What do I tell Quinn??

Quinn got a beautiful kitten for his birthday six months ago, his name was Marcellus (named by Q!) and he was full of personality. He thought he was a dog, he'd play fetch!

My neighbour has just knocked on my door to tell me that his dog has mauled our cat and now Marcellus is dead.

I am so upset. He was such a cool cat!

What do I tell Quinn? I can't imagine breaking his little heart!

I need some serious help before breakfast tomorrow! PLEASE HELP ME!!!

We lost one of our kittens a couple of months ago - big hugs
Sorry no ideas otherwise of how to break it to Quinn.

So sorry you guys are having to deal with this. Our ten year old cat and Alyssa's best friend got run over earlier this year. We had him wrapped up in a blanket and i let the kids pat him (i guess you wont be able to do that if your little guy is badly mauled) and say what ever they wanted to say to him. Explained what had happened. and got them to put anything they wanted in his little grave. Very very sad time. Alyssa was really wanting another cat straight away i think she thought it would help or something but we refused to get one. I think honesty is the best way to go

OH NO! I'm so sad and sorry too.

oh thats awful chick! my friends cat was killed the same way.

I would just say it like meow said

big hugs , to you and your little man

I'd be inclined to say that the cat was in an accident and leave it at that - hopefully he's not too inquisitive?? lol

you'll have to be careful saying an accident - hurt - died... then next time he scrapes his knee he'll think he's hurt and going to die

oh that is so so sad for you all, this close to christmas! about 3 years ago we had the same thing happen, my furbaby sambo was killed. what was worse for us was it was our dog that killed him. up till then the two of them got on really well, even used to snuggle up and sleep together. we were devestated as you can imagine. we took the dog to the vet, and a dog behavioural consultant, and asked the questions, ie WHY did he do that. they both told us that it was our decision, but the fact he had attacked his *own* cat made them very worried that he would be aggressive in other ways. if we did keep him we would never be able to let him be around the kids, and would have so many restrictions on him. the vet said if it had been a stray cat on the property or like you, the neighbours cat, they wouldnt worry so much, as it is in a dogs nature to do that.   we made the decision to have our dog put down, was very hard but i would do it again if i had to, my kids come first.

it really was a case of wrong place at the wrong time for marcellus, poor wee kitty. i hope you manage to talk it through to quinn ok. Xanthe was about his age when we had to tell her that her kitten was run over, and she coped really well. having a place to visit in the garden helped.

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this Anna, I hope it went ok with Quinn this morning

Phew... thanks for all the advice! I really needed some help here!

Bit of an anti climax really... I told Quinn that there was an accident and marcellus had to go to heaven to be with grandad.

He asked what happened?

I blatantly lied and said it was a car (i figure there's a bonus lesson in there to be careful of cars!).

He asked whos car?

Me: I don't know

Him: What colour was it (!?!)

Again: I don't know.

Him: That's ok, I want summa apple now.

Hmmmm... so he really doesn't get it. And I am dreading the questions that will surely follow as to why he hasn't come home. But we are having chips in the park for dinner and so far everything seems ok. Sending Andy off to bury poor kitten tonight.

Now hating neighbours dog...

Argh Lyla! I now know what you mean...

Right before bedtime I fielded all sorts of questions that I was not expecting (well, I was but just not yet!?)...

Blubbered my eyes out too!

Quinn seems to be ok.

This is one bit of parenting that I did not sign up for!!