Little guy left behind

Grayson is my little guy left behind. He's 8 years old and rued the day Sassy came tumbling in as a kitten. She was a "mess" - he and I both agreed as we lay snuggled in bed together that first night while she howled (meeped actually) away in the bathroom, as I was keeping her quarantined at first. I don't think she even knew she was a kitten until Grayson showed her the cat-ropes. Even though he looked disdainful often times, I would find him licking her or playing with her when he thought I wasn't looking. And for those first months, she did everything he did. If he sat, she sat. If he napped on the window sill, she napped on the window sill. I could tell he wanted to say "Stop it!!"

Several years later (including him shoving her in the bathtub a few times when she was curiously hovering over the edge looking at the water!), I can tell he misses her. According to the Cornell University Veterinary School Website, common signs of animal grief include:

* Anxiety, restlessness or a need to stay by the owner
* Changes in eating, drinking, sleeping or exercise habits
* Depression, heavy sighing or disinterest in usual activities
* Destructive behavior
* High-pitched distress vocalization (especially in young animals)
* Housesoiling
* Searching the yard, house, and other familiar areas for the animal that has died

Unfortunately for us, Grayson's grief has involved destructive behavior, housesoiling and restlnessness. He also looks for Sassy every day. According to the Cornell site, ways you can help the one left behind include:

The best way to help your animal through this time, which seems to be as difficult for them as it is for us, if not sometimes more so, is simply to give them time, and allow them to grieve with you. It may be helpful for you as well as for your pet to spend time together talking about, or silently remembering the one who has passed on. Trying to spend extra time and attention with your animal will be good for you as well as for them, playing special games with them, giving them special treats, etc.

We're trying to be there for our little guy, as we love him immensely as well. My husband and I laugh because we almost think that after all this time of Sassy being doted upon, when we now say "gootchy gootchy goo....how's our special guy??!!!" he is thinking to himself "What is wrong with you two?!"