I had two cats until a few weeks ago.  My boy cat went outside early in the morning and was attacked and killed by coyotes.  My girl cat is inconsolable.  She calls out the door to him several times a day.  She walks around the house sniffing where he had been.  Now, shes been trying to get out, I think to look for him.  She never went outside before.  Shes a little girl.  It is so sad to watch her and she is lonely.  She wont let me out of her sight and calls to me to be where she is.  She hardly ever talked befor and I dont know what to do for her.  She is part wild, I adopted her when she was only a few days old and just fed her with an eyedropper and nurtured her to live. It was hard for here to accept the boy kitty - she really dislkes change. What can I do for her.  Why do cats get depressed and how can I help her.

That’s heart breaking. I’m sure she just misses her boyfriend.  Have you thought about adopting another cat?

I’m so sorry about your boy kitty.  We have lots of coyotes around our house, and I always worried about my cats when I was growing up.  I think you should definitely try to get another friend for your girl cat as soon as you are ready.  It might be hard to adjust to something new again, but I’m sure she’s really lonely without any other cats right now.  It might help her forget her lost friend if she had someone new to keep her company.  Maybe she would even help take care of a younger kitten?

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved cat.

Think me crazy, but I fully believe that, as cats are sociable animals, and beling around us, understand English. What may help your cat is to talk to her, perhaps she would sit on your lap while you spoke to her? Explain to her exactly what happened to her friend, and that he will not be coming back. And that you love her very much, and you understand her loss and confusion. Talk to her like you would a good people friend, pet her and hug her.  Do this for awhile, as needed.

I also lost a beloved cat years ago, was traumatic - she was acting funny, I took her to the vet. I was told she had advanced kidney disease and the best I could do for her was put her to sleep, the sooner the better for her. I was devistated to say the least. My other cat for awhile acted lost, and I did the above with her (It helped me, too). It was awhile, but she did seem to adjust to the other cat not being there. Give your cat friend time - just as with people, they grieve, and each has their own way.

Take care - hug a kitty today!

I am so sorry for the loss of your little guy.

You are absolutely correct:  Our cats, as social and emotional beings, DO grieve.  Although your little gal may not have appeared to like the boy kitty, he was a constant companion in her day.

I would comfort her, as she allows.  Like us, there comes a time when they do move forward with their lives.

I had a beloved, longhaired tuxedo, Ralph, who was bonded to a little dilute tortie, Sasha.  Ralph eventually succumbed to his cancer and Sasha called for him for a full month.  It was eerie and sorrowful to hear her mournfully call for him in his “favorite” places.  One day, the calling stopped and Sasha rejoined the remaining cat family.

Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)