Almost 8 Year Old Very Upset

Normally those kinds of "pet" rescrictions don't apply to smaller, caged animals like gerbils or rabbits. I would talk to your landlord, or simply read the fine print in your lease, and see if it's okay to get him a new pet to ease his grieving. That's the one thing about animals (that you don't have with people)...when they die, you can always get a new one.

EDIT: After re-reading my initial reponse, I can see how some people might have thought I was being a little cavalier about "replacing" the cats. That's not what I meant when I said that when a pet dies, you can get a new one...but it's my fault for how I phrased it. This is part of a PM I sent Jackie to explain my advice a little better and hopefully clear things up for D. as well.

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I was the person that suggested that the mom in the apartment give her son a new pet to help with the grieving process of losing two beloved pets, and I guess I was just wondering why you thought that was such a horrible idea? It's not as if these people gave the cats up because they were bored with them or simply no longer wanted the responsibility. As you said, it was done under duress...not at all a choice (I'm assuming that this woman already tried appealing to her landlord). Which means they are feeling very much the same as if their beloved pets had died. I am a pet owner (dog, rabbit, cats) and love them all very much. I would never consider them "disposable" or any nonsense, but I simply don't see any harm in finding healing through the adoption of another pet. Human beings are irreplacable and so are pets on some level. But my point was that, if your husband were to die, there would be an appropriate amount of time that you would take before ever dating or re-marrying. With animals, it's different. You are not dishonoring anyone's memory by finding comfort with another pet right away. You're providing a good home to an animal that needs it (many shelters have rabbits and guinea pigs as well).

I don't see how doing something like this to give her son comfort in a situation that was nobody's fault is going to send him the "wrong message". A gerbil certainly isn't going to "replace" his beloved cats, but it is something else for him to focus his attention and love on because he is hurting SO badly right now. I just feel like you'd rather he continue to suffer on principle, but maybe I'm wrong.

I would try to contact the landlord/manager and ask for an exception and hopefully you will get it (offer references from your last landlord, beg, lead, try anything), but if you get I would NOT GET new pets like the last post suggested! Good Lord, that would be the wrong message to send - oh animals are disposable, we can just get new ones since we had to get rid of the old ones! if you can get the exception you need to get your/his cats back!!

EDIT: I am editing my post in response to Steph's clarification and her private message to me. I now understand her suggestion was not meant to imply that animals are disposable and I was a little harsh in referring to her post. I think this is a terrible situation all around and I feel bad for both of you and it triggered a lot of emotion for me. I think all of us who responded would love to hear how you work it out and if your boy is doing better.

If you cannot get an exemption, and get the cats back, perhaps the other thing to do is to contact the shelter where they are (they know you turned them in under duress) and visit them until they have new homes. Let him write about each of them, what they like and what they've done and ask the shelter to pass along to the new owner. New owners LOVE to know about their pets - the history and preferences etc.

Good luck!

If it were me I'd make up an elaborate, cute, colorful story about how you talked to the pound and they gave the cats to a great home (together) and they are very happy kitties indeed. Also making sure he realizes that the cat you kept totally loves him and needs him to play with. Also explain to him that animals really arent like people and once they are with a new family they dont have the capability to "miss" us like we do them, so he shouldnt worry about the cats being sad because they arent. This is a learning thing for him... sort of a stepping stone for when a pet actually dies or a family member. It's an opportunity to talk about those things as well.
Mostly time will fix this. Keep him busy, don't constantly remind him of the missing cats.... and it will soon just be a fleeting memory. Pets come and go throughout our lives, we have to learn how to let go. An 8 yr old has no idea what being evicted and homeless is like. An 8yr old could live in a car with his 3 cats just fine... haha.... and you KNOW that was NOT the right choice and you DID the right thing in this situation. I've had to have my tenants get rid of animals too.... it's not easy. But I'm up front with the tenants about our pet policy. It was probably in your lease. THERE is a catch tho. If you have a pediatrician or doc that would write a note stating you need that "companion" animal, usually you can keep them.
3 cats in an apartment usually is no good tho, I see the mess that it creates in my tenants apartments. It usually costs them their entire deposit to fix everything and to get the smell out. Many people are allergic to cats so you have to do extra things to the carpet after they move out if they had cats.

Maybe you could try getting two stuffed cats that look just like them. Or (even though they are kind of a girl toy) you could buy a couple of fur real friends cats. They meow and walk and pur like real cats. Maybe put a picture of the two in his room by his bed so he can tell them good morning and good night. It will take some time but he will grieve for them and he will get passed it. Just support him.

Just comfort him and give him extra love and attention. Let him talk it through. I'd be upset too. Especially since they didn't tell you upfront. That is their fault because perhaps you would have found a place that would have allowed you to keep all three had you known ahead of time about the rule. I wish you the best. HUGS!

Can you find a family member who will take care of the cats until you can move? Sometimes owner turn-ins are euthanized immediately (especially in this econonmy - adoptions are down and there is just no room to put all of them), but if they are still alive, see if you can get them back out and to family members. The cats need it, and your little boy needs it. Taking a living thing from a child teaches them to somewhat harden their heart against giving complete love, and you definitely don't want that. And I would never lie to him about what happened. So many people think that shelter animals get swooped up by people who are desparately looking for a new pet just like that one, and that is far from the truth unfortunately. I have been in rescue for 16 years, and I can tell you it absolutely does not happen that way. This is why I think trying to get them out of there is imperative.

Can you talk to the receptionist or manager and explain what is going on and that you were not told about a limit? Maybe they could give you more time to move or rehome them. Please try to get them out. I know all of you would be so much happier! Such a sad situation. Good luck!

I just reread that and realized it sounded a little harsh - my point was just to hurry. Many shelters have a vet come in once a week, and usually it's on Friday, so I think you have time.

Really, he just has to go thru the greif process ... I would teach him the steps of the process and ask him if he can idetify where he is at right now and if he can put an "end date" on this step and a start date on the next ...

http://www.hns.org/Portals/1/Stages%20of%20Grief.pdf

these are some adult terms but I know you can reword them to make sense to him. This is such an age appropriate lesson for him to start learning, Oh and I would confirm what stage you are at and let him know too. Maybe you can make a chart of it or something and track both of your progress thru the process.