Get ready for the feels, if you're a cat person. You've been warned.
One of our two cats (13 year old siblings) passed back in May (and there's another "Old Cats" thread for Moony). Thanks for being there for me when we went through that with him.
It's weird... but get this... his sister Star always had a completely different personality. I'm told that male black cats are often like Moony was... more like a dog than a cat, really affectionate and attentive. Star was always a stereotypical cat... aloof, likes to hide... she's indoor-only but typically we wouldn't see her all day until she came out for dinner. She'd avoid being petted too much and would run away if you gave her too much attention (until late in the evening, and then it was like you flipped a switch and she doesn't leave me alone).
His last few days, Moony just laid in the same spot by the kitchen. Just before he died, maybe two days before, I saw Star come out and -- really cautiously -- sniff at him and then run away. She wouldn't come near him, at the end. It was weird because they were always really close, always near each other. I think she knew, and she hated it. It probably scared her.
Then he passed, and she's slept in the spot where he died ever since. She used to hate their cat carrier, and would never go in it, but she practically lives in it now, in the same spot.
Here's what I think is so interesting though. She's never been a talkative cat, but now she won't shut up. Chirps and meows and generally makes herself known all the time. She was always so quiet before... communicating with us was kind of her brother's job. I think she was so used to having him around, there was no need. Now she's so much more social and affectionate. She misses him, I think. Now that he's gone, it seems like she has a much bigger need to interact with her humans.
One of our two cats (13 year old siblings) passed back in May (and there's another "Old Cats" thread for Moony). Thanks for being there for me when we went through that with him.
It's weird... but get this... his sister Star always had a completely different personality. I'm told that male black cats are often like Moony was... more like a dog than a cat, really affectionate and attentive. Star was always a stereotypical cat... aloof, likes to hide... she's indoor-only but typically we wouldn't see her all day until she came out for dinner. She'd avoid being petted too much and would run away if you gave her too much attention (until late in the evening, and then it was like you flipped a switch and she doesn't leave me alone).
His last few days, Moony just laid in the same spot by the kitchen. Just before he died, maybe two days before, I saw Star come out and -- really cautiously -- sniff at him and then run away. She wouldn't come near him, at the end. It was weird because they were always really close, always near each other. I think she knew, and she hated it. It probably scared her.
Then he passed, and she's slept in the spot where he died ever since. She used to hate their cat carrier, and would never go in it, but she practically lives in it now, in the same spot.
Here's what I think is so interesting though. She's never been a talkative cat, but now she won't shut up. Chirps and meows and generally makes herself known all the time. She was always so quiet before... communicating with us was kind of her brother's job. I think she was so used to having him around, there was no need. Now she's so much more social and affectionate. She misses him, I think. Now that he's gone, it seems like she has a much bigger need to interact with her humans.
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