How to tell the children our cat has died?

[ZigAZigAhh]

We have a beautiful cat who we just discovered was hit by a car last night. A neighbour found him. We have two children (8 and 6) who are going to be absolutely devastated. It was the cat’s ‘first proper’ birthday next week (he was born on 29 Feb 2020) and the children have been planning a little party for him. I am heartbroken - he was my best friend. For those who have very sadly been in this position, what is the best way to break the news?

It’s so hard. I keep listening out for the bang of his cat flap, the creak on the stairs when he used to come up. He would always track me down and cuddle up on my lap (no matter how hot it was). I still have bits of paper on the floor with his muddy paw prints over them when he walked across them a couple of days ago. His toys are scattered everywhere. His bowl of biscuits is still sitting in the kitchen waiting for him. I’m sure it will get easier but right now it really hurts.

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. I know exactly what you mean, when our cat died and we were eventually able to tidy away his toys and litter tray etc, the thing that struck us was how tidy and empty the place felt! We actually missed the annoying tracks of litter we were always cleaning up and tripping over his toys. We only waited a few weeks before adopting from a rescue centre because we just couldn't stand the emptiness. We still actually have his food bowls in the cupboard four years later because we couldn't bring ourselves to get rid of them at the time and it didn't feel right using them for the new cat.
We did get his ashes and they sit beside a photo of him. Our dd, who was around 7 at the time, wrote his name on a little stone and placed it beside his photo. It helped her to process that he was gone and she still looks at the stone now and we all still talk to his photo when we are near it, which probably makes us sound really weird 😁

I’m so sorry for your loss.

We lost our 1 year old girl very suddenly last year, it was awful and my children were devastated.

I was honest, and I cried with them. A sad thing has happened, and it is ok to be sad. We did get another quite quickly, not a replacement but the house was so empty and we had so much love to give.

We can remember our first cat with smiles now, we all miss her but it does get easier x

I’m crying🥲 I am a massive animal lover & I totally get this. It’s so sad & I’m so sorry for you all. No helpful advice, sorry.

I have this to come. My DD 7 has grown up with our dog & cat (both 12), she absolutely loves them unconditionally, plays with them, celebrates & remembers their birthday, sets a place for them in board games, speaks to them like they’re her little siblings, tells them her god news. I dread the day I have to deal with her heartbreak and mine.

I hope you can go in to adopt & love another cat🥰