Hello All,
My husband and I are retired and have downsized and my Son and Daughter-in-law of two weeks (mid 30's) have come to live with us "temporarily" which is all good, I'm happy to help them through a transition period.
They have brought their cat with them which is hiding in my closet, in their bedroom. I have nowhere else to hang my clothes and was going to suggest to my son he will need to buy a rail for their clothes and hang them in the spare room which has no closet but space to put a closet or rail. One of the difficulties of them moving in, is they have so much stuff and I don't have extra chests of drawers or wardrobes for their clothing.
After my husband asked my son not to have the cat in the closet and after I have asked both son and DIL not to permit the cat in the closet, they will not adhere to the request. Their cat is an indoor cat and a shredder.
Initially they said the cat would 'live' in the spare room which is very large and it would eventually learn go outside when it felt comfortable but now it has settled in their bedroom in my closet.
I have 3 dogs and feel that allowing the cat here when it lashes out at it's owners never mind the rest of the family, I think I have been more than generous to accept the cat but am anxious about my dogs eyes being injured if the animals meet.
Here's my question. As they have both heard the request not to have the cat in the closet at least three times and will not adhere to the request, what do I do?
Their response is that the cat is scared and feels safe there. My argument is that if it is not permitted in the closet it will find a new "safe place"
I feel disrespected. I feel this is a bad start and I'm already being challenged by my DIL and Son. This is the only request I have made which to my mind is non negotiable. But I'm beginning to feel I will have to vacate my closet and buy a clothing rail for myself and put it in another room for piece of mind, when really all they have to do is keep the closet door closed so the cat cannot enter.
How would you deal with this situation?
