IMO   She is a little too young for this.   I was three when my
grandmother died and the body was "laid in state" in the home.  I have
a vague recollection of playing around the casket but no rememberance
of what the passing meant.   I, personally, feel if you tellher that
Josie has gone to Rainbow Bridge to play with other kitties there,
that will suffice.

"Jennifer Pipa" <jensposts@pipa.ws> wrote in message...

I don't have any children, but it seems a 2.5yo child would be unable
to comprehend the concept of a pet's death.  I'm not even sure if the
kid would notice her missing.  Leave the kid out of it and if she asks
(if she can even talk yet) just smile and give her a toy.

I think the Rainbow Bridge story could be helpful in this case. A two
and a half year old is quite capable of missing a loved pet.
http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbowb.htm
Obviously, you can word it in such a way as to suit your child's level
of understanding.

So sorry for your impending loss.

Do not do that, Dahmer when he was 3 was involved in the familypet burial
and when he was interviewd he quoted that experience as the spark that
started the curiosity of killing animals before moving on to humans.

When my lovely Henri died we didn't know how to tell my
Grand-daughter Daniella either, as she spent a lot of time
with my gentle giant,and called me Nana Henri,finally,after
she had asked about him a few times, "Where Henri" {she was almost three]
my Daughter told her Henri had gone on a long train ride she seemed to
believe this for a while, often asking when he would be back, but not long
after she was three,she asked one day and I replied that I didn't know,
she looked at me and  said straight out " Henri's dead isn't he?" I was
astounded, asked who told her that she just shrugged, so I told her as
gently as I could, that Henri had become so tired and sick that he died
and went to heaven she accepted that.and so now I believe it is much
better to tell a child the truth explaining it very gentlyand that they
would
rather be well and happy up there than tired and sick down here, and
they can still watch her playing, and still love her.  Jean P.