Surviving pets
Do other pets grieve when a pet dies?
6 min read Written with care by World Animal Rescue Network Updated 7 July 2026
In short
Yes, other pets can grieve when an animal companion dies. They may search, vocalise, sleep more, eat less, cling, withdraw or seem unsettled. Keep routines steady, offer calm reassurance, and contact your vet if a pet stops eating, seems ill, or the behaviour is severe or prolonged.
Editorial note
This guide is supportive pet-loss information from WARN. It does not replace veterinary advice, medical care or counselling. Ask your vet about health, quality-of-life and aftercare decisions; if grief is affecting your safety or ability to cope, contact your doctor, a counsellor or a crisis helpline.
When one pet dies, the animals left behind may feel the change too. They knew the rhythms of the household, the shared spaces and the presence that is now missing.
Their grief may not look like human grief, but behaviour can change in ways that deserve patience and care.
Key things to hold onto
- Dogs, cats and other social animals may react to the loss of a companion.
- Searching, calling, clinginess, withdrawal and appetite changes can all happen.
- Routine is one of the most helpful supports for surviving pets.
- Do not force a new pet as a solution for grief.
- Call your vet if appetite stops, illness is possible, or distress is severe.
Signs another pet may be grieving
A surviving pet may search the house, wait by doors, sleep in the lost pet's places, vocalise more, become clingy, withdraw, play less, or seem confused. Some eat less or sleep more. Some appear almost unchanged.
None of these signs proves grief by itself, because illness and stress can look similar. Watch the pattern and call your vet if you are worried.
How to help a surviving pet
Routine is kind. Keep feeding times, walks, bedtime and familiar cues as steady as you can. Offer attention without overwhelming them, and let them choose closeness or space.
- Keep meals, walks and sleep routines predictable.
- Offer calm attention and familiar enrichment.
- Avoid major household changes where possible in the first days.
- Watch appetite, toileting, breathing and energy.
- Ask your vet if changes persist or seem extreme.
Should they see the body?
Some owners feel it helps a surviving pet understand that their companion is gone; others choose not to. There is no certain answer. If you do allow it, supervise calmly, keep the moment quiet, and never force the surviving pet to approach.
Should I get another pet for them?
Do not rush another animal into the household only to fix grief. A new pet brings a new personality, stress and adjustment. Wait until you and your surviving pet are stable enough to welcome a new relationship for its own sake.
Remember the companion they lost
A memorial can honour the pet who died while you continue caring gently for the animals still with you.
Questions people often ask
How long do pets grieve another pet?
Can a cat get sick from grief?
Can dogs become depressed after another dog dies?
Sources & further reading
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