Do animals mourn?
Evidence shows that humans aren't the only creatures to grieve the passing of a loved one.
ALONE: A polar bear sleeps in a zoo enclosure. (Photo: jon_pajion-photos/Flickr) 
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i've had many cats over the years, but never more then 3 or 4 overlapping, and i've noticed some specific cats feeling grief and other emotions. Like one cat Charlie used to baby his baby sister cat Little Bill, and when he died of cancer, she became very depressed. Recently, we got a kitten named Andy who came to look at Little Bill as a mother, but unfortunetly Little Bill died. Andy became more dependent on me, and still hasn't fully recovered from her friends death, and its obvious because.... More
I had two cats and my younger cat spent her whole life around the older cat and when the older one died of cancer she was incredibly depressed she spent half a day curled up in a ball on my bed which wasn't like her, she usually was a happy energetic cat. Also if I was away for more than two days my younger cat would lay in the same spot just waiting for me to be home. I personally think if a domestic animal has a lot of interactions with humans and is loved and cared for the right way they.... More
I have had maybe 10 dogs (not at the same time) over the years, smart breeds. Anyway I have never seen them mourn each other or even give the impression that they realized the dead dog was missing. Maybe they hated each other ? We have lost two horses over the years one was a freak accident and one was weak after losing his mate. Horses freak out after they loose one of their own and it would have to be close if not on par with human loss.
When my neighbor was dying, he was allowed to stay at home and a nurse was their the whole time. His cat always kinda ignored him, but in those last days, she never left his side. She still sleeps everynight where his gurney once was.
My boyfriend recently passed away and his cat (who's 19- he had her as a kitten) is visibly mourning him. You can tell she misses him and she hasn't slept on his bed, where she always used to sleep, since he died.
We live on a small lake and wewe delighted when, three years ago, a pair of swans took residence. That first spring there were no cygnets, though the female did nest. Last year the same. This year to my joy mom and dad proudly showed up with two little ones. When we didn't see them for two full days I suspected the worst and on day three one cygnet was gone. I cried. This past Tuesday I watched as a bad storm was coming and noticed the female and baby in the middle of the lake. She appeared.... More
After returning from the vet after having a dog put down, the remaining dog ran around the garden looking for his mate. He came into the house leaned against the wall, put his head between his front legs and started shaking. I went to offer comfort and he snapped at me, never done this before or since. Later we gave him a treat and he buried it in the garden where the other dog used to bury his. In all it took about three months before he returned to normal.
We just lost a dog to lymphoma & our remaining 2 dogs clearly mourned.
Also, last year, a stray kitty who had been hanging around our house was attacked by presumably another animal and dragged herself back to our house, back legs / lower back clearly broken. The 4-5 other stray cats who also hung around our house (they know where to go! haha) gathered around her and stayed right by her--as did i--while we waited for help to come. She had to be put down; the remaining cats stayed.... More
I become emotional reading this article, because it rouses a vivid childhood memory. My cat, Oliver, was hit by a car and I found his body in the road when the school bus dropped me off. I wrapped him in my jacket, brought him inside, and was greeted by our other cat, Beefy. Beefy and Oliver were brothers. Beefy began meowing and rubbing my legs when I set Oliver on the floor. I was crying hysterically, and I had no idea what to do since I was alone. Beefy laid down next to his brother, placed.... More
Awww, your memory made me quite sad :(
Animals do indeed grieve, when I was younger, around 7 or 8, I had two pet rabbits called Thumper and Snowy... Now they used to sleep in a hutch outside, and Thumper had managed to 'escape' in the night (looking back I'm fairly sure he just died and my parents didn't want to tell me).
That was okay for me to deal with, but what happened after that was quite horrible. Snowy refused to eat due to the absence of Thumper and slowly starved.... More
Of course animals mourn. Any Zoo ought to have staff and vets who know this and are sensitive to the animals in their captivity. I agree with MediaGump that Gus is at a loss for his companion's absence. Even for a little while, I believe they should have at least wheeled the dead bear in and let him see/smell her body. Or given her the required shots and let her die in the enclosure. Maybe they considered all this and for reasons that we don't know, took a different decision. But the article's.... More
I don't need a study to tell me this; I've seen it first-hand. I've lived with cats all my life, and when one passes on those who are left very visibly and obviously grieve.
Our conure mourned the loss of our parakeet who was her buddy across the room. It was not until after we rescued another conure, and two more parakeets from a bird shelter, that she began to perk up. Even then it took several weeks for her to realize that it was not some elaborate scheme to gain her trust. She has returned to normal but it took almost a year.
i had a cat who got out of the house and was promptly run over by a car. while i was grieving i noticed my other kitty wasnt eating and was very lethargic. off to the vet and was told he was grieving just like i was.
why do humans think they are the only ones with intelligence and feelings?
right!!!!
mag
Central Park zoo is not a suitable environment for polar bears in the first place. Gus should be moved to a more agreeable location where he might even have company.
Animals do mourn, recently i saw a vedio that a baby elephant was electricuted near the farm land and i saw the mother elephant was into tears trying to wake up the dead, the picture was really moving.
Humans are animals, and, like MediaGump said, OF COURSE THEY MOURN! Seriously.
When my mother in laws cat passed away a week ago my cat who was her companion sat on the burial site and would not let anyone near it. She also moped and refused to eat and belive me my cat will eat anything in site. She is coming around and is now taking to sleeping on our dog who is her other companion as well. I might add her sister and my dog moped a bit but were otherwise unfased
Poor Gus! Any creature would feel a loss after spending so much time of their lives together. I understand that the zoo was thinking of helping his companion from the pain & suffering, but not allowing her to pass away with her companion seems very brutal on Gus. Perhaps she would have gone off to a corner to die, but then Gus would understand, she's dying & wants to be left alone. But from Gus' point of view, the zoo took his buddy. Poor Gus. I hope he has a short memory.
