Pets, children and the end... (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Ected]

We have a 19 year old cat, and she is on her last day. We have an appointment tomorrow morning to put her down. :sad:

We had another cat that died suddenly several years ago, but this is different.

How do you tell your children? We do have 2 other cats, so the house won't be empty, which I hope will help.

Any thoughts?

TIA

PS - I know it isn't the same as losing a family member, but it still hurts.

ETA: the kids are 12, 10, and 7. The little girl is going to take this the hardest.

 

[ChiefD]

I've been through this with 2 young kids and 2 dogs I had to put down. Not to mention countless fish.

You just be honest with them. Tell them your cat lived a long happy life with your family, and now it's time to go to heaven.

Edit to add: if they ask about why you have to take it to a doctor, you just tell them they have some medicine that will help her go to sleep and that way she doesn't have to feel hurt anymore.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I've been through this with 2 young kids and 2 dogs I had to put down. Not to mention countless fish.

You just tell be honest with them a little white lie to make them feel better. Tell them your cat lived a long happy life with your family, and now it's time to go to heaven.

Fixed.

 

[Rattle and Hum]

No advice, just hoping it goes well for you and the family.

 

[MikeIke]

We had to put down my German Shepherd when the kids were 6 and 3 years old. We bought a book called Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant and read it to them in the days leading up the the end, and afterwards. It helped them get through it. There is a version for cats, too.

 

[Mr. Ected]

We had to put down my German Shepherd when the kids were 6 and 3 years old. We bought a book called Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant and read it to them in the days leading up the the end, and afterwards. It helped them get through it. There is a version for cats, too.

Interesting that our vet suggested that book also. We got one that is a diary too that provides a little interaction with the kid. Hopefully it works!

 

[johnnycakes]

Yeah, I guess the best explanation I ever got as a kid was that pets just don't live as long as we do and the best we can do is to provide them the best home we can while they are alive.

 

[Chemical X]

kids are idiots. can you get a lookalike to fool them?

 

[NCCommish]

We always had dogs when I was growing up. So I went through them being put down. My parents went the honest approach. They don't live as long as us and it is cruel to extend their lives if they are in pain or have lost their quality of life for our own comfort. It was our responsibility to love them and care for them. That includes making the final decision. I went with them and was there for the last moments when they would fall asleep and then be gone. It hurt. It wasn't easy. But in the end it made me understand what I take on when I take on a pet.

 

[matuski]

I've been through this with 2 young kids and 2 dogs I had to put down. Not to mention countless fish.

You just tell be honest with them a little white lie to make them feel better. Tell them your cat lived a long happy life with your family, and now it's time to go to heaven.

Fixed.

Are you saying there isn't an invisible dog park in the sky?

 

[matuski]

We always had dogs when I was growing up. So I went through them being put down. My parents went the honest approach. They don't live as long as us and it is cruel to extend their lives if they are in pain or have lost their quality of life for our own comfort. It was our responsibility to love them and care for them. That includes making the final decision. I went with them and was there for the last moments when they would fall asleep and then be gone. It hurt. It wasn't easy. But in the end it made me understand what I take on when I take on a pet.

This although we said goodbye at home and dad took them off to the vet alone.

 

[Socrates11]

Don't say anything. When they say 'where's the cat?' you say 'what cat? we never had a cat?'. Then give them a piece of candy.

 

[spOOfy]

we took our 10 and 7 year old this summer when we put our dog down. she was sick when we we're thinking about doing it, and then about a week before we we're going to do it, just about died anyway. rushed her to the vet, they helped her stay alive until the family could get there. it was hard for them, but they got to say goodbye and we all cried it out together.

 

[NCCommish]

We always had dogs when I was growing up. So I went through them being put down. My parents went the honest approach. They don't live as long as us and it is cruel to extend their lives if they are in pain or have lost their quality of life for our own comfort. It was our responsibility to love them and care for them. That includes making the final decision. I went with them and was there for the last moments when they would fall asleep and then be gone. It hurt. It wasn't easy. But in the end it made me understand what I take on when I take on a pet.

This although we said goodbye at home and dad took them off to the vet alone.

My parents were always very up front about death. Many of my relatives were apparently shocked when I showed up for my great grandmothers funeral at age 5. Even more so when I was allowed to go to the coffin and see her. But it is part of life and they thought it was better to be upfront about it.

 

[[icon]]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

 

[Mr. Ected]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

True, but it is a living being that has been part of our lives for 18 years. I'm more concerned about how the kids are going to react.

We do have two others (rescued one from a Walmart!) so that might ease some of the agony.

We will use the opportunity to get a dog next summer (going on a big trip during which we don't want to have a dog at home).

 

[[icon]]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

True, but it is a living being that has been part of our lives for 18 years. I'm more concerned about how the kids are going to react.

We do have two others (rescued one from a Walmart!) so that might ease some of the agony.

We will use the opportunity to get a dog next summer (going on a big trip during which we don't want to have a dog at home).

Good time to teach the kids about burial rites of old foreign cultures, IMO

 

[Mr. Ected]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

True, but it is a living being that has been part of our lives for 18 years. I'm more concerned about how the kids are going to react.

We do have two others (rescued one from a Walmart!) so that might ease some of the agony.

We will use the opportunity to get a dog next summer (going on a big trip during which we don't want to have a dog at home).

Good time to teach the kids about burial rites of old foreign cultures, IMO

Great idea, although the closest river to me is the Potomac; not sure how the WH would appreciate seeing one of those floating downriver!

 

[NutterButter]

Between multiple cats, multiple dogs, 2 fish, 2 guinea pigs and multiple foster dogs throughout the year, my kids don't seem to be phased when one's time is up. Its probably the foster dogs that have taught them to think this way b/c you learn not to be too attached to one of them b/c its just a matter of time before they're adopted.

 

[Clown Car]

We have lost one dog and two cats in the last few years. The dog was put to sleep, the cats attacked by a stray dog. We just tell the kids the truth. They will understand. The 7yo might cry more. Give her time to do that and then do something else. Death is part of life.

 

[comfortably numb]

Tell em your wife is part Korean and she made you get rid of it?

 

[Frostillicus]

Bring up how you haven't seen the cat in a while when you guys are having dinner. Then, after dinner, tell the kids you actually cooked up the cat and you all ate it that night. I don't really know where to go with the rest of this plan but I think it's a solid start.

 

[joffer]

We just tell the kids the truth. They will understand.

cat heaven?

 

[johnnycakes]

We just tell the kids the truth. They will understand.

cat heaven?

life sux then you die.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

True, but it is a living being that has been part of our lives for 18 years. I'm more concerned about how the kids are going to react.

We do have two others (rescued one from a Walmart!) so that might ease some of the agony.

We will use the opportunity to get a dog next summer (going on a big trip during which we don't want to have a dog at home).

Good time to teach the kids about burial rites of old foreign cultures, IMO

I generally agree , but I'd recommend the Tibetan Sky Burial for that extra special lesson.

 

[Henry Ford]

It's a cat.

You throw away the corpse and adopt one of the 59,219,100 damn things that are clogging up shelters all over the country.

You're a soft, cuddly, emotional kind of guy, aren't you?