My kitten seems depressed after a pet passed. What can I do?

These kittens are very young and the fact that a sibling passed away is very concerning. They need to see a vet to check for different viral and bacterial infections that they could be suffering from which may have been the cause of death with the one that passed. They are pretty young to be showing signs of depression.

There are calming supplements and diets which can be very helpful, as well as pheromone and comfort zone diffusers which can help cats adapt to such situations. A full health check and possibly blood panel should be considered to rule out medical causes especially if there is any weight loss or altered thirst

Five months is a long time to mourn the loss of a companion, and that tells me this is something more serious than mourning. Cats do not mourn this long. Have Ebbie seen by a vet, I'm concerned he may be sick.

We certainly see depression in animals, and I have seen depression in a kitten before. However it is challenging to treat. First, at 13 ounces, your foster kitten is certainly underweight if he is 5-6 weeks old. If he has been malnourished before you got him, he may need some extra time to recover. There is some research that Omega 3 fatty acids (especially DHA) are important for brain development, so you might consider adding that to his food. I normally recommend Wellactin ( http://www.welactin.com/cat ) for cats. I have also had good luck with using Bach Flower Essences for depression in animals. They are homeopathically prepared flower essences that were developed for humans for mental issues. The most common formula is Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ), but you can also design a custom formulation. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I suggest you try some Feliway diffusers to see if it will help him. Give it a couple months to see if it helps. The diffusers must be changed every 30 days and you need to get enough diffusers to cover the square footage of the house. Also, some environmental enrichment would be a good idea. ( https://www.feliway.com/uk/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser ) ( thedrakecenter.com/materials/environmental-enrichment-indoor-cats ) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejmrLa_Cs4 )

I am very sorry to hear that Kent is not himself. I completely agree that our pets form strong bonds, and pick-up on our moods and issues. There is most likely a component of that occurring here. I would suggest trying a new higher quality food brand to begin with. There are only three pet food brands which are approved by veterinarians. These are science diet, royal canin and purina pro plan. Only these three Have undergone research to ensure they provide an adequate and nutritious diet for pets. This research is approved by veterinarians. Any other food brands may not be regulated or researched as thoroughly. For this reason I would only advise feeding one of those three. Here is my best recommendation for a healthy food; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=29338 If the change in food does not help increase his appetite by the end of the week I would have to advise a check-up at the veterinarian. There could be an underlying medical condition causing the changes to energy and eating habits.

I'm so sorry your kitten died recently! Cats do mourn when they lose a companion, and it could be that Harry is mourning the loss of the kitten. I would give him lots of extra love and attention during this time. Cats do not mourn as long as humans do, and his behavior should be back to normal soon. Now, if Harry continues to act differently for more than a couple more days, then this change in behavior could be due to a medical problem, and I would have him seen by a vet. Maybe one day, when you are ready, you could consider getting another companion for Harry.