Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows if cats can grieve and become depressed? My year old male Ragdoll has really lost weight, and seems most of the time uninterested in food, it's upsetting to see him so thin. He's been checked over several times by my vet, with regular weighings, and the time before last, he'd lost a little more than the time before, and last time, he'd only gained 4g. I haven't changed his food or anything, and the vet can't find anything wrong apart from a small lump in his abdomen which doesn't move or get any bigger, but we think it may be scar tissue from when he had his retained testicle removed. The only thing I can think of that's changed, and it was about the time he lost interest in his food, was that my Staffy sadly had to be put to sleep at the end of August, and they were very close. Could losing his friend have had this effect in him?

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Yes, without question.

When Henry our terrier died in July, Thomas our cat got very depressed... He started eating loads more and would mope around looking for him and you could tell in his change of personality he was grieving. Sadly Thomas himself died in December of cancer.... But I like to think he's back with his brother at Rainbow bridge.

Hope your cat gets over losing his friend in time x

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Debs

Lives with a wonderful husband, 2 adorable rescue kitties Harry and Sabrina, and a flock of pampered pet chickens.

Awwww I'm so sorry about your pets.

It has been months now though, and he's still the same. We got another dog, but he doesn't seem at all attached to her like he was Fen. xx

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Sorry he's not bonded with the new dog... Although its only been 5 months.... And cats are perceptive creatures, so I think they do feel things acutely.

Give him time x

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Debs

Lives with a wonderful husband, 2 adorable rescue kitties Harry and Sabrina, and a flock of pampered pet chickens.

Thank you, it's hard to think he's sad. xx

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Amber - How much weight has he lost altogether?

Sounds to me you could be dealing with a medical problem here as well as grief and I think it's important to investigate things further if only to exclude it completely. The grief will pass but a medical condition would only get worse. Has he ever had an ultrasound to explore this lump for instance? Not saying it's anything serious-might be adhesions ( can be painful ) for example or if located in the stomach could well explain the reduced appetite. This would be my next step.

Yes, I concur with Ianthi's post - I think your vet should investigate further. I do believe he is grieving but it is a little worrying he hasn't gained any weight and is still off his food after all this time. Could you contact his breeder for a chat and just see if they perhaps know how his litter brothers/sisters are doing (it would be interesting to see the breeder has maybe had updates) to see what sort of difference there is (longshot but may be worth asking).

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

Thank you for your replies. Yes, I am worried, so am taking him back to the vets tomorrow when I take my other cat. He has always been an ill cat ever since the day I got him from the breeder! He was born with a severely kinked tail, which the breeder didn't tell me about until we visited him! He had Giardia from day 1 and runny eyes, which the breeder denied all knowledge of, and said her other cats were fine! His PCR test also showed that as well as Giardia, he was positive for Feline Coronavirus. The vet said his runny eyes could be due to the FC, and they have never stopped running, but the Maxitrol drops do help if they are particularly bad. I have no faith in the breeder at all, and I believe she knows her cats are ill! It took months of him having the runs before his Giardia was finally sorted and he was better. I will ask the vet what else he can do or try, as I'm going out of my mind with worry. He's lost about half a kilo, and doesn't look lovely and chunky like how he used to with his big fat pad hanging. I can feel his spine, it's horrible. He does eat, but it's usually about 10-20g a feed, rather than the 35-40g he used to eat twice a day, and sometimes, he just won't eat any of it! I just want him better!

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!

Yes I believe they can get depressed. When our Dad was ill he was in and out of hospital sometimes for months at a time but Boris wouldn't behave any differently. When he passed away he was searching the house for ages trying to find him and pining and crying all the time. It was so sad.

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Adopted by:

Ginge - Abby guinea piggy
Bubbles - English crested piggy
Mackenzie - English crested piggy
Skit - Standard (but cute) piggy
Max - Ragdoll x cat
The Rainbow Fish
Rest in peace my lovely furfamily that are no longer with us.

Awww that's so sad.

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Amber,

mum of Poppy- Chihuahua cross Yorkshire Terrier, Marlow- Ragdoll, Tootsie- Persian, Bramble- moggy kitty, Tuki- African Grey, Loki- yellow sided Conure, George- Hermann's tortoise, Clover and Bluebell- Pekin bantams, Violet- Pekin cross Serama, and Blossom- bearded Silkie bantam!