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Why having a second pet could save your first pet's life So many homes are filled not only with human family members, but furry ones as well. Pets provide us with endless entertainment, comfort, company, love and friendship – but what happens to your sweet pet if you unexpectedly die? Unfortunately, every day, cats and dogs are orphaned and left without a home or a friend in the world. And sometimes, the stress and depression is so strong in those animals that they just give up and die shortly after their beloved human. I know first-hand, because just days ago I lost a wonderful foster pet who refused to eat after the death of his only family member. All he had to do was eat, but he was just too sad. Not even force-feeding could save him. Can you imagine your own sweet pets succumbing to depression following your own death? I don’t want to think about it, and I’ll bet you don’t either. So what can we do to help our kitties, doggies, birds and other family members find some happiness after a tragedy? Stanley Coren of Psychology Today posits that our pets are unable to understand the finality of death, and that they stay locked in a chronic, depressing state of hope that at some point, the dead person (or animal) will return. This resistance to change could very well explain why a kitty who obviously had a perfectly healthy appetite when he lived with his owner would refuse his meals – he was waiting for the problem to correct itself. Maybe he thought one day soon I would take him back to his apartment, and his mom would be there, waiting with a smile and a hug. Then, he would eat. You don’t have to be an expert in psychology or veterinary science to understand that the loss of one primary caretaker PLUS the loss of one’s permanent home could have negative results. How is a cat, or dog, or parrot supposed to react when everything they’ve ever known is taken away? When they are moved into a strange house with weird smells and sounds, humans and creatures they’ve never seen? For adult pets, it’s clearly an immense burden. The worst part is, no one can explain the situation to them – they have to work it out for themselves, if they can. For those of us with larger families, we can usually rest assured that our pets can stay in the home they know, with people they already love if we pass away. My cats have not only me, but my husband and a few close friends they trust if something ever happens to me. But a shut-in, living in a little apartment alone with a kitty or dog? Who does that pet have to fall back on? Not a soul. If your household consists of only you and your pet, I urge you to consider what might happen if you die unexpectedly. Encourage your pet to spend time bonding with close friends or family members when they visit. Take your pet out of its home every now and then for an un-stressful look at the wider world. Dogs are often gregarious and easy to socialize this way; cats are trickier however not impossible to socialize. Try bringing kitty out on the balcony or porch with a friend or two, or bringing it along for a weekend holiday at your friend’s or family member's home. Also, you might consider adopting a second pet from the Humane Society or another rescue organisation. Their kennels are packed with wonderful, adoptable cats and dogs that not only need a home but can provide you and your existing pet with a necessary new friend. Take your time choosing, and remember that even two animals that are not immediately the best of friends can still become bonded family members. The more good people and animals your pet meets, and the more experience it has with various environments, the better its chances of pulling through the grief of your death and moving forward into a happy life. Give it some thought <3 "Taco" AKA “Jamon” Thanks to the support of the Humane Society of Cozumel, Jamon is able to meet his new family in Mexico, the United States or Canada! His name is Taco, and his nickname is Jamon, or "Ham" in Spanish, (he is a very big boy!) but I’ve been calling him Hammy. This is the SWEETEST and FRIENDLIEST cat that has ever come to stay in my foster home. I can’t emphasize that enough. Hammy was hand-raised by his human mom since before his little eyes were open, and they clearly loved each other very much. They were the only people and pets in one another’s lives. Unfortunately, Taco’s mom passed away very recently and he has no other family to live with. Understandably, Taco was very depressed when the Humane Society came and collected him from his former apartment. They kept him safe at the shelter for a night, but for a cherished house cat it was a scary place to be. The next day a wonderful volunteer brought him to me and I set him up in his very own bedroom, complete with private litter box and a full-size bed. Poor Hammy was too scared and sad to enjoy the perks of foster care, of course. He immediately hid under the far side of the bed and barely moved for several days. I pulled the bed out to check on him and tempt him with some soft food, which he did eventually eat. The poor boy was too upset and confused to even come out to pee. A week or so later, Ham has turned a corner. He has met the other cats in the house with curiosity and is learning the careful art of friendly butt-sniffing; he is trying to eat his healthy food like a good boy, and he will come out of hiding to beg for cuddles. AND WOW DOES HE LOVE CUDDLES! Jamon can sit forever and just let you rub him all over – face, back, feet and enormous belly all included. (We’re working on that belly, FYI.) When I first heard his immense purr, my heart just about exploded. Taco is about 8 years old, and he still has SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE! He would be a wonderful addition to a home with other friendly cats, or just loving people. He is shy with men but we are working on that! Please consider giving sweet, wonderful Hammy a second chance at his forever home <3 Get in touch with me via the comments or apply directly through the Humane Society of Cozumel website to adopt this wonderful boy! If you can't give him a home, please give him a share! Thank you! |
Homer & MandyWelcome to The Cat Box! Homer will be your guides to all things cat, cat and more cat. Things like cat food, nutrition and general well-being, but not the Oxford comma. Because screw that thing. Categories |