You can simply say “yo I’m sad about my cat’s death”. Accept your feelings and dont be shy to share them, just dont impose them. It also opens buds to help you if they’re up for it.
Shutting them up only reinforces this idea that men dont cry and arent allowed to feel things, and the day you need actual help people will mock and leave you for being a downer and a weakling.
Friendships are built on the ups and the downs.
Also in this case, you need to let yourself grieve, or itll pop up in the future when you dont expect it to.
Y’all need actual friends.