Grieving cat hugs late dog’s collar every night — proof that animals mourn just like us

'To anyone who thinks animals can't feel the loss... it's been 6 months since my dog passed.'

PUBLISHED 2 DAYS AGO

Sad cat lying in bed, halfheartedly playing with her dog-friend's toy. (Representative Cover Image: Getty Images | Photo by Evgeniya Pavlova)

When a pet parent, who goes by @wellnesskathy on Instagram, lost her dog, she knew she wasn't the only one grieving. Her cat, too, was equally devastated. In fact, the cat was so heartbroken that even after months of losing the dog, the poor baby still cuddled his collar every night. The heartbreaking video has over 84k views since it was shared on July 1, 2025.

Ginger cat relaxing on couch in living room surrounded with cushions. (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Maryviolet)

Animals don't understand death like us, but the sudden disappearance of somebody does affect them. That's, perhaps, exactly what happened to this cat. The baby, possibly, couldn't comprehend why they could no longer see their beloved companion, so to feel his presence, the cat slept cuddling his collar every night before bed. The owner shared the video to help people understand that animals, too, just like us, go through similar phases of grief. "To anyone who thinks animals can't feel the loss... it's been 6 months since my dog passed," she shared, showing her surviving pet holding her deceased dog's collar close to their heart. The cat was literally hugging the strap like they were communicating with the dog, asking him to return. Watch the full video here!

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Now, according to a report by VCA Animal Hospitals, cats have different ways of grieving the loss of someone they love, just like humans. However, some of the common symptoms might include losing appetite, hiding under the bed, or choosing to be alone more than usual; a change in sleeping patterns; or any deviation from their usual behavior.

A cat looking at something (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Aom Choma)

Meanwhile, people who have gone through similar experiences with their pets took to the comment section to share their stories. For instance, a user who goes by @ashleycoleman0 on the platform commented, "I'm so sorry for your loss. About 3 months after my pup died, I fostered to adopt another ginger kitty, and it really helped my cat that was loudly grieving his puppy brother. It's been over 5 months since we welcomed another kitty, and my once grieving cat is doing much better. Wishing you all healing and joy." On the other hand, @mrsxcrowleyx626 said, "And people seriously think that when someone moves, they should give up their cat because 'the move is stressful,' as if being rehomed is not. My cats would probably accept another human, but they would never get over losing me."

Similarly, someone else called @belle_3891 shared, "My dog will never be the same after losing his brother very suddenly, very young, 3 years ago. We’ve fostered many dogs and even adopted 2, which helped him a tiny bit, but he’s forever changed. We will always grieve him together." @exmormonthoughts wrote, "That’s so sweet and so sad. My dog’s been gone 5 years, and his kitty took his spot on the bed the night he died and has slept there every night since. Our pets love and remember just like we do." @_alishaelena_ commented, "My auntie's cat got depressed when her dog died. They were together in one household for 13 years, and though the cat didn't really show liking the dog, she was heartbroken; she tried starving herself to death."

You can follow WellnessKathy (@wellnesskathy) on Instagram for more pet-related content.