Is it feasible to get a cat when grandparent is cat phobic?

[barnet]

We would love a cat. But DHs mum has a phobia of cats, and visits us 5 or 6 times a year for a few weeks at a time (we live in different countries). She has told the kids she would not come and visit them if we had a cat. Could we feasibly keep the cat in eg our upstairs bedroom when she came to stay, if there was a cat flap in there to the balcony? My childhood cats were athletic, and would have been able to scale a fence up to the balcony, but I don’t know whetherthat’s typical. Is there another way of keeping the cat out of a visitors way?

I like the idea of getting 2 cats but that really would make life complicated

It makes it easier, they play and amuse each other and truthfully any pairs older than 6 months are often overlooked in rescue centres. Plus you get twice as many cuddles...

I’d get a cat too. Maybe train it to ring a little bell before entering a room so she isn’t startled. Or press a button that has a recording of “warning, cat approaching” like lorry reversing warnings.

Or press a button that has a recording of “warning, cat approaching” like lorry reversing warnings

Warning! Asbo approaching! Warning! Bengal on the loose! Yes, I know, Asbo is a good boy! :)

If you are contemplating getting kittens, you should get 2. 2 kittens is actually a lot easier than 1 - plus you get double the love and double the cute!

Also I vote cats.

Warning! Bengal on the loose!

To be fair you wouldn't need a warning sound if you got a Bengal or two You'd hear them coming from miles away 😆

But Asbo is a good boy. See, good boy.

He's gorgeous! I don't remember seeing him before. What a beautiful boy!

Thank you. He is mummies best boy.

My own mum (and brother) is allergic to cats and yet I have two 🤷‍♀️. If you want a cat, get one.

mamadane do your brother and dm still visit? Dh is currently saying we’re not allowed a cat as his dm is ‘allergic’ (it somehow doesn’t affect her with the cat she lets in and feeds at hers). Dh is convinced she will no longer visit if we get one. I see that as even more reason to get a cat but I can hardly say that!

My grandmother lived with us and when we told her we were adopting a neighbours cat she told us the cat is banned from her room. Within weeks they were best buddies. The cat basically lived in her room and ate off her plate. She adored her. She might be ok when she meets the cat. Ours was very placid around my granny although used to be feral and was crazy around us.

@Heffa my DM visits but only a few hours at a time. She has to take an allergy pill before visiting. I don't see my DB a lot, mostly on birthdays and such. And it's usually at my mum's or his place. I never used to have space for visitors before now really. But I visit my DM about once a month and often stay a few days. She lives 2 hours away and we don't have a car.

If someone often sees their DM and she's allergic I can't recommend getting a cat though.

Literally the main reason I got a cat 😂😂😂

Get the cat, MIL will have to stay somewhere else.

My MIL is allergic and the first thing my DH did when he bought his first house (before we were together I might add) was buy a cat so she couldn’t come snooping around his house 😂
I’d get the cat, it’s not about her, it’s about your DCs and family and what you all want.
Just tell her it came through a window one day or something so she can’t get too upset

If she feels really strongly about it there’s always Skype.

Asbo is a beautiful smoochy boy - but I think those eyes betray plotting. :)

Just bombard her with cat pics at random times, for shock therapy. Here, start with this little monster

Get the cat! Never pussy foot around relatives, it's your house, you rules, your pets!

Great pun

My mum is cat phobic. My sister and I both have 2 each. My mum can tolerate them around but is unable to relax 100% if they are in the same room and jumps up quickly if they approach her.

She used to say she would be unable to come if we got cats, but the reality is the desire to see grandkids is too great, so she tolerates it.

My cats spend a lot of time outside and I also tend to keep the door to the room my mum is in shut so she can relax. Once she's leapt out of her chair shrieking a few times they give her a wide berth anyway!!

My mum and sister are both allergic to cats and we have two

DM comes round at least once a week, and DSis always when she's home from uni. They just take antihistamines and we always keep some in case they forget. I know not the same as 'phobia' but DM especially isn't overly fond of cats because she's never really been around them due to allergy.

Get the cat. I think its wrong of her to dictate to you and essentially blackmail you into not getting a cat (though the 'i wont visit' can be taken as a challenge.

IME a cat can sniff out anyone 'cat phobic' at a hundred paces so it would be futile to shut them away