jesicka30 Posted September 15, 2004 Posted September 15, 2004 do i tell my 14 year old daughter that the house cat caughed up body parts of her pet rat whom shes had about a year whom she is very close to, or should i just pretend othings wrong cause the rat just freely roams about her room so sometimes it wont be seen for days.
Leikela Posted September 15, 2004 Posted September 15, 2004 In my opinion, I think you should tell your daughter what happened. If you don't, she'll be hoping the rat will return and keep that hope alive a long time. Spare her the long time pain and worry about her beloved rat and break it to her now that he is no longer among the living. It's always hard, but better off for your daughter to know the score. If she ever found out that you lied to her, that would do more damage then the actual death of her pet.
moimeme Posted September 16, 2004 Posted September 16, 2004 Whatever system was supposed to keep those two apart clearly didn't work. Everyone will have to rethink how you are going to manage should she get another rat. Best idea is not to get pets that like to munch on each other. Hint: don't get a bird and let it fly around, either.
honey2005 Posted September 16, 2004 Posted September 16, 2004 I don't think I would tell her that the cat killed it, she might end up resenting it:(. Maybe you could just tell her that you found it dead one day while she was at school and you buried it. I have a mouse and a hamster, but I keep them in cages that are safely put where my cat (the one as my avatar ) can't hurt them. Sometimes she will sit by their cages and watch, but she can't get to them. I think if you're going to have pets that could be hurt by another pet, you should be sure that they are safe.
johan Posted September 16, 2004 Posted September 16, 2004 Whatever system was supposed to keep those two apart clearly didn't work. I'd have to say I agree with this. They obviously got together. I suggest getting a pit bull instead of a rat. Then you won't have to worry about the cat eating it.
amerikajin Posted September 17, 2004 Posted September 17, 2004 I agree with another poster: don't tell her the cat killed it. She'll resent the cat, who was just doing what cats always do. Just tell her that you found the rat dead and that you don't know how it died, but that you already threw it away.
DerangedAngel Posted September 17, 2004 Posted September 17, 2004 Ditto Honey and AJ. If you do get her another one, make sure she doesn't let it roam free around her room. Good luck. -DA
tiki Posted September 17, 2004 Posted September 17, 2004 Tell her you accidentally left a mouse trap out? No, wait, don't do that. I agree with the posters about not telling her the cat killed it. I think it's a natural instinct for cats to hunt mice. I'd probably not buy another rat, by the way....or either keep in enclosed in a cage or something.
Papillon Posted September 29, 2004 Posted September 29, 2004 I personally think it's cruel to keep a rat and a cat in the same house. The rat has a natural terror for predators, and it will smell the cat constantly. Cruel.
CurlyIam Posted September 29, 2004 Posted September 29, 2004 Don't say you found it dead and burried it without her either. Tell her you're afraid the rat might have gone free because you remember having accidentaly left the door open. Or the wind, or something. My sister wold burry all little dead birds when she found it in the park. Would bring home tons of homeless cats and dogs. Did bring home once a little girl that was crying her eyes out for she had gotten lost ! My point is maybe your daugther will say she would have wanted to be at the burrial. When I was a little girl I had had a couple of pets that... died. It's about seeing that they are dead, having the certitude you saw them, having cried a bit for it that made me more tranquil. That, the curiosity and the tradition. Kids want to dothings by the book. At least tat's howmy sister and I were. If the little ran "ran for his life", maybe it was because...the cage was too little and it needed more space. Or something....
bluechocolate Posted September 29, 2004 Posted September 29, 2004 In my opinion, I think you should tell your daughter what happened I agree. If she were very young I would probably think differently, but she's 14 years old. Surely she knows that cats like to catch & eat mice/rats/birds, etc.? Maybe then she'll be more careful about ensuring the rat isn't allowed to roam free without supervision.
CurlyIam Posted September 29, 2004 Posted September 29, 2004 Aaaa 14 ? I thought more of 4... I should read the posts better.
SvoMustangLady Posted September 29, 2004 Posted September 29, 2004 I think you should just tell her the truth. I believe is old enough to know what happened. I know it is going hurt her feelings. But I think being honest with her what happened is better then not telling her truth.
Author jesicka30 Posted October 10, 2004 Author Posted October 10, 2004 thanx so much for all the advice but later on the night while i was at work my 14 yr pet rat was seen running in and out of her bedroom so what ever the cat coughed up was infact a rodent of some kind. do fruit rats has coats with tan or brown spots cause thats what this thing had well from what i could see left of it. oh and about keeping a cat and a rat in the same house hold well the cat belongs to a housemate and your right she would have resented the cat out of her and her lil bro they have 2 hermit crabs, a trantula, fish, housemate has 2 useless dogs and 4 cats, me i have 2 kids lol.
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