Do Pets Grieve? Helping the Animals Left Behind

When one pet dies, the house changes for everyone in it, including the animals. Many families notice it within days: a dog waiting by the door, a cat calling through the house at night, a pet who suddenly will not leave your side. You are not imagining it. Researchers have started to measure these changes, and what they found can help you understand what your surviving pet is going through, and what actually helps.

Quick answer: Many pets do react to the loss of a companion. In a 2022 study of 426 dog owners, 67% of surviving dogs sought more attention and 57% played less, and a 2024 study of 412 cats found similar changes. Keep routines steady, offer extra attention, and watch their eating. Seeing the body made no measurable difference in the studies.

Do dogs grieve when another dog dies?

The best evidence so far suggests many do. A 2022 study in Scientific Reports asked 426 owners who had lost one of two dogs how the surviving dog behaved afterward. Most reported changes:

Two findings stand out. The closeness of the bond mattered more than how long the dogs had lived together: changes were more likely when the dogs had been friendly or one had been "parental" toward the other, and when they used to share food. And the owner's own grief and anger were linked to bigger changes in the dog, which suggests our pets also respond to us.

These are owners' reports rather than direct observation, and the researchers are careful about what they can prove. But the pattern is consistent, and it matches what many families describe.

Do cats grieve too?

Yes, by the same measures. An earlier study of 152 cats and 159 dogs in Australia and New Zealand found that the most common changes in both species were more affectionate behavior (78% of cats, 74% of dogs) and territorial behavior (63% of cats, 60% of dogs). Cats were also reported to call out more often (43%) and more loudly (32%).

A 2024 study by Brittany Greene and Jennifer Vonk at Oakland University surveyed the owners of 412 cats. As NPR reported, surviving cats slept, ate and played less, and sought more attention, hid more, spent more time alone and appeared to look for their lost companion. The closer the bond, the stronger the response, and it made no significant difference whether the companion who died was a cat or a dog.

What does grief look like in a pet?

The signs reported across these studies are:

• Seeking you out more: following you, wanting to be held, demanding attention.
• Less play and less activity, or more sleep.
• Eating less, or eating more slowly.
• Calling out or whining more than usual, especially cats.
• Searching: waiting by the door, or spending time in the other pet's favorite spot.
• Hiding or withdrawing, more common in cats.
• Being more fearful or unsettled by small changes.

Not every pet shows grief, and that is not a sign they did not care. Some pets barely react at all.

Should your other pets be there, or see the body?

You can decide this on practical grounds, because the research found no measurable difference. In the 2022 dog study, surviving dogs behaved the same whether or not they had seen the body. The 2016 study found the same for both dogs and cats, and in the 2024 cat study, witnessing the death made no significant difference either.

When pets did see the body, most simply investigated it: in the 2016 study, 73% of the animals that saw their companion's body sniffed and examined it. If your other pet is calm, having them in the room or letting them see the body afterward is fine. If they are anxious, boisterous or likely to disturb the vet, it is equally fine to keep them in another room. In-home vets are used to both. Our guide to preparing for your pet's euthanasia covers this and the other choices worth making ahead of the day.

How can you help a grieving pet?

Mostly through steadiness. A few things help most pets:

1. Keep the routine. Meals, walks and bedtime at the usual times give a pet something predictable while the household feels different.
2. Offer attention, but follow their lead. If your pet wants to be close, let them. If they want space, give it.
3. Keep them moving. Walks, play and short training games help a dog who has become flat. For a cat, short play sessions with a favorite toy help.
4. Leave familiar things for a while. There is no need to remove the other pet's bed or blanket straight away; many pets seek out these places, and the scent can be comforting.
5. Look after yourself too. The 2022 study linked owners' grief to bigger changes in their dogs. You do not have to hide your sadness, but your own support matters for both of you. Our list of pet loss support hotlines and groups is a place to start.

When should you call the vet?

Grief and illness can look alike, especially in an older pet who may have health problems of their own. Call your vet if:

• Your pet stops eating. A dog who has not eaten for more than a day or two, or a cat who stops eating at all, needs to be seen; cats in particular can become seriously ill when they go without food.
• The low mood does not lift, or gets worse, after a few weeks.
• You notice new physical signs, such as vomiting, weight loss, limping or changes in thirst or toileting. These point to illness rather than grief.

How long does a pet's grief last?

Usually weeks to a few months. In the 2016 study, the median length of the reported changes was under six months for both dogs and cats. In the 2022 dog study, about a quarter of owners who saw changes said they lasted longer than six months. Most pets settle gradually as new routines take hold.

Should you get another pet to help?

Not as a cure for grief. The research has not tested whether a new companion helps a grieving pet, and a new animal can add stress at a time when your pet already feels unsettled. The right time for another pet depends on your household and your own readiness, not only on the animal left behind. If you do bring a new pet home, introduce them slowly and let the relationship form at its own pace.

Whatever your pets show, your own loss is real too. Our guide to grieving your pet is there for the weeks ahead.