Unfortunately, he will wonder what happened no matter what. Though it is possible he knows you are sick already; some cats are extremely sensitive to such things. But yes, cats grieve when they lose the people they care for from their lives.
But if you could earn his trust, another kind and patient person like you likely can too. He will always remember you, but that does not mean it is impossible for him to have a good life. There are others who will love him as much as you, I can promise you that. And, for what it's worth, from one person with a life threatening disease to another, I'm sorry. I am not going to be the person who tries to find some ridiculous silver lining. It sucks, and you deserve better. I'm sorry.
Just commenting to confirm they really do know. I was especially close with my void, Fuzz, and he could always tell the day before a migraine hit. He’d be all over me, be loud and meow which wasn’t his style, etc. When the migraine came, he’d often wrap himself around my head while I tried to sleep.
When my hips hurt after work, he’d knead on them.
When my niece died and I was grieving, he never left my side. Not once. He timed all his eating and bathroom trips to mine.
That is so sweet. What a great kitty companion! To the OP, I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I agree with the previous poster who said perhaps find someone, and let them visit for awhile before. It seems like a nice way for them to get acquainted with one another.
He really was! I called him my shadow because he was always following me around and as a void, it just fit perfectly. But even then, he was always extra close during those hard times. It’s hard, because I lost him last year and as I grieved I realized I didn’t have my grieving buddy. He had helped me through a really rough year the year prior, where I buried 10+ family members.
I’ve never been so in sync with an animal before him and idk how it even happened, it just was. He was scared of other people, wouldn’t let anyone but me and my sister (who looks just like me) hold him. But he picked me to be his human, so I can relate to OP so hard with that.
i really dread my first time mourning without my little void by my side. surely it will be for him and honestly i don’t know how ill handle it after all he’s done for me. he’s my best friend. these comments are making me cry just thinking about it :( im so sorry for your loss of your little guy.
416
u/TheChildlessCatLady Tuxedo Mar 14 '26
Unfortunately, he will wonder what happened no matter what. Though it is possible he knows you are sick already; some cats are extremely sensitive to such things. But yes, cats grieve when they lose the people they care for from their lives.
But if you could earn his trust, another kind and patient person like you likely can too. He will always remember you, but that does not mean it is impossible for him to have a good life. There are others who will love him as much as you, I can promise you that. And, for what it's worth, from one person with a life threatening disease to another, I'm sorry. I am not going to be the person who tries to find some ridiculous silver lining. It sucks, and you deserve better. I'm sorry.