how to deal with impending death of our cat

[beigey]

Hi
Our cat is terminally ill and at some point soon we'll have to put him to sleep. :-(
Our 3 year old is not yet aware of this though he knows the cat is ill. What is the best way to deal with this situation please?

Thank you

Children get over these things much quicker then us. Sorry about your poorly cat. I think there is a Mog book where Mog dies would that be of use? Sad for you :(

We just explained that he was very old, poorly and his heart stopped. Everything dies eventually, New things are born, circle of life.

Don't say he's gone to sleep.

Children are surprisingly accepting if you give them the truth. X

I couldn't read Goodnight Mog. I am welling up even thinking about it now!

My DS was incredibly matter of fact about the death of my DM's cat (who he loved and always made a beeline for). When he died we talked about how he was very old and how he hadn't been very well and how he had died and wasn't in pain any more. We talked a little bit about the circle of life, but TBH, he wasn't fazed at all. I thought it was all going to be a big drama, but his response was more along the lines 'Oh, okay', than the tears I was expecting.

We just explained that he was very old, poorly and his heart stopped

I did this when SoupKitten had to be put to sleep this year. The DS know she was out to sleep, DD thinks her heart just stopped.

She was fine after a day or so - I think the younger ones deal with it better actually. She was 7. DS2 (12) had a harder time of it.

DS3 was about that age when we had one of our cats put to sleep. He knew she'd been poorly. We compared her to his toys - sometimes the cat gets poorly like his toys get broken. Sometimes the cat can be made well just like sometimes his toys can get fixed, sometimes though animals get so poorly they can't be made better and they die and we also explaied that sometimes, so that they don't hurt too much, the vet helps them to die in a kind way. He took it all in and accepted it. He was sad when she was put to sleep but he dealt with it better than the rest of us TBH.

thanks everyone.
I've looked at the Mog book but am put off by the fact they get a kitten - we won't be replacing the cat, at least not for a year or two. He does like the Lion King and I wondered if comparing it to Simba's dad would help? or will he never want to watch the film again?

The main question I think now is whether to tell him we are putting cat to 'sleep' (unhelpful word)/give him chance to say goodbye OR tell him after it's done that the cat died because he was ill?

Thanks

There is a pet bereavement helpline which may have some advice about the best way to help you LO deal with it. I'm not sure of the number but have a look online or ask your vet. I don't have any helpful advice other than discussing it before the event might be a little better if they are able to understand and say goodbye, it might help preempt any questions that you might have otherwise had to deal with afterwards when you might be upset.