Anonymous wrote:If it's a cookout, people will be going in and out of the house and the cats might get out. I love cats, but that would be my concern if it was my cat and a good reason for you telling her it wouldn't be a good situation.

This. Cats are unpredictable. If they get out they could be gone forever. I can't imagine any cat owner thinking this would be a good idea.

I'd say no, you're concerned that cat will get out during cookout and you will have no ability to monitor the situation while you have guests over. And you don't have a pet-friendly house. Easy enough.

Cars hate to travel so not sure what she's thinking.

Huh, I've never heard of a hotel that allows cats. For real.

Anonymous wrote:say you think your toddler has allergy

19:15 again - please don't, it puts the rest of us with real allergic reactions in a bad position if people think that some use allergies as an excuse. As we have all explained, there are so many good reasons why OP should refuse.

say you think your toddler has allergy

Have they traveled before?

Cats aren't usually happy travellers.

In my house that would be a firm no, because at least two of us are extremely allergic to cats. I can also guarantee that at least one of your 25 guests will have a reaction. Plus they might come to a bad end (or your furniture) because you will be stressed out dealing with the funeral and the cook-out.

Honestly, this person is rude to suggest such an arrangement.

Wait. I had thought teaching cats to use a toilet was an urban myth, or some kind of late night infomercial fraud.

How did she teach her cats to use the toilet? What kind of cats are they? Siamese? Or just regular cat-cats? Were they kittens when she trained them, and HOW did she train them to use the toilet?

My cats would freak out if we made them travel with us for a few days. I think they would prefer to stay home with a huge plate of food and a huge dish of water and no pet sitter at all to what your sister is describing. At the very least if she must travel with them, she should leave them at the hotel the whole time. I love my cats, but they are not people and their needs are different than people's needs. It sounds like your sister does not realize or agree with that.

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE cats. I am a die-hard cat fan. I would still say no.

+1 Straight up CCL here and it's totally fine to say no and suggest a cat sitter. If she doesn't have one, the vet techs at her vet's clinic are a great place to start. Most healthy cats only need a once daily visit. Everybody wins!

This seems really unfair to both the cats and you as a host.

OP here. Totally agree that I don't need a reason--usually I'm the one that says that! As soon as DH and I say no, my MIL will immediately insert herself and start calling/texting to get us to change our minds because she doesn't want to listen to SIL's whining (SIL is 27, btw) and because she thinks she should have a say in our decisions. DH and I have stood our ground before and dealt with the resulting fallout, but I wanted to see if I was justified before taking on this battle. Thanks, DCUM!

I love cats too - have 3 but that is the big advantage of them - they can be left at home. Though two of the ones I have now are surprisingly social and would love a good outdoor party

I LOVE cats. I am a die-hard cat fan. I would still say no.

Anonymous wrote:I would say no but I don't have a better reason other than I don't like cats. I don't want anything ruined, smell, cat hair, etc. And I don't want there to be an expectation for future visits.

A - you don't need a reason. It's your house.

B - even if you needed a reason, all of those are excellent ones.

Nancy Reagan your SIL and just say no!

Anonymous wrote:Not really a cat person, but I thought one of their main advantages over dogs is they aren't really pack animals and can be left at home just fine.

Unless she travels with them all the time and they are used to it and like it, it seems like it would be very stressful for them and therefore kind of selfish.

+1 I like cats and I would still say no. Rude request to make of a host, and super stressful for the cats. SIL should leave them at home, and hire someone to check in and feed them.