My cats strange behaviour after my other cats death.

Question
Hello. I hope you can help. Last week tuesday my darling kitty, Beegal, was killed by a car. She was just 2yrs 4months old. She found me at a local co-op, she was just a month old. She was a small shy angel but adored me, and i adored her even more. In early december 2006 Tigger, my other cat found me. He was on the brink of full maturity, and had not yet started 'spraying'. After a week of advertising that he was found, i took him to the vet to be neutered, and get his shots. My partner (who is not overly keen on cats) and I fell for Tigger instantly, he is a very loving, vocal, friendly, and comical character - he can be really silly sometimes, and is normally very lazy, and very cuddly. He is very trusting and naive. He tried to get on with Beegal, but at first her nose was very out of joint - they couldn't even be in the same room together. Gradually she got used to him and eventually they got as far as sniffing each other, and starting to play with each other. But as he was twice her size, the games usually ended abruptly. Tho i do remember her chasing him sometimes. Since Beegal's death, Tigger has behaved really strangely, and frankly its really worrying me now. The first two days of her death, he slept on the couch constantly - in 48hours, i think he was awake for about 3 hours. he usually would sleep 1/2 of the day and come try cuddle up in bed with me/us thru the night. And since those two days, he has been super-extra restless. He's stayed outside most of the day and night, only to come in for food or perhaps an hour's sleep, then out the catflap again. he would usually be super-attentive and cuddle-seeking, but now he seems to cringe at being touched. And he adimantly will not stay in the bedroom, despite my best efforts to settle him down to sleep - he's not even comfortable entering the bedroom!. Normally we have to chuck him outside for some exercise coz he's so lazy, but there's no keeping him in now. Tonight I tried to lock the catflap in an effort to keep him in and get him used to living like he used to, but i cant find him, and think he must have escaped through an open window in a family-member's room - this type of behaviour is highly irregular from him. While he was trying to get out, he was meeouwing obscenities almost constantly. This is breaking my heart and i dont know what to do. my partner is also worried. I can see that Tigger learnt a lot of tricks and know-how from Beegal, and followed her around a bit. I think the poor boy is beside himself and doesn't know what to do, and is lonely. And his behaviour is scaring me, i dont want him to get killed on the road as well. we live up a long lane, on a farm. i saw him on the road earlier this week, and i'm so worried about how he is, and if he's going to get killed. And i dont know how to help him. Please help me. Regards, Robyn

Answer
Robyn,

I am sorry for your loss!!!!!

Cats, like people, grieve!!!!!  I expect this is Tigger's problem.  He is looking for Beegal and is wondering what is going on.  On the other hand, cats are practical animals, and, eventually, Tigger will move on.

I would leave Tigger be and let him find his way back to you in his good time.  Do not approach him or constrain him in any way.  He will come back to buddy up with you again, when he is ready.  You are looking a a couple of weeks to a couple of months at the most.

Nothing you have described is out of the ordinary in Tigger's behavior, given that he has just lost Beegal.

Best regards... Norm.