When humans lose something or someone dear to them, they often experience grief. But what about animals? Do they grieve too? Evidence suggests they do. A poignant example is a mother cat who lost her only kitten and exhibited signs of mourning.
This mother cat, named Hazel, experienced immense sorrow after her only kitten passed away. The kitten was born with health issues and couldn’t survive. Isabel, Hazel’s owner, noticed the profound sadness in Hazel and decided to share her experience on TikTok.
@isabel.gracez good morning hazel #fyp #foryou #ColorSelector #MeTime #TimeforTENET #hazel #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Isabelly
“She would stay up all night crying and looking for her baby…” Isabel noted in the video.
Determined to help Hazel cope with her loss, Isabel came up with a creative solution to comfort her grieving cat.
“…so I decided to make a pretend baby for her,” Isabel explained in the video.
Using a pair of scissors and a piece of white cloth, Isabel crafted a kitten doll. She cut out two kitten-shaped figures from the cloth, sewed them together, and stuffed them with cotton. Despite its simplicity, Hazel’s reaction was surprising.
Hazel immediately took to the kitten doll and wouldn’t let it out of her sight.
Nearly overwhelmed by the loss of her kitten, Hazel found solace in the doll Isabel made. The mother cat clung to it, treating it as if it were her own baby, and couldn’t sleep without it by her side. Isabel was amazed and pleased to see her cat find comfort in the doll.
@isabel.gracez little update: I think she likes it. What should we name this lil guy? #foryoupage #fyp #foryou #cats #retailtherapy #keepingactive #mycrib #cute ♬ to be so lonely by harry styles – bird
The heartwarming TikTok video quickly gained traction online.
Isabel’s video resonated with many, garnering over 3.8 million likes and 150 thousand shares. The choice of Lara Anderson’s “Build Me Up Buttercup” as background music added to the video’s emotional impact. Viewers shared their heartfelt responses, with one user commenting:
“I am literally having a breakdown, I’m be crying all day now.”
The TikTok community even helped in naming Hazel’s kitten doll.
These poor kitties were rescued from an animal cruelty case where they were starved, locked in cages with inches of feces, and received no water or food. Now, these cats need your help!
As the video went viral, Isabel expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported them. She sought suggestions for naming the doll, and responses included Solace, Remedy, and Stuffy. Ultimately, the name Angel was chosen, fittingly representing a heavenly comfort for Hazel.
Months later, Isabel provided an update on Hazel’s condition.
In a follow-up TikTok post, Isabel shared that Hazel had significantly improved. The once heartbroken cat now appeared happy and well-loved, with her cherished kitten doll still by her side. Isabel’s story of Hazel and her kitten doll continues to touch hearts, and viewers look forward to seeing more updates in the future.
@isabel.gracez I truly would do anything for her I didn’t expect for this to go so well.<3 #foryoupage #fyp #foryou #ShowMeYourWalk #neverfitin #cat #baby ♬ Build Me Up Buttercup – Lara Anderson