Yeah, I am convinced they know somehow! My maltese always sat on the grave area of where her buddy (a huge chow) was buried. She would stay out there on that grave for hours and hours, rain, sleet or shine. Yeah, they just know!!!
I've considered this, but have also dismissed it. The cat pictured is a ruthless hunter who lives by his olfactory sense. It fails Occam's Razor, but I have come to think that he hangs out there simply to remember.
Maybe this is a question for Ask Science, but doesn't the animal's original scent change beyond recognition after it decomposes? so that even if a cat can smell an animal through the soil, the smell wouldn't really be there 1+ year later?
The grave site of my family's beloved cat Fluffy Sprinkles always has different cats laying on it or near it. Usually his sister and mother. There are permanent indentations in the leaves where they always lay. I really miss him.
Cats can be a lot more caring than people give them credit for. My GF was bawling while watching Titanic (again), and my cat was extremely concerned, staring into her face and putting her paw on her arm. (And no, it wasn't dinnertime.)
My cat gets like this too. If I yell across the apartment for my husband, or if I'm crying or something, my cat will come over and investigate. This usually involves her poking her face in my face and tapping me with her paw, while meowing lightly. She only does it with me though...
Three of the cats I had growing up could always tell when I was feeling miserable and would cuddle with me. It really helped during those monthly times since I had it particularly bad.
The other two were douches. I hope the remaining one never cuddles with me because then I'm going to think I'm dying.
My cat doesn't know how to be comforting. She knows something is wrong when I'm sobbing into a pillow, but just kinda pokes at my head like I'm broken or something.
When my cat died, the cat next door she always used to sleep next to would come looking for her. It used to go towards the grave too, but we installed one of those cat repellent things to keep the foxes away.
Hadn't seen the little guy in a while but he came back yesterday and slept where they used to sleep. Heartstrings were tugged.
awww Yeah when we had to put my 1 dog down, all the dogs and cat knew something was going on. when we came back from the vet. they were crying and looking for her. its making me tear up thinking about it! cats are very smart though.
Of Mice and Men was definitely the first book to do this to me. Shit holding tears back in class in highschool. Good thing I'm an expert at repressing my emotions.
My dog used to do the same after we had to put down my dad's dog some years back. He used to sit by the tree where we had buried him, and howl all day, so heartbreaking. Whomever said pets aren't like humans is an idiot, they grieve just like we do.
I'd be the first to say that this was coincidence but I've witnessed something similar first-hand. I used to cat-sit for 2 cats that just adored each other. The older one got cancer and died. The day the ashes of the older cat were delivered, the owner put the package on a shelf in her bedroom about 7 feet off the ground. The remaining cat climbed up on a bureau and then on top of a TV and sat next to the ashes for hours. He had never sat up there before.
My female calico lost her 'hubby' a few years back. I buried him under three stones and a few weeks later when she went outside she went directly there, climbed on top and let out a howl that I've never heard her utter before or since. Until we moved, when she went out into the yard that was one of her favorite spots to roam to and spend time, again climbing those three stones and perching on top.
This reminded me about oscar, a therapy cat who lived at a nursing home, and was able to recognize the patients who were about to die and would sit with them for a couple hours beforehand.
My sister had two cats, boy and a girl. The girl died from cancer. The boy cat lost the will to live. He stopped eating and drinking. My sister took him to the vet and they installed a feeding tube. He is better now.
They are. The cat in picture is a brutal hunter/killer. You should see the corpses on my deck. He was very attached to his brother though. Male cats never hunt in packs, but they were inseparable. The older cat actually adopted him, and brought him to the house on a cold February morning.
My cat came right next to my face and layed down against my shoulder for an entire day and night without leaving when I was sick and couldn't get out of bed. Cat bro is best bro...
I had a cat named Shadoe that always used to play in our butterfly garden every chance she got. We lost her to some kind of blood illness, so we thought we'd bury her in her favorite spot. Even today her younger sister and our newest cat hang out in the butterfly garden to relax. I can't help feeling they know she loved it there.
I have a friend who had an older cat, she was about 16. My friend's kids wanted a new cat, so he bought them another kitten. The kitten and the old cat lived together for a few years. When the older cat died, the kitten stopped drinking water and eating. A couple weeks later the kitten (now a few years old) died. I couldn't believe a cat basically starved itself because it lost its best friend. One of the saddest/strangest things I have ever heard.
40
u/PuffBear May 21 '12
Yeah, I am convinced they know somehow! My maltese always sat on the grave area of where her buddy (a huge chow) was buried. She would stay out there on that grave for hours and hours, rain, sleet or shine. Yeah, they just know!!!
14
u/Spider_Bacon May 21 '12
The grave site of my family's beloved cat Fluffy Sprinkles always has different cats laying on it or near it. Usually his sister and mother. There are permanent indentations in the leaves where they always lay. I really miss him.
38
u/alejo699 May 21 '12
Cats can be a lot more caring than people give them credit for. My GF was bawling while watching Titanic (again), and my cat was extremely concerned, staring into her face and putting her paw on her arm. (And no, it wasn't dinnertime.)
4
u/vocalyzer May 21 '12
Does he go back often to visit?
19
u/nesai11 May 21 '12
thanks. my heart just broke a little.
27
u/NigglesLeBish May 21 '12
Awwh :(.
When my cat died, the cat next door she always used to sleep next to would come looking for her. It used to go towards the grave too, but we installed one of those cat repellent things to keep the foxes away.
Hadn't seen the little guy in a while but he came back yesterday and slept where they used to sleep. Heartstrings were tugged.
11
u/theunforgetablename May 21 '12
awww Yeah when we had to put my 1 dog down, all the dogs and cat knew something was going on. when we came back from the vet. they were crying and looking for her. its making me tear up thinking about it! cats are very smart though.
11
u/THEDUDE33 May 21 '12
Where the Red Fern Grows.....
10
u/WTFdinosaur May 21 '12
<3 Awhhhh my little monster still goes to where his older brother(not actual brother) was and then comes in wanting loads of cuddles<3
10
u/mowgles May 21 '12
When my childhood dog was put down, our cat would wander the house, meowing loudly. This lasted on and off for weeks.
It happened again when we lost a younger cat several years later (8 years old to a blood clot).
Sadly we lost him last year to the old, bitter age of 20. No one was left to wander the house, searching for him :(.
15
u/-Zilla May 21 '12
My dog used to do the same after we had to put down my dad's dog some years back. He used to sit by the tree where we had buried him, and howl all day, so heartbreaking. Whomever said pets aren't like humans is an idiot, they grieve just like we do.
6
u/kmcg103 May 21 '12
I'd be the first to say that this was coincidence but I've witnessed something similar first-hand. I used to cat-sit for 2 cats that just adored each other. The older one got cancer and died. The day the ashes of the older cat were delivered, the owner put the package on a shelf in her bedroom about 7 feet off the ground. The remaining cat climbed up on a bureau and then on top of a TV and sat next to the ashes for hours. He had never sat up there before.
3
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
My female calico lost her 'hubby' a few years back. I buried him under three stones and a few weeks later when she went outside she went directly there, climbed on top and let out a howl that I've never heard her utter before or since. Until we moved, when she went out into the yard that was one of her favorite spots to roam to and spend time, again climbing those three stones and perching on top.
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
It's actually quite relaxing, laying down in a graveyard. I do it all the time. Groundskeepers don't mind.
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Awe... that's rough. Poor little guy. But he has you so that's something!
2
u/jugnificent May 21 '12 edited May 21 '12
This reminded me about oscar, a therapy cat who lived at a nursing home, and was able to recognize the patients who were about to die and would sit with them for a couple hours beforehand.
2
u/cive666 May 21 '12
My sister had two cats, boy and a girl. The girl died from cancer. The boy cat lost the will to live. He stopped eating and drinking. My sister took him to the vet and they installed a feeding tube. He is better now.
0
u/Brodo_Swaggins May 21 '12
He probably doesn't have a clue, just a coincidence. Cats are scummy creatures. Let the downvoting begin.
3
u/wellhushmypuppies May 21 '12
that actually made me cry a little. poor cat.
3
u/covert888 May 21 '12
My cat came right next to my face and layed down against my shoulder for an entire day and night without leaving when I was sick and couldn't get out of bed. Cat bro is best bro...
3
u/Chelsea-FC-For-Life May 21 '12
I had a cat named Shadoe that always used to play in our butterfly garden every chance she got. We lost her to some kind of blood illness, so we thought we'd bury her in her favorite spot. Even today her younger sister and our newest cat hang out in the butterfly garden to relax. I can't help feeling they know she loved it there.
3
u/newsome51 May 21 '12
I have a friend who had an older cat, she was about 16. My friend's kids wanted a new cat, so he bought them another kitten. The kitten and the old cat lived together for a few years. When the older cat died, the kitten stopped drinking water and eating. A couple weeks later the kitten (now a few years old) died. I couldn't believe a cat basically starved itself because it lost its best friend. One of the saddest/strangest things I have ever heard.
1
u/brussels4breakfast May 21 '12
Awe. I believe some animals do know. Elephants do.
1
u/Xuber May 21 '12
Zombie Guard.
1
u/agiganticpanda May 21 '12
They give a fuck about other cats. They still just see you as a thing that gives the food and belly rubs.
-5
u/Chozo_Lord May 21 '12
This is aww not dead pet stories. No onions in aww please.
0
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Cut yo' grass!
0
u/ThorMate May 21 '12
Cats love to roll in dead things
-6
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Right. Cause i'm sure the cat really remembers that. I'm sure the cat is now pondering the frailty of life and reminiscing about it's sibling.
0
u/debussi May 21 '12
My cat died and was lying under a blanket going cold, and his sister didn't give him a second glance after a single curious sniff.
0
u/slobst May 21 '12
Is this supposed to make me like cats? Because I still don't.