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Cat Symptoms Yowling, “I’m Sad”

Cat Symptoms Yowling, “I’m Sad”
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August 27, 2025
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair

“Our 5 year-old cat, Nucla, lost his twin brother, Delta. He grieved with his furry, 17 year-old friend Kalila. They yowled and cuddled. Then about one month later, Nucla lost Kalila. Nucla was unconsolable. He wanted constant attention, following me everywhere. No amount of love was enough. He yowled louder than I have ever heard. It made my aching heart ache still more.”

This was the sorrow of my friends Rebecca and Clarke who along with so many other cat owners have witnessed their precious cats grieve for the loss of a furry friend.

According to veterinarians, Dr. Tammy Hunter and Dr. Lynn Buzhardt, affiliated with VCA Animal Hospitals (Veterinary Centers of America), “cat behaviors show they can be aloof but they also are social animals that develop attachments to two and four footed family members, and when these friends pass, cats do indeed mourn.”

They note that there was research on the subject by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Their study, The Companion Animal Mourning Project, found that companion animals, particularly cats and dogs, exhibit behavioral changes associated with grief and mourning after the death of a family pet.

The data results of the survey for felines, which focused on common signs associated with mourning, concluded that “65% of cats experienced four or more behavioral changes after the loss of a family pet that indicated grief.” More specifically:

  • 46% of cats experienced a decreased appetite following the loss of a feline companion.
  • Many cats slept more than usual while some suffered insomnia.
  • Some cats changed the area of the house where they slept.
  • About 70% of cats exhibited changes in vocal patterns; some meowed more while others were quieter than they were before their loss of a companion.
  • Surviving cats were often more affectionate with their owners and became clingy.

Increased vocalization, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, lethargy and withdrawal, increased attention seeking and clinginess, pacing and searching, and acting out are all behaviors that veterinarians say may be signs of grieving for the pet who has lost a furry friend.

Hunter and Buzhardt advise ways to help your grieving cats: give them space and privacy but also be there for them as they need, showering them with attention, play, cuddles and lots of love. That and time usually help a pet heal. If it does not, you may want to talk with your veterinarian.

For Nucla who loves to play and is very social, a kitten named Beau, adopted from the Ark-Valley Humane Society, was the answer. Rebecca and Clarke slowly and carefully introduced Bonfire Beau into their home. Three weeks later there is playing, romping, a bit of mischief, and lots of cuddling. This might not be the “remedy” for all cats, but it was for Nucla. He now purrs “all is well.”

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