Recently, our 12 year old bengal lost her cat companion Raffles (not a bengal) after he died of old age (18 years.) We bought suki as a kitten from a cat breeder who couldn't use her for show because she had broken her leg very early in life and in my opinion was taken from her mother too soon (she suckled on Raffles (male) all her life..?) Since Raffles has passed Suki's behavior has done a complete 180, she is now constantly, i mean CONSTANTLY meowing and digging through the trash for human food. Over the years we would catch her trying to drink from the tap on the kitchen counter which was tolerable (we know they like running water) but now she is stealing food off the counter even when your in the kitchen with your back turned. We yell at her when she is on the counter but the second you leave she is back on it again. Im assuming its making her sick because we have been finding cat vomit around the house. Don't get me wrong we do everything to try and stop her..we can't leave any bit of food out but as you know bengals are very clever and she gets in to the trash every moment she can. We do have another cat (not a bengal) in the house that she has known since he was a kitten (he is 5 now so they get along very well) but i really don't know what to do about her behavior now. I feel as though she is not happy. She goes after food like she is starving, cries constantly and just doesn't look the same ( dull fur.) Maybe switching to wet food…? We tried food for older cats but that hasn't worked and the meowing won't stop!

Heeeeeeeeeeeelp!

Bless her. How long is it since you lost Raffles? I think if you feel her fur is now dull, a trip to the vet might be in order especially as she is constantly crying for food, just to make sure there isn't something else going on as well as grieving for her lost buddy.

What kind of bin do you have for your trash? We have a big pedal bin and our two have never managed to get in it, so may be worth changing your bin if she is constantly raiding it and being sick everywhere. Human food won't be doing her any favours at all.

She sounds a bit lost to me and her behaviour may settle once she gets used to Raffles not being there, but I would get her checked out to be on the safe side.

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

With her fur changing as well as the personality change I would take her to the vet to make sure there isn't an underlying cause. I would make sure they do a full blood panel on her. If she checks out all clear I would try spending more time playing with her and giving her an outlet for her anxiety.

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

I am so sorry you lost Raffles. He lives a long and happy life. I'm sure Suki is missing Raffles. Cats grieve just like humans do. Her companion is gone. Children of divorced parents do the same thing when the mother or father is no longer with them 24/7. A change in the texture of the fur could be from the stress, but unless you've had her at the vet recently for checkup, it might be a good time to have her checked, just to make sure nothing medically is wrong with her.

It's difficult to keep cats off the kitchen counters. Food bandits are common. LOL. I know it's a problem for you, but all you can do is scoot her off and try not to leave food out there for her to find. Trash is another thing. She may be looking to see if Raffles is in there. Did she get to say goodbye to Raffles? Did he pass away at home and she could see that he was no longer living? I wonder how cats might react to that. I'm just not thinking this is food related unless she does not like the cat food she is supposed to eat.

A part of your home is missing. I'm sure you're grieving for Raffles as well. Some people are quick to try and get another companion -- but you have another cat already. My opinion is that if nothing medically is wrong with Suki, then the loss of her friend is the cause of this sudden change in behavior since it started only after Raffles passed away. Everyone needs time to heal, even cats. I'm sure they spent a lot of time together and maybe you can spend more time with Suki. She may just be looking for attention, knowing that she gets it when she hops on the counter or tries to get in the trash. Hang in there and give it some time.

I would take her to the vet for a check up and blood panel as Donna suggested. Her losing her friend was and is very stressful. Stress could aggrevate any illness and the vet could give you some suggestions for helping her figure out not having her friend around.

I am so sorry for your loss.