Do Other Pets Know When A Pet Dies?

In a multi-pet household, one pet has to go through the unfortunate experience of coping with the loss of another. If you have recently lost a pet, you are probably wondering if your other pet grasps this. And the short answer is yes, your pet is mourning the loss of her companion.

Pets don’t understand death the way humans do, but they mourn the loss of other pets. The more social a pet is, the more he will miss his partner when she is gone. Moreover, he will also pick up on your sadness and mourn with you.

In some ways, pets go through more pain than humans when another pet dies. Humans understand enough not to expect the deceased pet to return. On the other hand, pets know that they have lost their companion but they also hope to see them again.

Read below to understand how your pets view death and deal with the loss of other pets in the family.

Loss And Routine: How Most Pets Perceive Death

When you leave for work for the very first time, your pet might not understand that you will come back. But as you continue going to work and coming back, he begins to expect your return. The expectation of returning needs to be trained. This is more obvious if you adopt an adult dog.

By default, departure is taken as a permanent loss. If your pets spend a lot of time apart every day, then understanding death might be hard for either of them.

But if they are together all the time, then the death of one is noticed by the other immediately. Unless the deceased pet used to leave and return regularly, the surviving pet will see the loss with an air of permanence.

How Long Do Pets Grieve?

Depending on how social your pet is, he will grieve for up to 10 months. However, most pets stop grieving at roughly 8 weeks. Factors that affect this include the owner’s emotional state as well.

This is especially the case for dogs who get sad not just because they miss their deceased companion but also because of their owner’s grief.

The table below covers the average time different types of pets take to move on after the death of another pet in the house.

In the above table, I’m taking liberty with the word “grief.” Animal grief is not the same as human grief. It is a close approximation, though. If we take all negative emotions associated with loss, then yes, pretty much every type of pet grieves the loss of another.

It is also worth noting that most pets grieve the deaths of other pets belonging to the same species. Social species like dogs and socially nurtured cats can bond with pets from other species.

What Can Pet Owners Do To Help?

If your pet is showing signs of distress after the death of another pet, you can help them by:

• Spending more time with them – Pets can miss their deceased friends when they are lonely. You can reduce their loneliness by spending more time with them.
   
• Being happy for/with them – Pets like dogs and cats can pick up on their owners’ emotional state. So, think happy thoughts when you are around your pet. But remember to give yourself the room to grieve as well.
   
• Filling their social gaps – Some pets, like fish and birds, need immediate social replacement. Others, like dogs, can make do with doggy dates. Make sure to look up the social needs of your pet because some pets, like rabbits, can die of loneliness.
   
• Giving them time – Humans grieve their pets longer than most pets grieve other pets. Your pet will most likely be okay within a few days. Sometimes, a pet can take 4 to 8 weeks to get used to the absence of their companion. Give your pet the time he needs.
   
• Finding them a companion – Human grief isn’t fixed with replacement. But pet grief can be relieved by introducing a new pet.

When Is It Time For A New Pet?

Pets like guinea pigs, fish, and birds need immediate replacement when one of a pair dies because of how negatively loneliness affects the surviving ones.

Ultimately, all pets that get along with other pets need a new companion. But you might feel icky about replacing a recently deceased pet. After all, it was a family member.

It helps if you don’t see it as a replacement. You are simply bringing a new friend for your existing pet. And you will know when the time is right for that because you will feel ready for a new pet.

Unless your pet needs immediate company, feel free to take your time to cope with your loss. Don’t rush to get a new pet and don’t force yourself to move on.

You can recharge your social pet’s battery by arranging playtime dates for them. This works for dogs and super social cats.

How Do I Know If My Pet Is Grieving?

Finally, you need to be able to tell when your pet has moved on. For that, you need to understand the signs of grief and watch out for when they disappear.

Dogs generally slouch and disengage with their surroundings while fish usually stop moving around too much. Cats get quiet and birds can even shed tears.

Different pets have different ways of grieving. And ironically, the difference is what they all have in common.

When your pet is dealing with the loss of its partner or friend, he will act differently. But don’t worry. This is often temporary, and your surviving pet will return to normal.

Final Thoughts

Pets usually know when another pet goes missing. They show symptoms of grief and loneliness. So, even if animals do not grasp the concept of death like we do, they have the capacity to understand when they have lost a partner or a friend.

That said, animals do seem to move on quicker than humans, except in the case of species that mate for life. If your dog or cat is acting differently after you have lost another pet, offer them your company and compassion. Both of you will get through this.