The death of a beloved pet can be devastating for owners, but growing evidence suggests companion animals may also be affected by the loss of those they live alongside.
While humans often assume a unique understanding of death, scientists have documented a wide range of death-related behaviours across the animal kingdom. These include apparent mourning, caregiving towards deceased companions and behavioural changes following a loss.
How animals respond to death
The simplest concept of death involves recognising that a living being has permanently lost all biological function and will not return.
Many species appear capable of responding to such situations.
Domestic cats, for example, have been observed eating less, sleeping differently and becoming less playful after the death of a closely bonded companion animal. Female dolphins and orcas have been documented carrying dead calves for days, while elephants, primates and some bird species have displayed behaviours described by researchers as grief-like or funeral-like responses.
Other examples appear more functional than emotional. Opossums famously "play dead" to avoid predators, while some ant species remove dead colony members to reduce the risk of disease.
Not all species experience loss in the same way
Scientists caution against assuming animals understand death exactly as humans do.
For species with relatively simple nervous systems, reactions to death may primarily serve survival purposes. In more cognitively complex species such as chimpanzees and other primates, however, behaviours often resemble what humans would recognise as mourning or loss.
Researchers have recorded mothers carrying deceased offspring for extended periods and group members remaining close to, grooming or inspecting the bodies of the dead.
What happens when a pet dies?
Observations from pet owners frequently suggest surviving animals notice when a companion disappears.
Some veterinarians and animal behaviourists recommend allowing other pets to see or smell a deceased companion, as this may help them process the change.
Behavioural shifts following the loss of a companion can include:
- Reduced appetite.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Increased clinginess or anxiety.
- Reduced interest in play.
- Altered social dynamics within multi-pet households.
More questions than answers
Researchers say the evidence does not prove animals experience grief in precisely the same way humans do. However, it increasingly challenges the idea that awareness of death is uniquely human.
The growing body of research suggests many animals possess forms of emotional awareness and social bonds that shape how they respond to loss.
For pet owners, that may offer some reassurance that surviving companions are not simply unaware when another animal dies, but may be adjusting to the change in their own way.
Source: The Conversation
