Strange ASD cat conundrum

[sickofsocalledexperts]

Ok so I need ideas/help on a strange problem from wise SN mums.

My boy (severe asd,LD) has a cat phobia.

Every time we go round to see grandpa, who had a lovely old ginger cat, my boy would freak out and refuse to even enter the house until he witnessed big sis pick up poor cat, and ostentatiously lock him in kitchen.

Well very sadly the cat died a week ago.

So now he won't come in at all - as he does not understand my reassurance words like "cat gone FOREVER" or "cat dead".

My DD point blank refuses to buy a toy cat to pretend to lock in kitchen (she loved the old cat).

Any ideas most welcome!

It is funny in a way, but also dangerous as he is so petrified he would run into street to escape if I wasn't holding him.

TIA

Hey SickOf - did you mean to post this in SN Children? Want us to move it for you?

Oh yes please Rowan - posted in wrong place!

OK, moved for you now

Ooh I like the video idea, thanks PG - knew I would get some wisdom on here!

Yeah, or get a similar looking cat and go with him to the local pet shop and 'sell' it there?

That makes me laugh too. Am now thinking all sorts of ginger cat scenarios [smie]

If anyone could get a stunt or showbiz cat, the best thing would be for me to tell it firmly "go away forever , cat" as it slinks off sadly down the road, to disappear from sight. Bet he still wouldn't be convinced though!

Hahaha - it is going to heaven, perfect!

How about a shoe box tied with string - you can say it is the cat inside, who is dead and take it to bury it somewhere. Quite final and visual. Just a thought.

He doesnt know what "dead" means. It is actually a good thing I can see about his autism: he will never have to face that. My mum, his grandma, died nearly 2 years sgo and he would still quite happily expect her to walk through the door.

Although, joking apart, i am getting some ideas about how to show finality to him.

Gone on holiday - was the answer to everything when DS was little.

Still on holiday - if he persisted.

He doesnt know what holiday is either, except in context of his own beach holiday. Our problem is that we used "gone" to mean - " gone out of the room". The only way to teach him new words/concepts is to pair them with stuff he understands inside himself - tricky with this oneZ,

hmmm how about image of cat on a postcard? (beachy one) saying he is having a great time catching fish so thank you for having me but I have now moved house by the beach and wont be back any time soon

orrr is there a car in the drive? could you stick a stuffed cat in that? so he can see its not in the house?

actually that idea of stuffed cat in car , as DH drives cat away and waves, might work. Good visual image!

Have you tried buying him a Garfield or watching the film, to try and get him to see them as funny? Just a thought and probably way off track!

That is a good idea too, though he loves toy cats, it is jut the real ones he fears! it used to be so sad when our poor, very elderly cat came limping up to say an affectionate hello and DS would scream, run, and leap onto the table (think he was scared cat would bite his feet or something)