American scientists from the University of Auckland have discovered that domestic cats can experience grief when they lose other pets living under their roof. This applies to both feline relatives and dogs. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Applied Animal Behavior Science (AABS).
Grief is a well-established phenomenon in the animal kingdom. Elephants, dolphins and chimpanzees exhibit complex behaviors, such as guarding the body of a mate after he dies, but until recently it was unknown whether cats could experience similar emotions in response to loss.
In the new study, the team surveyed more than 450 cat owners whose other pet had recently died. In about two-thirds of the cases, another cat died, and in the remaining cases, a dog died.
The results showed that cats suffer from the loss of their four-legged friends, which manifests itself in behavioral changes, increased anxiety, and impaired sleep, appetite, and interest in games.
“Them [кошки] The study authors noted that they slept, ate and played less, sought more attention from humans and other pets, hid, spent time alone and wandered around looking for companions who had abandoned them.
Scientists say their discoveries show that grief is a universal emotion common across the animal kingdom, but experts also say cat owners may unknowingly project their grief over the loss of their pet onto living pets.
Previous researchers provenPets reduce work-related stress and burnout.
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Source: Gazeta
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