My childrens cat has just died, it's christmas eve what do I do?

I'm so sorry for your loss & on Christmas. We've lost a few pets over the last 2 years & it's been so sad. It's such a tough decision. We always tell our kids the truth. I think I'd wait a few days after Christmas so the association is gone. It's sad & makes me angry that people can be so cruel & careless. What if it had been a child that got into the poison? It's just wrong.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I can feel your pain as most of my cats I've had in the past have been taken off and dumped or killed by mean rotten next door neighbors. (Who admitted they did notice the cat in their boat as they were pulling it down the street), yeah, and they couldn't return him to me? Then the neighbor commented to other neighbors that my husband and I would never see our cat again. I still grieve over what they may have done to my cats, all of them. Animals are always in my prayers. I'll send prayers up for you and your children to be comforted over the loss of your beloved pet.

Thank you everyone

The council was on minamum staff so has been put on the to do list - they don't really care. They will be sending a letter to local residents and are considering that the feral cats and hoarders may be a little out of control.
considering??? we have approximatley 68 cats within 100metres of me??? and I think most will have kittens soon- Araagh!!

Told the children today we said he was hit by a car, and wouldn't let them see as he was sqaushed (what else could we do) and buried some old sheets that we put in a cat like shape in a black plastic bag. we did it today as it is my sons birthday in two more days and my littlests gil on new years day. so it is a hard week to pick a day not associated with something.
and although the children want another cat I said not until there are less in the neighbourhood.
I am having trouble with our remaining cat...
My cat was formerly a semi feral (dumped young) took 2.5 years to domesticate he's not happy with indoors all the time he likes 22hour indoors he dose really prefer indoors since he discovered it and 2hours outside.
He broke out the kitchen ceiling fan (vetalation for cooking) yesterday. and although he has a cage for night, I cant keep him in a small cage the whole time. I have to let him at least roam the house. and he is now working on popping flyscreens.
I am considering sending him to my brothers for a few weeks, but last time I did that he went missing and turned up home 3 days later on my doorstep, hungry and dirty with a matted coat, my brother lives 12km away. He has also come home from my mothers to only 1.8 KM away he has a few times turned up there when I am over there for too long. but being a former feral I suspect he knows alot. he is very much his own cat and has decided I am his person and always finds me.

so I don't know what to do with him- he may go between here and my brothers at least untill this gets some council attention. which isn't going to happen over christmas.

I am going to contact some animal groups, tell them what has happened so they can help trap some of the cats - I know the neighbours (non-hoarder) pet ones so they will be fine. I will make sure of it. we had a group come in years ago and desex the hoarders cats they had 12 then - but then they got more. they are all thin and flea ridden last year cat flu wiped out a pile, it was horrible to watch and but then they just get more cats??
They had Parvo cull there dogs down to 4 now, but I know again that they will just get more eventually. and the owners/family always look sick.

and although they are on a to do list apparently there are much worse hoarders out there to deal with first.

Janb - I am sorry you have rotton neighbours, I really am. and thanks for your prayers. I will tell the children because it will acctually mean alot to them.

I'm so sorry Sue. I hope that someone will take notice and remove the cats from the hoarders, for the animals' sake as well as your family's