Parenting

3368 readers

46 users here now

A place to talk about parenting.

Be respectful of others' parenting decisions.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Tot@lemmy.world

What to do with 4yo when we put down the cat? (fedia.io)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Maestro@fedia.io to c/parenting@lemmy.world

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have a 14 year old Maine Coon that is terminally ill and has a few weeks at best. Our son recently turned 4 years old and loves animals. We taught him to be kind to all animals, even bugs. He is not particularly attached to the cat, but he likes it well enough (the cat is not a cuddler).

In a few weeks we'll have to go to the vet and have the cat put down. We're wondering how we should approach this with our son. Do we take him with us? Do we let him be present when the cat is put to sleep? Or make him stay in the waiting area? Or do we go when he's in school? What's appropriate for a 4 year old?

On the one hand I think that death is a part of life. And I don't mind that he sees us crying over the cat. But I also don't want to traumatize him or make it bigger than it is.

Any tips?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

We had to put down our neighborhood conglomerate appropriately named Tuvix when my son was four. We didn't do any of that paradise-farm-fairytale-BS. We were honest about why, and explained it to him.

Kids are resilient and adaptable, even if something sad happens. I find that honesty goes a long way.

He wasn't present at the vet, we told him a after the fact (He knew that Tuvix was ill).