This post is full of anecdotal observations, not facts and perhaps just my imagination and is kind of long. Our animal house is composed of 2 Shelies and a large black Bombay cat. The cat is fearless, with a strong sense of self, who knows what it wants, when it wants it and how much it wants. We are all servants and it always lets you know when he’s had enuf. Our Shelites were raised around cats so when they came to live with us they were not afraid of the cat. The cat viewed them as a just another inconvenience and not much to bother with and probably a PIA– however, since the cat moved it had to be herded by the Shelies and so eventually the game was afoot– cat and dogs in a chase me game that both enjoyed. Over the years our female Sheltie also would groom the cat -which Ursus (the cat) enjoyed, the big male sheltie was always a bit spooked by the cat but still participated in the herding chase me game. The cat would wait at night to go upstairs until the dogs were ready and then in a flash would run past them at they tried to get it- it was a nightly ritual. In the morning the dogs would wait on the landing for the cat to make it’s appearance, come down the stairs and begin the day. Our cat had cancer and yesterday we had a vet come to our house and euthanize the cat- bad day of course. It was done well and just another in the many times we’ve sat thru this ritual with our pets. So what do the our Shelties know? In the morning before the vet came my male sheltie was pestering me for attention all the time as I worked on the computer.. It was relentless and I wonder, did he know something was amiss, did we behave differently or did we smell different- did he sense something? I am sure there were lots of body language signals given of one thing or other?? After the vet left their behavior went back to normal. This morning the ritual of waiting for the cat on the stair landing did not happen, nor did the ritual of waiting on the landing for the cat to dash up stairs last night. Did they know? I am sure being Shelties they know something is different but is that all, just something is different? In the past when we had two Shelties and lost one, the other was forever heart broken. A few of them never really recovered back to normal. They would lead us to the door and want us to open it and I am sure were hoping their buddy was outside waiting to come back in..I wonder what they think?
WHAT THEY KNOW or don't??
- Thread starter woof
- Start date
Sharon7
Moderator
First of all I'm sorry you lost your kitty. He sounds like he was a hoot. Of course they are all different. When we lost Asta, Ally looked for her for a long time and was very sad. Ours definitely pick up on the human sadness and stress. I think it may depend too, on if they pass on in the house, or are rushed off to the vet alive but never come back.
Piper's mom
Moderator
I’m so sorry for your loss Woof…it’s never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet!
I’ve had 2 very different experiences with the loss of a pet, both differed I believe because of the way the dog was able to experience it.
The first, I had to have my old Cocker Spaniel Daisy put down and my brother in law was going to take her. Riley had been with us for a year and had bonded with Daisy. I thought this would be better for him, boy was I wrong.
I’d taken him out with me so when I returned Daisy was gone…Riley was heartbroken and searched high and low for her. He didn’t perk up until puppy Piper came home.
Fast forward 4 years and I now have Riley who is now 11 1/2, 1 year old Finnie and 4 year old Piper. Riley had been battling cancer of the spine for almost a year. I came home from work to find Riley had passed away at home (literally he lay down in front of my mom’s chair and died) with Piper and Finnie around him.
The following day Piper was maybe a bit reserved …Finnie, no change in his behaviour. The Monday (this happened on a Saturday) Piper was back to his old self and never looked back…he was actually bossier…like he understood and took his place at the head of the totem pole.
I firmly believe that when the animal is nearby to experience the other animal’s passing they deal with it emotionally better than we do. I think the dog understands more than we realize.
I’ve had 2 very different experiences with the loss of a pet, both differed I believe because of the way the dog was able to experience it.
The first, I had to have my old Cocker Spaniel Daisy put down and my brother in law was going to take her. Riley had been with us for a year and had bonded with Daisy. I thought this would be better for him, boy was I wrong.
I’d taken him out with me so when I returned Daisy was gone…Riley was heartbroken and searched high and low for her. He didn’t perk up until puppy Piper came home.
Fast forward 4 years and I now have Riley who is now 11 1/2, 1 year old Finnie and 4 year old Piper. Riley had been battling cancer of the spine for almost a year. I came home from work to find Riley had passed away at home (literally he lay down in front of my mom’s chair and died) with Piper and Finnie around him.
The following day Piper was maybe a bit reserved …Finnie, no change in his behaviour. The Monday (this happened on a Saturday) Piper was back to his old self and never looked back…he was actually bossier…like he understood and took his place at the head of the totem pole.
I firmly believe that when the animal is nearby to experience the other animal’s passing they deal with it emotionally better than we do. I think the dog understands more than we realize.
I think I agree. We did not let the dogs see the cat, now I wish they had because in some instinctual way I think they process it and being stoic move on. Altho it is much more expensive I do like the home visit idea if you can afford it and it works for you.. I have done it the other way virtually forever and think the home visit is the way to go if you can make it work. And I would let the remaining animals have their moment with their lost friend from now on.. Our female is now spending some time searching the house, looking in all the spaces where the cat used to hang out-- we should have let them say goodby in their way...
Ann
Moderator
I'm sorry for your loss, Woof. They are all family members, loved by both the humans and other animals. I've always had multiple Shelties, so when the sad day comes that one leaves you'd think it would be seamless. It isn't. Whether we've taken them to the vet or done it at home, the others know...and seem to sense it before the event on the day. I don't know how, I suspect it's something in our demeanor and pheromones that changes.
Their collective behavior does change afterward too. The hierarchy seems to shift a bit; shared beds previously favored by the lost one are avoided for a while and then occupied by another dog. There is no doubt in my mind they know what's happened, and in many ways they seem to deal with loss better than we do. They are certainly a great comfort to the humans then in my experience. I hope that's true for you as well.
Their collective behavior does change afterward too. The hierarchy seems to shift a bit; shared beds previously favored by the lost one are avoided for a while and then occupied by another dog. There is no doubt in my mind they know what's happened, and in many ways they seem to deal with loss better than we do. They are certainly a great comfort to the humans then in my experience. I hope that's true for you as well.
Piper's mom
Moderator
It wasn’t my intention to let mine say goodbye, it was very sudden. But now I do agree with you that they sense something perhaps instinctual when their animal friend passes.
You live and learn…when I look back to my first dog, I knew nothing!
Sandy in CT
Premium Member
Sorry for the loss of your cat.