my cat is grieving, is there a point where a vet visit might be necessary?
so our family dog died on Fathers Day, June 21st, and my cat is defiantly feeling it.
my cat, Miles, just turned 5 and him and the dog Lily were besties. she died of old age and had a wonderful life. they would lay in her big dog bed together, he would also cry at her to kick her out so he could lay in it alone lol. they would play, and they were very physically close as well. Miles would rub up against her intensely, groom her, sniff and lick her. they just really loved each other!
i have another cat, Stewie, and he is perfectly fine. at first the night Lily died he was in distress and could tell something was wrong. he was always the first on the scene when Lily would be in distress. you could defiantly tell he was confused for a bit, but he eventually went back to his normal self. they were not as close and i think Lily found him annoying haha. (we joke he has half a brain cell, so i think he was able to jump back because of that lol).
but Miles has slowly gotten more sad. he was defiantly sad and confused at first as well, but it has just progressed. i think he has finally realized she isn't coming back. this behavior has been going on since last week.(a week after Lily died).
my mom took the dog bed away that was in her room, i understand why she just couldn't look at it. Miles has been going to the corner where it was and looking around sad and confused. Lily used to lay at a spot near the foot of my bed on the floor on my pile of stuffed animals and Miles has been sitting down there a lot now, he never did before. he sleeps and lays around more, he hides under my moms bed a lot too. he would do that before sometimes, but now he will spend over half the day down there. he also would be the cat who doesn't like when you move around if he is laying on me/my legs. the slightest movement and he was out. but now, i can twist and turn all i want and he just stays stone cold and doesn't move. this morning i was talking with him while we were waking up for the day and he looked extra sad and i swear his eyes were watering. he is also super skittish now, especially around my mom. he hasn't been skittish like this before, my mom will just walk towards his general direction and he will run away. he also doesn't cuddle her anymore. he used to love cuddling my mom, especially when she gets back from work she is a flight attendant so she can be gone for days at a time. but he just doesn't cuddle her since. he also doesn't care for much outside time anymore. they have SUPERVISED outside time, they just stay in our secure backyard and hangout/run around. Stewie was out today with my mom and the door with the doggy door was open and Miles didn't care and just came to lay in bed with me instead. which i did think was odd.
my mom said today she thinks that he might think its her fault Lily isn't around anymore. and at first i was like, "no that's crazy" but now im not sure. is that a possibility?
my mom said she wasn't trying to scare me, but she said he might need to go to the vet. he still eats normally and uses the litter box fine. he doesn't seem like he is in physical pain or anything. i know it can be hard to tell with cats, which is why im asking if grief can become a vet visit. but he also doesn't show other signs of hurting, like i know there is that Feline Grimace Scale and he doesn't seem like the pictures they show.
like yes he looks sad at times, but it comes in waves. i told my mom i think he truly is just grieving and is sad right now. AND yes, i am there for him as much as i can be! i am helping him, around him always, talking with him, playing with him when i can get him to, cuddling and petting him. like he has support from me 100%!
im just nervous now that my mom said that. i can't afford just yet to take him. probably within the next few weeks i will be able to. especially if he shows more signs or if this could be a reason for a visit. so, can pet grief lead to a visit and when should i be concerned? thank you!