QuantumCat is, very sadly, very close to the end of her life. She is extremely elderly and infirm, with a number of health issues that we have been managing with support from the vet. Her condition has declined significantly and rapidly since New Year, and I think we are very close to needing to make the decision to PTS, as the kindest, fairest thing. I’ve had her since she was a kitten, and I’m devastated.
Alongside this, I am extremely concerned about how best to handle the situation with our DD, who is 4 and in Reception. QuantumCat does not travel well, and I won't stress her by boxing her under normal circumstances, let alone these, so the vet will come to the house when the time comes. I don’t think it is fair to anyone to have DD there, so I was planning on making the arrangements for a school day when I can work from home.
Do I tell DD in advance what is happening? We’ve known this was coming for a while, and have already talked to her about how QuantumCat is very old and very poorly, but DD has no experience of bereavement and so I don’t think it’s really sunk in. She might well be too upset to go to school if I do tell her, but if I don’t, am I cheating her of the chance to say goodbye?
Does anyone have any experience of this that they could share?