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| Responding to a Cat-astrophe: Owner Attachment Predicts Grief Response in Domestic Cats |
| Brittany D. B. Greene, Jennifer Vonk. Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, United States |
Grief following the loss of a companion animal has been widely studied in humans, with less known regarding the response of surviving companion animals in the household, especially domestic cats. Behaviors resembling grief following the loss of a companion animal have been observed in domestic dogs and multiple wild species. At least one study also reported changes in affectionate and territorial behaviors as well as frequency and volume of vocalizations in domestic cats following the loss of a companion animal. A total of 424 cat owners were surveyed about their own relationship and their surviving cats’ (N = 452) relationship with a deceased pet, as well as possible behavioral changes of the surviving cat following the loss of another companion animal in the household. Linear regression analyses yielded owner attachment as the primary predictor of observed behavioral changes in cats, indicating possible projection of owner grief onto surviving pets. Variables related to the relationship between companion animals, including length of time the animals lived together and time they spent interacting, also significantly predicted changes in behavior following the death. |