Dogs, cats, and other companion animals show behavioural responses consistent with grief following the loss of a companion. Understanding these responses helps owners provide appropriate support.
Companion animals show behavioural responses to the loss of bonded companions that parallel aspects of human grief — reduced activity, appetite changes, vocalisation, searching behaviour, and social withdrawal. Whether these responses involve subjective experience analogous to human grief is uncertain, but they clearly represent a welfare-relevant state. Owners can support grieving animals by maintaining routine and predictability, providing additional attention and enrichment, and monitoring for signs of physical health deterioration. Introducing a new companion should be considered carefully — some animals benefit from companionship while others are stressed by introduction of an unfamiliar animal.