I was cleaning up my yard and placing branches and twigs into my wood chipper when our cat jumped up on the back of the chipper. I tried to move him off but he leaped right into the wood chipper. How do I explain this to an 8 year old?
2007-03-15 13:59:58 · 45 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Tell her kitty is helping the grass grow.
2007-03-23 13:56:45 · answer #1 · answered by Lost Poet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not tell her that the cat fell into the wood chipper until after she has grown and left the house. That is the thing bad dreams could be made of if you tell her.
I would not tell her that it ran away either, she will think it did not like her or she did something wrong.
It really is an opportune time, if you child watches news at all , tell her that it got some of the bad cat food and you had to take it to the vet and it was so sick that it had to be put to sleep cuz it was in pain. Let her watch the news if she does not so that she gets the gist of what is going on.
2007-03-22 06:04:55 · answer #2 · answered by vivib 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently there are some people on here who think traumatizing the child by telling her the truth is better than softening the blow. Do not lie, but say there was an accident and the kitty is in a better place. No need to go into detail. The cat is not in pain now. Kitty heaven is a good place. Genesis explains that "God saved even the animals." I believe you will see the kitty again. Be as gentle as possible.
2007-03-20 12:57:20 · answer #3 · answered by AytymnRain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you say, honey I was moron and didn't turn off the woodchipper when the cat jumped up on the back... No wait, that's something you tell yourself.
To a child? We lost "socks" (insert cat's name) If she asks how, say, there was an accident and he died. She's 8 you don't need gruesome details. But just in case she's a particularly bright and inquisitive child you say he accidentally fell and wen't to kitty heaven. (basically you re-iterate what you said the second time.)
Honesty works better than the running away part because she will then wait for said cat to come back. This way she knows the cat isn't coming back. Not to mention she'll hate you later when she finds out you lied to her and by that time it will be you killed her cat on purpose as opposed to you killed her cat by accident. Trust me, unless you move to the moon with not another living soul, she'll find out about the accident.
Don't forget to say, it's OK to be sad honey. This was a sad moment and I am sad too. I'm so sorry.
Let her grieve in her own way. Kids are funny, they tend to bounce back quickly. My daughter lost her precious hamsters (to being eaten by the dogs) and in a week or so she'd forgotten she even had hamsters... weird eh? It's more the grown ups who have issues letting go...
2007-03-15 14:08:30 · answer #4 · answered by cnith 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell your daughter another cause of the cat's disappearance (like the story of the cancer patients) or excuses. Then in the right time, you tell her the truth. This is the story, names are forgotten and changed:
Edna, a cancer patient, met another cancer patient. She intruduced herself as May. They shared and read stories to each other. May gave a friendship band to Edna. Then, they were okay to go home. They visit each other on the 15th of every month. One day..."Mama, why is May not here yet. Why?" Her mother responded. Maybe she is late or early." Another day..."Mama, she doesn't answer her cellphone." " Maybe she had no load or it is off" Another visit day..."I made a friendship band for her. Where is she, Mama?" "Wait, I'll go buy food. You want anything?" "Some biscuits only." Edna asked some people for what happened to May."Ah, your friend May Cruz? Didn't she passed away already?"said a nurse. When her mother came back,"Mama, why did you kept it a secret?" "Because I don't want you to be hurt, and I want to tell you when your old enough."her mother said. With May's mother, she said a tearful goodbye on the spot where May was buried. "I am sad because she is gone, but life is beautiful even so short. I am happy now. Goodbye, May,"Edna said.
2007-03-21 16:44:56 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Cheska 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet is just to tell your daughter, the cat ran away or something. It would be horrific to tell her about the wood chipper, don't you think? Or better yet, just get a new kitten, you won't need explanations, not that many.
2007-03-21 16:29:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm so sorry for your loss. Please don't tell your daughter the cat ran away. She's young, not stupid. She'll want to know WHY the cat ran away and then you'll have to think of more lies to cover your original lie. Tell her there was an accident and the cat died. Simple and the truth, easy to remember. She might want a funeral or some type of memorial service. I would encourage this if, and only if, it is her idea. Follow her lead, she'll let you know how she wants to grieve and when she's ready to move on. Best of luck!
2007-03-21 05:22:17 · answer #7 · answered by D_Cartwright_99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't tell her the truth! That could scar her for life! Just tell her the cat got sick, died, and went to heaven. She's much happier now. How are YOU doing? It must have been a horrible experience. Get your daughter another cat that needs to be rescued. It could be a lot of fun if the 2 of you go together and pick one out at the pound.
2007-03-20 21:03:33 · answer #8 · answered by LadyLynn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
frist of all i pray to god your kidding but if you not i'm really really sorry for your loss
but what ever you do NOT tell her that the cat fell in a wood chipper tell her something like it got hit by a car or it ran away but it would proably break her poor little heart i think about her but still tell her it went to kitty heaven
or some thing peacefull
sorry again
2007-03-15 14:18:09 · answer #9 · answered by NinjaJJ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry, and I am sure you feel bad, and unfortunely this will probably haunt you for a long time. Don't blame yourself forever. I wouldn't tell her the truth as she may think bad of you and you did try to stop it from happing. Cats aren't like dogs or kids they are quick. You must feel really bad for writing this so don't let other people's responses bother you. Good luck. Cats run away all the time. If you decide to tell her the truth besure and let her know how bad you feel and you did try to stop it. Good Luck
2007-03-21 15:59:14 · answer #10 · answered by T G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't tell her that it fell into a wood chipper take everyone's advice and tell her it ran away
a little lie can't hurt she is only 8 to yonge to b told that u let her cat fall into a WOODCHIPPER
2007-03-15 14:09:33 · answer #11 · answered by poppygal13 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋