Losing someone you’ve grown up with — someone who’s shared your space, your naps, your games — is never easy. Pets experience this too, though their grief may come in smaller, quieter gestures. A recent Instagram video shows a foster kitten’s subtle but heartbreaking reaction to the loss of his sibling, and the scene has left many viewers in tears.
Foster kitten looks for late sibling who recently passed away in moving video
Shared by Instagram user @soccercatmom, the video follows the heartbreaking aftermath of the passing of a tiny foster kitten named Pepper. Posted on April 15, the foster mom explains in the caption, “It’s been 24 hours since we lost our foster kitten Pepper.” In the video, Pepper’s brother, Salt, is seen looking under couch cushions, quietly crying, and clearly confused by his brother’s sudden absence. It’s a raw and emotional scene that many viewers described as “absolutely crushing.” The foster mom added, “Salt keeps looking for him and crying and it’s awful.”
However, Salt isn’t grieving alone. Another cat named Poppy, who had been closely bonded with Pepper during his time in the foster home, steps in to comfort Salt. In the video, Poppy gently grooms him, watches over him when he paces the room, and snuggles beside him at night. “[She] has not left Salt’s side,” the foster mom explained, calling Poppy’s devotion “the most magical thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Two weeks later, on April 29, the foster mom shared a touching follow-up video of Salt’s adoption by her niece. It shows Salt’s final moments with his foster mom as the two share a tearful goodbye. “I can technically drive and see him tomorrow if I wanted to… and maybe I will,” she says. “But why is it so hard still?”
While it’s unclear how much cats truly comprehend death, many experts believe they can sense the absence of a close companion. Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that cats are aware when a familiar pet or person is no longer present. They may exhibit signs of grief, such as searching, vocalizing, or showing altered behavior like eating less or becoming more withdrawn.
