Unfortunately, today we had to euthanize our 18 year old cat, Bullwinkle. She suffered a stroke. Our grandchildren will be coming to visit tomorrow and I wasn't exactly sure how to handle the situation correctly. So of course I searched the encyclopedic google and found this good site. The most important thing I learned is that you shouldn't lie in order to try and spare their pain. They will eventually learn the truth and this breach of trust could cause resentment. The link is very informative about how each age group handles the situation. We've decided to have a ceremony for Bullwinkle and have the grandkids plant a tree in the backyard.