My (21) brother (23) and his wife adopted a husky puppy twoish years ago. Now every time they come to my parent’s house, whom I live with, they bring her over. As a husky, she’s very active and hyper, and while it has gotten a bit better as she matures, she still runs around the house, jumps on the couches, barks at nothing, whines for everyone’s food, and sheds everywhere. They won’t visit for weeks, and I’ll still find her hair all over the house and my clothes.
They apparently can’t leave her home because she’s extremely clingy. If they leave her at home, she’ll apparently bark and howl, which is a problem because my brother lives in his in-laws basement.
Honestly, I can deal with all that, I do love dogs and she’s a sweetheart, but the worst part is my cat. My cat hates other animals and she will attack them, which isn’t a problem normally, I just try to keep her inside and we don’t have any other pets, but every time that dog comes around, we have to lock her away in another room for hours.
Every time my cat catches a glimpse of the dog, she immediately goes into protect mode. She arches her back and becomes puffy, hissing and swiping if the dog gets too close, (they have not taught their dog boundaries.) I’ve suggested introducing them properly over and over but it’s always “Eh we’ll try it next time.”
For the last couple years, my cat has lost hair on her thighs and stomach, likely from over grooming. Over grooming is caused by stress and while I’m not sure exactly why she’s stressed, I doubt the smell of dog all over the house is helping. (My parents also let my cat out for hours at a time, including at night, despite my constant protests, so that could be why too, but that’s a different post.)
I’ve tried talking with my parents about it, but not my brother and sil. My parents brush me off, saying “they’re part of the family too.
Why haven’t you taken that cat to a vet yet? Just assuming it’s stress is frankly neglectful.
This is your parents home. Their rules.
So your problem pet should be more important than their problem pet?
Has the cat seen a vet? Tried kitty prozac? The phenomenon diffusers?
What have you tried?
Nothing. Op says they can’t afford vet care.
Not your house. Not your choice. Don’t like the situation? Move out.
YANTA for not wanting the dog there. You’ve already said something and were denied. Either live with it or move out.
OP your cat could be diabetic or have a thyroid issue.
YTA. ONLY because it’s likely not a house owned by you (as you said you live with your parents), so therefore you don’t have any say, unfortunately. If you own the house 100%, disregard this and I’ll change the vote).
I am really sorry they’re doing this to you and kitty and that you’re outnumbered. I totally empathize with how you feel. I love cats and dogs but can be logical and admit that Huskies are a destructive breed without the right training, and they HELLA shed. All over the place.
Your cat being stressed is probably making you so sad to watch. Does the cat usually have free roam of the house?
Could you request a kind compromise and request that the owners get a full deshed grooming done right prior to that? Trying to brainstorm ideas….does kitty have high places to run to in order to feel more autonomy over the dog? For example, I have 3 cats and a dog. It’s been a year. They didn’t quite vibe at first. We’ve always had cat shelves all over the house, but once they realized they could start using them more and sleeping in the high-up boxes, we haven’t had any problems anymore and the cats and dog even snuggle!
YTA. Not your house not your rules. Your parents have no problem with the dog so the dog gets to come over. You’re quick to blame the dog for your cats stress but there’s another factor that it could be the cat going outside. There seems to be bigger issues with your cat beside the dog coming over. What has your vet said about the cat’s stress symptoms?
YTA, it’s not your house, not your rules.
YTA, for neglecting your cat’s medical needs.
YTA. It’s not your house, not your rules. Don’t like the dog coming over with WEEKS in between don’t live there.
As for your cat being stressed. I doubt a dog coming in once every few weeks for a few hours is causing her so much distress she’s loosing her fur. It’s likely something constant going on in the house. But as most people have pointed out you need to take the cat to the vet and if you cannot afford vet care you shouldn’t have a pet. I used to starve in order for my dog to get her shots and food.
YTA it’s not your house. It’s your parents. They choose to let you live there with your cat. They also let their other child bring his dog when he visits. You need to do a better job of taking care of your cat.
You don’t get to just make rules in other people’s houses.
Start saving and move out instead of complaining
Your parents don’t see this as a problem. It’s their house. Your options are:
1. Talk to your brother. Communicating is always the 1st step!! If they refuse to try any solution create a safe place for your cat as NO ONE ELSE will try to protect it.
2. Move out of your parents’ house. If you’re in a different location their dog won’t bother you or your cat.
Some info would help to make a judgement. Do your parents let the cat outdoors or just out of your room? Why don’t you put/bring the cat back in? Do you work outside of your parents house & leave yout cat in their care for long periods of time?
When was the last time your cat was actually seen by a vet and had bloodwork done? YTA for blaming the dog when youve infact been neglecting your cats medical needs. You said it yourself, she overgrooms even when the dog isnt around.