dying?

Question

My daughter passed away Aug.26,she had a cat that she brought home with her about 3 months before.The cat would cry all the time,so much so that we would have to put him outside.He loved her,and was always right with her.After she died,about 2 days after the cat stopped crying,and hasn`t cried since.It`s like he knew she was sick and was going to die,now he just sits there.what do you think?

My daughter was 31 and had liver failure

Answer 1

My mother died at home, and I found her the next morning. She was laying peacefully in bed, and her dog was there, with her head on my Mom's leg. I called 911, and the people came, and this normally very kind dog, bared all her teeth, and snapped at anybody who tried to touch my mother, except me. I had to physically pick up this 55 pound dog, and put her in another room while they did what they had to do. Afterward...when I let the dog out of the room, she ran straight to the other room, and then turned and looked at me and started barking. It was a about two months, before she would stop going outside and look at my Mom's car, and whimper. My Mom was disabled and home alot, and this dog was her very faithful companion. I lost the dog also...late last year. She died in the same bedroom my Mom did, also in her sleep, with no stress, just like my Mom.

Answer 2

I am very sorry to read about your recent lose.

Yes, this cat knew that your daughter was sick and most likely in pain, the cat crying out is a way of trying to help ease her pain and give your daughter something else to think about. Now that your daughter has passed the cat is also mourning as you are, do not put him outside when this happens as he needs to know that he is still loved and it sounds like he is trying to reach out to you so that you can grieve together. When he starts crying out again and he will, try and pick him up and give him a cuddle or just a pat so he knows that you are feeling the same way as him.

Cats are very intuitive, and they do have feelings also.

Good luck to you both.

Answer 3

I am sorry to hear of your loss, a year ago I lost my 23 year old brother to cancer, I am truly sorry. To answer your question when my brother was diagnosed all he wanted was a Pit Bull. So we got him one, which became his best friend. The dog never left his side not even through the worst times when he was unpleasant from pain. The dog was totally tuned into my brother and could sense when things were going to get bad. A week before he died the dog would hide under his bed a shake. At he moment my brother passed the dog howled for 15 minutes. Animals some how since things and they might not comprehend the way we do but they do feel. The dog changed he became extremely depressed I had no idea what to do for him. I called our vet who recommended finding some article of clothing or bedding that had my brother's scent on it and give it to the dog. It seemed to bring comfort to him, he slept with it for weeks. The vet also recommended spending a lot of time with the dog to help comfort him and me. Animals are excellent to turn for comfort, they do not judge or tell you how you should feel ,they listen and love unconditionally. Its been a year and my brother's dog is doing okay, but he is not the same. He still tries to sleep in brother's room and if you say my brother's name he will look for him.

Answer 4

Not in the same way you have. My best friend, since we were small, used to come over my house almost everyday after school. We would play with my old cat. She used to love my friend. About a week before my friend died my cat stopped going near him. It turned out that he had a brain tumor that no one really knew about. Something happened to it and he died instantly. After that my cat stayed with me all the time. They say that cats know when you feel bad. My old cat would sit with me when I cried or had a headache or something and she would purr. They say the purring sort of eases the pain. I don't know if that helps. It was just my experience. It sucks...

Answer 5

Animals are very aware of their owners. When I am sick, my cats stay close to me and lick my face. When I'm happy, they're extra playful. And when I hide in my room during my roommate's parties, they hide with me.

The cat is probably in mourning. Take a shirt your daughter wore (or a blanket, etc.) and make a special bed for the cat. Her scent will make it happy and comfortable. Make sure you pet the cat and spend time with it, too. It may feel abandoned and lonely.

Perhaps you can the cat can comfort each other.

Answer 6

Oh, my sympathies on your loss. Yes, cats know stuff - it can be kind of freaky. I had a cat previously who knew when I was down, or sick and he'd stay with me. The cat could be depressed - really, and I'm honestly not strange. When we had a cat be really sick and then die, the aforementioned cat went into a funk of unbelievable proportions - we were so worried. There were problems with feeding and he refused to wash himself. It was about four to five months before he got himself out of it.

Answer 7

First, I am so very sorry for your loss. Losing a child is devestating - I can't even imagine.

But yes, cats go through a grieving process, and it's my firm belief that they know when something is wrong. He didn't want her to leave... Sooooooo Sad.

He may very well be depressed, which is why he just sits there. Give him lots of extra cuddling, and appreciate that he gave her some comfort before she passed.

Hopefully, he will give YOU some comfort on your loss.

Bless you.

Answer 8

So sorry for your terrible loss.
In my experience cats sense human discomfort and illness and react as you described. If you can keep him in your loving home, he should go back to normal behavior in time. You might want to put something that belonged to you daughter in one of his favourite sleeping places, like a scarf or a pillow case.
If you can't keep him maybe you can find some one who really loves cats to take him?

Answer 9

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. May I ask how old she was? If she was sick, the cat probably did smell it on her, like dogs that since when someone's about to have a seizure. That is sad. I bet he misses her too.

Answer 10

in the past 6 months my dad, dog and cat died i don't know what to do any more every thing around me is dying and i am pregnant what else is next .. pets always sense stuff they are amazing creatures ... he knew something was wrong mine did when my dad was dieing and stopped too.. because they know the sick person is hurting and it hurtsw them too