One of my cat just lost his brother. We don't know what happened to him, but it's likely that he got hit by a car or something. He's been missing 3 days and we can't find him. We have quite a few other cats, but these two were the youngest and VERY close. All the cats are inside/outside and they all got along pretty well. Now this one just stays outside and never comes in, and when I bring him in, he cries like they do when they're going to the vet and he wants to go outside. When he's outside, he just stays in one spot and stares into space. He doesn't want to eat or anything. I've held him and talked with him and he doesn't struggle or anything, but he also doesn't purr, anymore. I don't want him to starve himself ... how can I help?
2006-11-30 13:22:56 · 11 answers · asked by Maetel 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
He knows his brother is not in the house. He is wanting to stay out to look for him. For now, maybe take some food out to him. It is very hard for a cat to lose a special friend. They do have feelings and grieve like people do. They just have a way of getting on with it a little faster than people. Animals have a way of resigning themselves to the inevitable.
I hope his brother comes back for him. If and when he does, maybe you could make them inside cats and keep them safe for each other.
2006-11-30 14:00:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I was in the exact situation you are in several years ago. My cat Emma vanished. Her and my other were very close. Slept together, groomed eachother...etc My cat Jazmin went through a similar depression too and it was so hard because you wish you just explain the situation to them so that they could understand.
The best thing you can do is make sure to give your cats lots of attention and love. Try to take its mind of things by playing with it, and try new games. One game I played with my cat that always cheered it up was I'd flick cat food (one piece at a time) across the kitchen floor. She loved chasing it! Just a suggestion.
And just so you know, we completely gave up on my cat coming home. I searched and searched for her for months until I decided that maybe she had been hit by a car and it was a lost cause. Eight months later I got a call from a vet saying that someone had a rescued a stray cat from the country about a 30 minute drive from here. The vet checked her for a tattoo or microchip and was able to trace her back to me!! So after almost a year, I was able to bring my cat back home. It was amazing. The best part of it all though was seeing her literally run up to Jazmin as soon as I got her home and the two of them went and napped together. It was like she never left.
So never give it up!!! Keep your cat happy and occupied for now, and you never know what could happen in the next little while :)
2006-11-30 21:50:14 · answer #2 · answered by xxshay_leexx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's so sad. He wants to be out in case his brother returns and cannot understand what may have happened and why he has not come home.
Cats definitely grieve when they lose their human or cat companion. Your cat can be treated for grief with a 30C dose of Ignatia which you can get at a health food store. He will still miss his companion and it will lift some of the heaviness from his heart so that he can start eating again and go on with his life.
Don't hesitate to talk to him about his brother and his loss. Though he can't understand your words he will resonant with your feelings.
2006-11-30 21:35:28 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, sounds like he is missing the other kitty. I'm soooo sorry you lost him. But for your cat whose depressed, the best thing for you to do right now is keep on reassuring him with lots of attention. He is staying outside to look out for the missing brother. Eventually, he will realize that the other kitty will not be returning. In the meantime, becuase there are other cats around and becuase you are there to provide security (safety and food), the kiity will "come around" and accept his sibling's loss. Cats are survivors and in the wild, the lossof siblings must happen to them a lot. Like us, they will hope, then grieve then... accept and get on with life. Just keep on encouraging him to eat and play.
2006-11-30 21:34:28 · answer #4 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same thing happened to me. my two cats were about a year old and they were best friends. they were too indoor/outdoor cats. so one day sparcle just didn't come home. we called the animal shelter and put out flyers but nothing helped. he was so sad. they usually went to my neighbors yard together but now he doesn't go there. one of our neighbors had a litter of kittens and have us one. and it helped him get over sparcle's absence a bit. but since you have cats and he's still sad i don't know what you can do. you should probably try to give him his favorite treats to eat and pet him more often. you should also try to play with him. it might make him happy and he could get a little better.well i hope your kitty gets better. best of luck â¥
2006-11-30 22:10:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe he is sick - has he seen a vet???
Have you called your SPCA or animal shelter to see if they found your other kitty? 3 days isnt long - he might still turn up - but I will say its VERY common for people to steal outdoor cats and "get rid of them" often taking them to other part of town and dumping them.. well or worse..
its NEVER safe for cats to go out.. in future you should look into building a cat run for them....
yes cats can get depressed but you need to rule out medical reasons first - have him see a vet
2006-11-30 21:28:32 · answer #6 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's so sad, poor kitty!
I'm not sure what I would do, if this happened to one of my kitties, but I guess I'd try to keep him distracted, and hold him a lot. Is he drinking water? If not, you may want to take him to the vet and have him hydrated.
Poor little kitty...
2006-11-30 21:28:44 · answer #7 · answered by silvercomet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your cat will be fine in a week or two. cats love to eat and get fat this time of year. get canned cat food and he or she will for sure be happy.feed it all it can eat
2006-11-30 21:32:59 · answer #8 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
believe it or not, i've had the same problem. It takes a lot of love and holding, and also playing! I used a peice of string and slithered it all over the floor. Also, try putting his food in the blender. I did so, and it was easier to spoon feed it (don't forget to add water) and soon, my cat Cocoa was back to her normal self. Please Please PLEASE e-mail me back on your cat's progress at princess_rsm@yahoo.com.
thanks!
2006-11-30 21:32:12 · answer #9 · answered by lulu b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
awwwwwwww.thats so sad ...well u could buy him some toys to play with...buy him 1 and see how it goes and if he play with it buy him more.........or just take him to the vet
2006-11-30 21:28:18 · answer #10 · answered by monica s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋