One day their cat isn’t there to greet them when they come home from school. Your child will ask where there cat is or when is he/she coming back to their Spokane home.
You will have to tell them the truth.
Most children normally ask to see the deceased cat and want to know where or how the pet died, if he/she suffered and if they will ever see their precious friend again.
Sit down with your child in a place that she/he feels secure and safe, such as the end of the bed or at the kitchen table. Make certain that you won't have a single interruption or any distractions. .Speak in a tender, tranquil voice while looking straight into the child's eyes. Explain the cat’s death in a gentle, gracious but straightforward manner. Use the words dead and death instead of euphemisms like "left this world" or "passed away."
If relevant, eliminate distressing details from the scene, such as blood or bits of fur.
Cover the cat or place in a box with a lid or a cat casket. It is not essential to remove the cat's belongings at this time.
Explain that death of the cat’s body is forever. It’s extremely important the child understands the cat will never move, see, hear or play again.
Share your faith. If you believe in an afterlife for cats, share this conviction with your child. Just be sure to restate that the pet's body has finished living. Their is a wonderful book titled Cat Heaven to read to your child.
Answer any questions your child asks clearly. Let her/him know that you are deeply saddened over the cat's death, and will miss him/her very much. It's perfectly acceptable to cry with your child if you were also attached to the cat.
Permit the child to see the cat if they ask--as long as the body is not in a highly disturbing state. If the body is viewable, let the child to touch it if they so desire. When the animal doesn't act in response to touch, it helps finalize the death in a child's eyes. If your child doesn't want to look at the body, don't force the matter.
Say goodbye in whatever manner your child prefers. Hold a funeral if asked for, complete with family mourners and a service. Remember, this is central to your child, so treat the occasion with dignity and respect.
Comments