or is it better to tell him that she ran away?
He's only six, I'm not sure he can handle knowing the cat is never coming back.
2007-02-03 14:41:20 · 32 answers · asked by Namtrac 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
It's best to tell him. THAT'S THE PROBLEM TODAY-kids are fragile? They'll get over it...we all did. What a bunch of crap.
2007-02-03 14:46:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell the child the truth, otherwise he'll be waiting for the cat to come back, and that's unfair. Sit him down and explain that he ran onto the road, and was knocked down by a car, and sadly was injured too badly to survive.
At six, he will not fully understand the meaning of death, and may well be asking when the cat will come back for a while, but he'll start to understand after a while.
Good luck.
2007-02-03 15:35:35 · answer #2 · answered by RM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children are very resilient. If you tell your child the cat ran away, he will go through the grieving process over and over by keeping up hope that his cat will come home but being disapointed each day that it doesn't.
By being honest with your child, he will cry and be upset but you will be there to comfort him and tell him that his cat will always love him but death is a part of life. He may have some questions and it is okay to say that you don't know the answers. If you believe in God you can pray together for the cat and for healing. By approaching this topic with love and compassion you will help to strengthen your child's trust in you. A family isn't just about happy times. We all go through hard times as well. Everything will be okay and you will be able to feel like you have been honest with yourself and your child.
2007-02-03 14:52:23 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda G 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think u should tell him the truth because if he thinks it ran away then he will always be looking for it and one day he is going to find out the truth. Just explain to him how very sad it is but sometimes cats do get run over and that it was very quick and the cat wasnt in any pain and has now gone to heaven.
2007-02-03 22:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by Smiley_1714 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well either way it will be painfull to him. You should proably just tell him the truth. Sit down with him and say something like " Son, Your cat got outside (whenever it got ran over) and got into an accident. He went to a good place where he will be a happy with other cats and where he can do anything he wants to. If you want to we can go out and look for another kitty if you want." Six year olds are smarter than people think. If you dont tell him and he finds out he will not be able to trust you. I say that you should tell him. It'll be less painfull than if he finds out himself. Good Luck!
2007-02-04 05:36:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell him the truth what if he finds out u lied he will and ur be a bad parent not to and hell think the cat is bad or he was mean to it so it ran away cause of him and hell keep blaming himself for yrs experience with kids tell him the truth maybe hell pray for it to come back if u tell him it ran away hell never want a new cat cause hell think it will run away too plus its like my grandma died im not that sad or mad but if i knew that she was still alive but dint know where she could be hungry cold etc. that will hurt even more so just tell the truth and hug.
2007-02-03 15:07:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely tell him that the cat is dead, but alleviate the grief by taking him out on a trip, or even buying him a new cat.
It is confusing and hurtful to tell children that an animal has run away, as they blame themselves - children should learn at an early age that there should be an end to all things.
In the long run, telling the child that the animal is dead will help them adjust to grief more easily in the future.
2007-02-03 14:57:07 · answer #7 · answered by brendanconnal 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would tell him. My dad told me my cat ran away. I was upset forever. Just tell the truth. Offer to go to the animal shelter and get another cat that needs a home. Sorry about your cat. Good luck.
2007-02-03 14:48:17 · answer #8 · answered by *♥♫Hedy♫♥* 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell him the truth. My mother told me that my cat had run away when I was a kid and she was actually dead. I have never forgiven her. Kids have to know that death is a part of life. Just don't tell him that you are the one that ran over his pet.
2007-02-03 14:45:27 · answer #9 · answered by icunurse85 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Although it's hard, i think it's best to tell the truth. That way he can grieve for her and come to terms with it and eventually get over it. Otherwise he will be looking out hopefully for her to return every day and that could go on for a long time and be even more upsetting for both of you.
So sorry to hear about the kitty by the way.
2007-02-03 14:56:36 · answer #10 · answered by martina_ie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I was little my cat was run over. My mother told me it ran away and was adopted by another family. Recently, she told me the truth. But I always felt that my cat abandoned me. By the way, I hate cats and dogs now!
2007-02-03 14:52:46 · answer #11 · answered by a_r_cool123 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋