My cat has separation anxiety after pet loss. Should I get a new cat?

I am sorry to hear about your cat passing away. It is very normal for pets in the same household to grieve the loss of a sibling/house mate. What Tommy is going through is completely normal. I would first recommend taking her to be checked out by your vet just to ensure there is no underlying illness that is causing her change in behavior. If she receives a clean bill of health then you can assume her behavior is due to the loss of her sister. It is hard to say whether or not getting another cat would help. She may love the company of another female or she may feel stressed at having a new housemate. In the meantime, while you are deciding on whether or not to add another cat to your home, try spending some extra time and giving extra attention to Tommy, this may be all she needs. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry for the loss of your cat, and it sounds like Brostom is taking it pretty hard. Our pets experience grief and loss, and just like people, it takes them a variable amount of time to deal with that loss. If Brostom was very close with the other cat, he might benefit from having another cat in the home to keep him company. If you decide to pursue this, I recommend a slow introduction and keeping the new cat in a separate room for a few days where they can smell each other under the door. If this increases Brostom's agitation, then it might not work, but I think it would be worth trying. I hope this helps.

Yes, another cat may help Sugilite with her separation anxiety, and if you can afford the cost of another cat, it may be worth looking into getting her a companion. If you do get another cat or kitten, you will have to slowly introduce them to each other. I will give you the method I recommend for introducing new kittens to the home, and it works for adult cats as well :-) Take the kitten, and put her in her own room with her own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them both treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cat in the kitten's room while the kitten is in a cat carrier. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If either becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the second cat from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let the kitten out of her room, and see how she interacts with the other cat. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get away from each other. I would keep the kitten in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other.

This is not uncommon and is nothing to be ashamed of. There are pet bereavement specialists that you may find helpful or you could consider volunteering with a rescue charity to see if you can help without the entire responsibility of your own pet until you are ready

Cats can live alone if it would be too hard to get another cat, however it really varies on the individual. If you feel your cat is lonely or benefited from having a friend around, looking to adopt another cat may help them both bond and feel more comfortable. If your cat seems OK being on his own, you may just want to spend some more time bonding together, with extra cuddle or play sessions, treats, toys, etc.

They will likely adjust, however they will need a lot of TLC and it will take time. They will be very sad and will miss their companion. I think, however, that time will heal and they might do ok. They will probably be very lonely. Give both of them extra love and attention, and I would set up Feliway in both the places the cats live. This is a plug in diffuser that release calming pheromones that can help with things like anxiety from separation. If one of them is really stressed, that cat may need to see a vet in order to get medication to help. Typically, they do adjust over time and do okay, especially since it's only temporary. I hope this helps.

Hi. Yes, just like people, pets can become depressed for a period of time after a loss or change. Getting another pet is totally a personal decision. If that's what she has been used to, it is definitely an option. If you aren't ready, or not wanting another pet, she will adjust.