Ethical and/or Moral dilemma

[bowener]

A few months back my girlfriend and I took in a friend in need. To make a long story short the guy owned a 1 year old husky mix and an adult cat. This guy has had a pretty hard life growing up. His ex gave him a 3 month old husky mix as a gift, then broke up with him about a month later. He never asked for it, and after they split was never really able to take care of it. He is an emotional mess and pretty much sleeps all the time except for when he is working.

Last week, after his dog pissed all over our house, and he realized everybody was better off if the dog went to a better home. The dog has a better home now, and some pretty awesome new owners. About two days after the dog left our house his cat ran outside while we let our own dogs out. His cat is not an outdoor cat. My girlfriend and I put up flyers for it today (he hasn't made an effort to find it in any fashion), but while putting up flyers we discovered the deceased cat in some brush by the road.

We are beyond torn on what to do. Currently his cat is wrapped up in a towel in my garage, and I really don't want to tell him, even though that is the easiest thing to do. I really don't know if this guy can handle more shit on his already large pile of shit he calls a life. I already found a dead cat today, and I really don't want to find a dead roommate another day.

tl;dr: Roommate is a broken depressed human that had to give up his dog, and now lost his cat forever. Do I tell this poor soul, or let him have false hope?

[Mile High Mania]

[Cheater5]

Are you afraid he's going to kill himself or something? How old is this guy? Is he currently medicated (e.g. antidepressants)?

Not knowing the answers to any of the above, but assuming he's a rational adult male >21 years old, tell him. You can't coddle or walk on eggshells around this guy for too long. I'm not suggesting you coldly hold up the dead cat by its' tail and say "Here he is!" But nothing bothers a man more than being babied or someone trying to 'protect' them.

Life goes on, and he'll get through.

[scho63]

1. Bury the cat and don't tell him

2. Buy him a new baby kitten

3. Then rent him an escort for a couple of hours.

Problem solved.

[ClevelandBronco]

Can we at least get a photo of the dead cat's boobs?

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by scho63

1. Bury the cat and don't tell him

2. Buy him a new baby kitten

3. Then rent him an escort for a couple of hours.

Problem solved.

Sage advice.

[BlackHelicopters]

Sack up, dude.

[Fish]

You'll need to find the location of your nearest supernatural pet cemetery. It will be denoted by a large creepy looking ring something like this:



Just bury that sumbitch in there, and before you know it that cat will be reanimated like nothing ever happened.

Important Note: Not for use with children.

[ThaVirus]

I'd tell him. It sounds like he's pretty much at rock bottom anyway..

[fan4ever]

A guy calls home to his brother who's watching his cat.

"How's my cat" he asks.

"Your cat is dead" his brother responds.

"Geez, you just don't blurt out bad news like that...you have to break it to me gently".

"Like how?" his brother says.

"Something like the cat's on the roof and you can't get it down...that way when I called back, I'd be prepared for some bad news" he says.

"That's a good idea, sorry." the brother responds.

"Oh, that's OK...anyway, so how's Mom?"

"Mom's on the roof and we can't get her down"

Moral of the story...cat's on the roof and you can't get her down...try that.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Either way though, I'd tell him. He's an adult, he deserves not to be deceived.

.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Honestly... get rid of the cat. Tell him it was never found, pets run off.

And, then move on. If I knew you had my dead pet in your freezer because you didn't know how to tell me it died --- I might slap you and call you a woman. And, then I'd ask you to slap me because obviously I have made you think I'm a woman.

Honestly... don't do this. If he thinks the cat ran off and he really cared for it, he'll worry that it's hurt or lost or any number of things (or chose like his ex to go be with someone else). That's a lot worse than knowing it got hit by a car or something.

Tell the guy, tactfully, that his cat is dead. Offer to wait a few days and take him to a shelter for a new kitten.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Treat it as you would a child, seeing as you clearly are concerned that he's possibly too delicate to handle it apparently.

Suggest that maybe another family found it seeing it's used to the indoors and probably just ran to the first home that would let it in. Then years later when he is more stable and better off, let him know the real story and your intentions.

At least that's what I'd do.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by stumppy

The truth.....always the truth.

Yes, but when to tell the truth comes into play. Generally the sooner the better and presenting the truth in a courteous way.

Perhaps tell stories of the cat when it was alive to make him laugh, times when the cat was just a little feller.

[luv]

He's not 6 years old. Tell him.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

If he thinks the cat ran off and he really cared for it, he'll worry that it's hurt or lost or any number of things (or chose like his ex to go be with someone else).

If he really cared for it he might look for it himself.

Sounds to me like he needs to get himself in order and ignore the pussy for a while...