Latest news with #UniversityofFloridaCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Cat Grieving Passing of Doggy Sibling Can't Stop Looking at His Picture
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The moment an owner captured her cat staring at a photo on the wall left viewers in a puddle of tears when they learned which picture made him stop in his tracks. TikTok user @ said the family's 13-year-old German shepherd, Rocco, recently crossed over the rainbow bridge. His absence left a giant hole in their hearts, especially for their cat, Louie, as he's navigating a new normal without his friend. Pets often feel the loss of humans or other animals because the structure and dynamic of the family changes, according to an article from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Like humans, pets who live together bond. Grieving pets might show new behaviors, such as searching for lost sibling, increase or decrease of vocalization, changes in amount of attention wanted, appetite, mood and personality. @ Our beautiful 13 year old German Shepherd, Rocco, went to heaven on 7/11/25. I caught our sweet cat, Louie, just sitting on the edge of the couch staring at Rocco's picture. We are all grieving the loss of our furry family member. Animals share our emotions, love them while you have them. We all miss him so very much.💔pets germanshepherd catspetloss petlossgrief petlosssupport furbabies ♬ Feelings - Jurrivh In the July 26 TikTok video, the owner captured a heartbreaking moment of the cat missing his friend. A picture of Rocco hanging on the wall grabbed Louie's attention. He climbed onto the couch and stood on the edge, getting as close as possible to see Rocco's smiling face. Louie paused, then lowered himself all the way to the couch. Stretching out his paws, he reached for his sibling's picture. The owner shared in the comment section: "I appreciate everyone's comments, my heart is so broken. I was in awe just watching this moment, sobbing my heart out. Sad, yet so beautiful to see the love we all share with one another. Pets are family, this dog was our baby boy. His absence is gut-wrenching." The TikTok video reached 167,600 views and 31,400 likes as of Thursday, as viewers rushed to the comment section with their condolences. Screenshots from a July 26 TikTok video of a cat grieving his canine sibling by staring at the dog's picture on the wall. Screenshots from a July 26 TikTok video of a cat grieving his canine sibling by staring at the dog's picture on the wall. @ "I watched this on loop at least 10 times and I'm sobbing. RIP Rocco. And hugs to you and the Kitty too," one person wrote. Another added: "We don't deserve animals. Their love is so pure and unconditional. This has me crying!" Someone else suggested: "Take the picture down and put it in a place where they can be closer.... Poor baby." Newsweek reached out to @ via TikTok for additional information and comment. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
USA Today
28-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
What to do when you find a stray cat: Veterinarians share advice on care and feeding
What to do when you find a stray cat: Veterinarians share advice on care and feeding Show Caption Hide Caption Passengers delighted as cat on the loose explores plane's cabin A cat was seen walking around the airplane's cabin during its departure. It eventually was reunited with its owner at the back of the plane. Stray cats are all over the nation, roaming people's backyards and sometimes redistributing themselves to a new home. Experts told USA TODAY caring for community cats can improve the population's health and prevent kittens. Videos of people feeding stray cats are all over the internet with users marveling at a cat's affection, a stray moving into a woman's home and some even demanding food. Adorable as they may be, stray cats do require specific care that one veterinarian said is upheld best by the community. "Any time the community can step up and help out the animals and the people that love them, without burdening the shelter, it's a big win," said Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Best veterinarian hospital? USA TODAY wants to know what pet owners think Trap, neuter, return Anyone who comes across a stray cat should always try to capture it and bring it to a veterinarian's office or a spay clinic, Levy said. The practice is called trap, neuter and return. "We like people to understand that the cats are supposed to go back where they came from, not like taken and dumped somewhere in the woods, in a park or something," Levy said. "That would be inappropriate to do for the cats." If it's unsafe to return a cat back from where it came from, she added the best outcome is to place the feline in a working cat home such as a farm or a business. That requires a whole acclimation process, so many doctors consider it a last resort. Not all stray cats need to be taken in. Levy said anyone who comes across one should check its ear for a slight clip. Clinics and veterinarians use that to show the public a cat has been neutered and can remain outside if it's not in danger. The best veterinarian hospitals? Vets can help USA TODAY rank top animal hospitals If a stray doesn't have its ear clipped, Levy said to check for a tattoo in the cat's genital region. If the animal has it, she said it's likely someone's pet and people should post about the cat on social media and pet-finding sites, and then notify a local animal shelter. Cat owners can prevent their pet from becoming a stray by keeping it indoors and registering its microchip, said Dr. Tiffany Kutner, medical director at the North Carolina-based shelter and clinic Safe Haven for Cats. "It's the new adopter's responsibility to register that microchip to themselves so that if their cat does get out and get scanned by a veterinary hospital, they know who to call," she said. Feeding stray cats is acceptable Notice a stray cat that appears to be hungry? Experts told USA TODAY that feeding the animal is OK if it's stray and not feral. A feral cat is not friendly to humans, said Christi Metropole, executive director and founder of the nonprofit Stray Cat Alliance. "A domestic animal needs to be fed by humans," Metropole said. "Cats depend 100% on humans. There are a few outliers who maybe can live on mice, but that's very unusual." Stray cat advocacy group Ally Cat Allies suggests that people create outdoor shelters for the cold months. The shelters can be made of plastic tubs insulated with styrofoam and hay. People do not have to take in the cats, Metropole said, but giving them food and water can help keep the strays healthy. However, if people don't want a stray to return, Safe Haven Shelter Manager Cat Wursta said to avoid feeding the felines. "The biggest thing is trying to find that cat's home," Kutner said "Because more than likely – seven, eight times out of 10 – it's owned by somebody." Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@ Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @
