I have compressed the results of a research project by Prof. Jennifer Vonk and Brittany Greene entitled: Is companion animal loss cat-astrophic? Responses of domestic cats to the loss of another companion animal, into an infographic in order try and get Google to recognise its existence as Google’s catastrophic algorithm changes four months ago have all but destroyed this website and millions of others. Sorry about the whinge.
For many cat caregivers this study does not significantly add to their knowledge but for many it will and I regard it as a useful addition to our database on feline behaviour as it enhances the fact that cats are sentient creatures deserving of our respect. These kinds of studies help cat welfare as people who abuse cats and other animals can’t understand the concept of sentience or are insensitive to it.
Cats have emotions. We are learning how deep and complex those emotions are. However, daily we know more about animal sentience and I believe that one day, years hence, we will be shocked by our often-inhumane behaviour towards animals in the context of the pain and distress that it causes.
RELATED: Anticipatory grief on the imagined passing of your cat companion
Often the grief experienced by cat caregivers on the passing of their cat companion is greater than on the passing of a close relative or person with whom they were close. This certainly applies to me. It is a reflection on the true family member status of companion animals in society. There has been a huge change over the past 100 years in the relationship between cat and human. The cat has been brought in from the cold into the family home and the emotional warmth of a family relationship. This is another reason why cats are plausible considered to be social animals. They form close connections with their owners and other family members both human and feline (or canine).
Link to the study referred to: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106355
