How to Console an Old Tomcat That Has Lost His Mate

If your old tomcat is showing changes in behavior after his companion dies, your cat may be grieving the loss of his mate. Signs of grieving in a cat include decreased appetite, pacing rooms or your yard in search of the missing cat, acting differently toward you (either more needy or more distant) and vocalizing more. There are steps to help your tomcat through the process, but if he is still showing signs of abnormal behavior after a couple months, you should take him to the vet to be certain the problems don't have a physical cause.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat toys
  • Cat treats
  • High-quality cat food or meat
  • Radio or clock
  • Blanket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pet and pay more attention to your surviving cat. Your tomcat is grieving because he misses his companion. Although you may also be sad after the loss of the other cat, this is an important time to pet your surviving cat and let him be around you as much as possible.

    • 2

      Play with your tomcat. Your cat will do best if kept distracted. Bring out his favorite toys and encourage the cat to play. Cats can get bored with their toys so buying new ones helps encourage play by introducing something novel.

    • 3

      Hide cat treats or purchase cat toys that you hide treats in that require your old tomcat to work to get the treat out. The play aspect of this step distracts the cat from his sadness, while the treat part of this step encourages your pet to eat if he is experiencing a loss of appetite.

    • 4

      Purchase high-quality cat food or provide your cat with small portions of cooked meat. If your cat is not eating or is eating less than normal, providing him with more appealing food will stimulate his appetite.

    • 5

      Leave a radio on while you are away. If you leave the house for long periods of time, such as to go to work, leaving the radio on a low volume keeps your tomcat company. Another option is to wrap a clock that makes a tick-tock sound in a blanket and place it where your cat likes to sleep. This sound simulates a heart beat and can be comforting to him.

    • 6

      Wait to get a new cat. Give you and your old tomcat time to get over the loss of his mate before trying to "replace" her. If the two cats end up not getting along, the situation could be more stressful to a grieving cat than it would be had you waited until he was acting normally again.