My poor cat!

[lettucegrow!]

So, what do you think about animals and grief or feeling changes in situations? My poor moggie, Louis has become the most cuddley lap cat since my husband passed away, and even more vocal. It's like he's looking for him. I suppose it's all about a change in our routine and he was very much my husbands cat in the evenings,you'd never have thought he didn't like cats at one stage and certainly didn't really want one.
Having to type this one handed as Louis is on my lap and I'm having to hold on to him to stop him falling off!

[veggiechicken]

Lovely Louis!!
I'm sure animals feel a sense of loss and a need for comforting - they need it and know that you do too.
My dog didn't seem to leave my side ........

[julesapple]

I've C&P this from my other post;

'Cats do grieve. One of ours, Mousy, died last year. Our neighbour found him on their lawn one morning. He was only 4. We suspect a heart attack. But Timothy, one of our other cats, was very close to Mousy and he sat and howled on the spot where Mousy died every day for about a fortnight (thankfully neighbours are elderly and very deaf). We think he could still smell Mousy until the rain washed the scent away.'

Mousy was the cat that Tim curled up with, he used to wash Tim and clean any fighting injuries he came home with. Tim still jumps on to our bed now, and you can see he was expecting to find Mousy there, where he always was.

[Bren In Pots]

Louis is bound to miss your husband he was a big part of his life plus he probable knows that you need extra cuddles just now.

[Feral007]

Animals miss people a great deal. The last little dog we got took several weeks to settle here. He missed his last family, first few weeks were ok, but then he had to cope with it being permanent.

Evil Kitty didn't take to No: 1 son moving out...when he came back for a visit the cat sought out his backpack and p'd on it!

[WendyC]

We have two kittens, now 9 months so nearly grown up. The male, Percy, craves company. He loves my teenage son and in the mornings sits outside the bedrooms, squeaking like a pig until he is let in.
When No1 son went to uni September last year, our then elderly cat Nellie wouldn't go in his room, even a comfy bed didn't entice her! When he came back at Christmas she was back in with him. At the end of the holiday she sat outside again. Unfortunately she died a few weeks later but I've no doubt she missed him.

[Jeanied]

I lost my OH and then two of my three cats in the space of a couple of years. My one remaining cat really latched on and has been ruling the roost till I introduced the puppy. Now upstairs is cat land and downstairs is dog world - separated by a baby gate.
The cat is my nightime comfort and the dog makes sure I get up in the mornings.

[lettucegrow!]

Thanks for your comments everyone. It's really sad isn't it , but the extra cuddles are really lovely. I'm off work at the momnent so he has constant company but I am going to have to go back to work in some capacity.
I'm also thinking of getting a puppy once I know what I am going to be doing workwise. Might have to get some tips from you Jeanied about introductions.

[chris]

I think that they (animals) grieve, our dog did when someone in my family died. Infact, he did for the best part of a year.

[alldigging]

Our remaining cat grieved for the one we said goodbye to recently.
She's changed though, much more growly at other cats who have the cheek to come and look through the french doors though.
And more affectionate than before. She was always my little kitty but she's so cute and lovely these days.(We'll ignore the furball incident at 4am the other morning)

[Nicos]

When we first moved here 'my' cat was killed on the road within 2 months. Our other cat Hewie kept looking out for him until we found him and brought him home 2 days later.
We decided to show Hewie Neo's body before we buried him.
Hewie had a really good stare and sniff...and then walked off..then never looked for him again.

I'm glad Hewie saw him- I think it helped him realise Neo was gone for ever.

I'm really pleased that Louis has turned to you for comfort/affection lettuce...you will both benefit from a good cuddle and extra attention at this sad time.xx

Lovely piccie by the way...precious moments eh??

[Jelliebabe]

That pic is lovely of both of the Lettuce! Really natural.

[lettucegrow!]

Louis is such a soppy thing now, he wasn't when he first came home from the rescue centre and I loved that the very person ,my husband , who really didn't want a cat ended up getting the most cuddles, and loving him!

[Bill HH]

We had an old farm worker in our village who had a sheep dog called bob, a very intelligent dog he was too. He used to fetch the mans morning paper from the village shop every day. Unfortunately the man passed away and Bob was distraught, it was horrible to see, he roamed the village carry the mans slipper for months. He also used to still fetch the paper but didnt take it back to the mans wife, no one ever found out what he did with it. In the end they had to have him put down, he was waisting away. So yes animals do grieve.

[lettucegrow!]

That's a really sad story Bill. Animals must know when people are not with us any more and I don't think it's just the change of routine. I'm typing this with my cat curled up on me , he obviously needs the company more at the moment as he would have been out roaming before.