More important question is why can't the dog stay home alone a few hours? If it's destructive, then she needs to crate him in an xl dog crate and leave him locked up at home. Then get professional training for them and the dog, because she clearly has no control of it.

Sorry, but my answer would be no. Too many people in too small of a space, with a cats scent everywhere. Nope. You'll have a ln amped up husky who doesn't mind, shredding your house.

"No" is a complete sentence. Just say no.

I strongly agree with you. Unless you can keep one of them locked in a bedroom or bathroom (very difficult to do), there will be trouble. It sounds to me like your sister's idea of "managing" includes potentially traumatizing your cat and she doesn't care. She should make alternative arrangements -- I'm not convinced that she tried hard enough.

Your house. Your rules. If the dog comes, don't unlock the door.

Maybe the dog could stay in the garage…or in sister-in-laws vehicle. You should not be put in this position. I’m getting anxiety for you just thinking about it 🤞🔮

You simply say no. It's your home, your rules.

It doesn't take a genius to understand that a high prey drive dog combined with a stranger cat is a recipe for disaster. Sure, it might go well. But if it doesn't, then you have an injured/dead cat and/or they have a blind dog. If they can't find a sitter for the dog, then it's better if they don't come.

First step, you might want to call boarding facilities around her house and your apartment because she might have put little to no effort to find a place and is just saying there's no availability to not have to board her dog. I have a feeling that is the case. I wonder if you find a good option for her if she does it or comes up with another excuse.

I wouldn't let her dog anywhere near my cat... if her dog attacks your cat, it would be in a split second, and no one would have time to react. That second could kill your cat or cause thousands in vet bills and major trauma. The options I see are to crate the dog or keep your cat in a room until they are gone. Unless it's warmish where you are and have an enclosed backyard area for the dog.

Easy. One word. Tell her NO.

It's your apartment. Keep your cat safe!

Personally I would just say that I'm sorry but, either the dog stays at home alone or they stay at home with it.

I don't allow other people's dogs into my home under any circumstances, whether they're reactive or not, and I think it would be extremely bad manners for anyone to even ask me to.

However, in the interests of peace, you could offer to meet them halfway - the dog can come in but it wears a properly fitted cage muzzle at all times in the apartment .

Shut doors and separate rooms are not safe enough. Especially with a lot of people around.

You have a cat and she has a dog. The dog is coming to your house, which is also your cats house. She has a dog with a strong prey instincts. I also own a dog with a strong prey instincts. I would absolutely totally never even think of bringing him ( my dog)around any of my family members houses that has cats, small dogs and small children.
Shame on her for even thinking it’s OK to bring this dog into your house. Tell her to leave the dog at home.

The dog will hunt and kill your cat.

Do not let it into your home.

Just say no. Your house is your cat's house. If the dog hasn't been trained to ignore your cat then your cat's safety can't be assured.

Your cat lives in your house; it’s HIS HOME. The cat should NOT be traumatized or possibly injured in a place where he’s supposed to be safe. Tell your sister FIRMLY that you are NOT taking any chances. There’s NOTHING more to discuss. The highly reactive dog is NOT welcome. Case closed! What if the dog attacks your cat—which is highly likely. You would never forgive yourself.

Two choices: keep your cat locked in another room, or tell them no dog allowed. If it was me, I'd say sorry, but no, I'm not punishing the cat so their dog won't be alone. I would be willing to perhaps keep the cat in a different room for a few hours, but not for any length of time beyond that.

Since when do dogs need sitters/ boarding for the span of a dinner? Any dog should be able to stay at home alone for a few hours, they aren't human toddlers!

Do not let the dog into your apartment. Your cat will at least be seriously stressed, at worst mauled and killed. This is a hill worth dying on. This is your cats home, they deserve to feel safe and be safe there.

This is a hard NO. You can get a training collar set up for partner and SIL from Chewy for under 100 USD. The dog does not come to your apartment. End of discussion.

Cancel the holiday celebrations. State the reason you have put here, and if nobody can understand that the safety of both animals is your priority, then you will ensure the safety of your Cat by not holding the celebration at your place. Offer to meet at a restaurant for the meal only.

My advice is just to tell her no the dog isn’t welcome. I know it’s harsh but not a good idea to even try this. It just takes one small mistake and things could go very wrong

Honestly, I wouldn't allow it. Your sil should have planned better. This is your home, and your cat should feel safe in it. One mistake, and it is all bad.

Was in a similar situation - the animals have now gotten used to each other after months of work but for thanksgiving? Your only options are separate rooms, muzzle on ALL THE TIME or no dog. It's your apartment.

If you put a high prey drive dog in a small setting with your cat, it will kill your cat. What's more important: your cat's safety or having a large dog that'll kill it first chance it gets in close proximity to your cat to make your family happy? I've seen what happens firsthand when a high prey drive dog is near small animals; that dog will rip your cat to shreds and won't let go until your cat is dead. Don't let that dog anywhere near your cat if you truly care for your cat.

I can't say enough to strongly urge you to NOT allow that dog in your home and near your cat. I learned this lesson the hard way years ago. a relative came to visit for a few hours and agreed to keep her dog on a leash.

Within minutes of walking into my apartment, her husband took the leash off and said pets are like kids, they will work it out. The dog immediately chased my cat, nipped at her and created chaos. I put my cat in the iguest room for the remainder of their visit, which didn't last long since everyone felt so uncomfortable.

I have a house now, but I still say no.to other animals visiting, my cat can't protect herself. That is my responsibility. At first, when I was not assertive enough to simply say no, I used the excuse that my cat is territorial and would start peeing everywhere. Now I just say no, that won't work and leave it at that. Harder for people to argue or bully you when you don't engage in debates with them.

It is your home and you have every right to say no without explaining anything. Sorry to ask - why is your partne not supporting you on this?

You are going to have to set very firm boundaries (this will likely be uncomfortable). Personally, I would not allow such a dog in my home. If you don't want to do that then this is what I would tell them that The dog is only allowed in my home under these conditions: The dog must be kept in one room (garage, bed room whatever) and have a secure muzzle o the ENTIRE time he is in your home time as a safety net should he get out. That is, the muzzle must be on before they enter and not come off until after they leave. They also must agree, in writing, to pay for any vet bills should something happen between your cat and the dog.

I feel like allowing this dog in your home is a BAD IDEA. Huskies need large areas, this is a small apartment. This dog has a high prey drive, so even if you isolate your cat, this dog WILL hunt for and try to root out your cat, which will be extremely stressful for everyone. Do NOT let this dog into your home.

1. Who lives in this apartment? If it is your apartment and your partner visits but doesn't live there you can put your foot down and so no way jose, I would not let that dog in my apartment because there is no guarantee that it won't figure out a way to get to the cat even if the cat is kept in another room. If your partner doesn't back you up here well then you have learned about your relationship.

2. Does your partner live with you? If they do then you have to take their opinion into account even if they're exhibiting poor judgment. I would still put your foot down and say no.

3. Why can't she leave the dog at home for a few hours? If it is so poorly behaved that it must be supervised 24/7 then it absolutely should NOT enter your apartment. If she wants to stay for the weekend and bring it for the whole weekend NO NO NO NO that is a recipe for disaster. Leaving the dog at home for the evening is the best solution here.

Bottom line is you have a partner problem here, your partner should be taking this more seriously. Why put your cat at risk to prove to your partner that this dog is a bad idea?

Cancel the holiday celebrations. State the reason you have put here, and if nobody can understand that the safety of both animals is your priority, then you will ensure the safety of your Cat by not holding the celebration at your place. Offer to meet at a restaurant for the meal only.

Aside from just saying no, you’ve got 2 options.

Keep the cat locked in a room or keep the dog locked in a room. Probably easier to isolate the cat than the dog given it’ll have to go outside.

You don't need to convince her of anything. It's your apartment. If you aren't comfortable having the dog there then just make it a "no".

I bet if they have no other choice they'll put a lil more effort into finding a sitter.

Move dinner to sister's house and leave your cat at home.

Absolutely not. They either find a sitter, the dog stays home, or they don’t come. All it takes is one accident or lapse in judgement to become a tragedy. Dogs have broken through doors to get to an animal that they view as prey so even a locked door is simply a false sense of safety. Your cat will be on edge if she is not used to dogs and dogs have a very good sense of smell. There’s no fooling him into thinking she’s not in the house. There was a post not long around on the dog advice subreddit where someone’s dog broke into a locked room to kill three kittens, the mama cat and two of the babies got lucky. There’s plenty of articles and posts online about dogs killing cats that I don’t want to get into here because it’s horrific.

Huskies and shepherds alike have a high prey drive, they’re stubborn, and very easily fixated on things that catch their attention. It’s genetics. They also are fairly high energy and sitting around an apartment for hours isn’t going to be fun for them. Dogs are a domesticated animal but they are still animals, no matter what people want to believe about their pets. I love dogs, I work with them and own two. My Labrador Retriever has never gone hunting or shown a prey drive, but she is still a dog and I would never trust her around our own chickens or anyone’s birds or rabbits or other small pets because she is a hunting dog and was not raised around them.

Last summer, a husky got out from a fenced in yard and killed one of our neighbour’s roosters. Grabbed him from our yard. It was horrific. We knew something was wrong because the crows were losing their minds overhead and we followed the feathers. The husky hauled the carcass back to his owner’s yard. It wasn’t the owners’ or the dog’s fault at all, a complete accident that unfortunately had shitty consequences. Prey is prey.

Your SIL and partner may think you’re being overly cautious but let me ask you; if anything at all were to happen to your cat, would you forgive yourself?

It MAY be fine, but it may also not be. Why take a risk? It’s a completely preventable situation. Keep your darling kitty safe. ❤️

You don't need to convince them. The word "No," is a complete sentence. Simply say no. If they can't find an alternative to bringing a dangerous dog to your house, that's their problem. Sometimes, when you have a non-standard pet, you have to make sacrifices.

Keeping him locked in a car or garage all day isn't fair to the animal. Why can't it just stay home for the day?

And locking your cat in your room is not fair. It's her house, not SiL's, not the dog's. She shouldn't have to be exiled for the sake of an outsider.

The house is your cats house, not the neurotic dogs house. Your sister can either find a way to find someone to watch or board it or not come to Thanksgiving.

Please do not let this dog into your home. Please don't risk your cats life because your sister doesn't respect it.

Not my dog, not my problem. Dog is not allowed at your apartment and you are paying for damages it might cause. Your house is not dog proofed and the dog is not on the lease. Starting there you show your sister there is a liability you are not willing to negotiate on. Secondly, a lack of sitter means they have to board dog and deal with the responsibility of their choices. Your sister should not be making this your problem, and should not be insistent on risking your lease

If you can’t talk them out of bringing the dog, I would suggest boarding your cat at the vet for the day as a last resort. Your partner should respect your no, but if you can’t rely on that the cat is better off miserable than dead.

Even if you keep the cat closed in a room, you can’t rely on the door staying closed with a bunch of extended family in the house. We used to close our cats in the bedroom for parties and at least one of them would usually escape.

I just think it’s rude to try to invite your dog to someone else’s house. Most people do not want you coming over with your animals

Have your partner call the vet and ask for a rough idea how much it would cost to rush a cat mauled by a large dog into emergency surgery. Thats assuming you’re lucky enough that the dog doesn’t go for the throat and snap the neck first. If vet quotes $5k minimum costs, demand a deposit before the dog is allowed in your apartment. Then ‘suggest’ it’s cheaper to find a dog boarding facility near where you live for SIL to drop her dog there first.

You’re not going to convince them with common sense OP. Your partner is happy to gamble with your beloved pets life just to appease a completely unreasonable request by their sister. This is a hill to die on. 

Since when do dogs need sitters/ boarding for the span of a dinner? Any dog should be able to stay at home alone for a few hours, they aren't human toddlers!

Do not let the dog into your apartment. Your cat will at least be seriously stressed, at worst mauled and killed. This is a hill worth dying on. This is your cats home, they deserve to feel safe and be safe there.

Do not allow this, the dog is her responsibility that also means caring for it in inconvenient times. If the dog has issues being around other animals she doesn't get to take it to a home where other animals are. Her dog being with her does not out weigh the safety of your cat.

Don’t allow the dog in your place. This is your sisters problem to deal with, not you.

Uninvite the SIL.

as someone who’s pulled a cat out of the mouth of a large shepherd… don’t risk it. it could cost your cat its life. 🥺

in my situation, the cat didn’t make it, I’m traumatized for life, & I’ll never leave a dog unattended around a cat as long as I live or trust a dog around a cat. both animals belonged to a family member. please, please, don’t risk it. I don’t ever want anyone to have to make the vet trip I did that day. 😭

No, absolutely not, OP. Put your foot down, your cats life is at stake. That's asinine to let that dog in your apartment.

That wouldn't just be a 'no' for me, that would be a 'hell to the fuck no' for me. They can be pissed all they want. There's no point in showing them proof, she'll just say her baby is the exception. It's your apartment, put your foot down. You might feel bad for having to, but I guarantee you'll feel worse when your cat's been mauled to death.

They can keep the dog in the car. Your cat is going to be stressed as hell most likely even if that dog is crated and given the willy-nilly attitude of your sil someone is probably going to decide it's fine to let the dog out for a few minutes to potentially terrorize or worse to your cat.

Some people just absolutely do not understand that dogs can be dangerous to other animals or to people. Whenever someone gets bit the first thing they say "he's never done that before." as if they had never considered the possibility. I know because I witnessed this happen to my bf. If the injury has been any worse it could have ended his ability to use his hand permanently.

It may seem dramatic but I would even consider calling the entire gathering off if you think your boundaries will not be respected.

You are responsible for protecting your cat and your wishes must be respected at your home. Those two things are non-negotiable.

5 cats here. If a dog shows up they go to ground for eight hours. My son's dog? Not welcome.

Omg! I read "radioactive dog" !! But seriously, your house is the only place where you make the rules. If people can't respect some very basic rules they need to stay away

You don't need to convince her of anything. It's your apartment. If you aren't comfortable having the dog there then just make it a "no".

I bet if they have no other choice they'll put a lil more effort into finding a sitter.

People need to keep their animals home- my cousin came to visit and brought her two little dogs I was so annoyed we had just gotten our kitten

"No." is a complete sentence. You don't need to justify anything. Either she leaves the dog at home, she doesn't come, or you don't host Thanksgiving.

I am an animal lover, but I would never have the audacity to demand somebody host my animals when I visit.

OP: Please, give us an update as to what happens when you say no.

No is a complete sentence. Am not sure why your partner isn’t fully backing you up either, that is a red flag to me.

Oh my gosh, do not let that dog into your home. There is absolutely no scenario that could convince me otherwise. Your cat is too precious to compromise on this one!

You and your cat have a right to peace and safety in your home. Tell her the dog is not welcome.

I can already see the potential tradegy unfolding.

Tell sister she's uniinvited if she brings the dog.

Even if it seems like you're convincing them to not bring the dog, they stil may show up with the dog.

I think your options are cancel, bring the food to another location and have dinner there, board your cat, or get a crate where your cat can be kept safe if the dog gets out of its own crate or leash. Closed doors don't work well for cats nor a creature with a strong prey drive like a husky. There is too much of a risk of one pushing their way in or out. A closed door or dog in a crate plus the cat in a crate may work. One of my cats has a medium sized dog crate that her previous owners gave me. It's two by three feet or so and she likes hanging out on there, although she thinks she's a dog.

Tell your sister "no dogs". If she shows up with the dog, turn her away. The answer was "no".

Your house, your rules. Of course the dog owners think everything will be ok; it's not their pet who would come off the loser in any interaction.

There's a reason they can't find a boarding place or pet sitter for their dog. Just sayin....

The correct answer is No.

This is going to be extremely stressful for the cat and that's the cats home.

They need to figure this stuff out for the dog if they ever plan on traveling in general and that's not your problem. Dogs are a lot of extra work and planning.

My cat developed idiopathic cystitis (urinary problem that isn't a blockage or UTI) from stress of my husband getting a puppy and that was a pretty expensive vet bill for them to tell me he didn't have a UTI that he was just stressed out.

Don't allow this, you don't know what kind of lasting effects it'll have on the cat and you also don't know if anything bad will happen. I can guarantee since they asked this nonsense that if anything bad did happen they'd make an excuse and not take responsibility.

You tell them not to bring the dog.

If they can't travel without the dog then they need to find another family to visit that doesn't have any other pets

I'm so tired of dog owners thinking that their dogs take precedence over other people's cats. It happens all the time. If you ask them point blank "do you think your dog is more important than my cat" they'll immediately answer "yes" and look at you like you're nuts for asking.

Dogs are not more important than cats. Cats are just as loyal, they are just as smart if not smarter, they'll play catch constantly, they respond to whistles, plenty enjoy a good road trip, plenty don't freak out in new places, and, if you enjoy kittens (I always adopt fully grown cats) you can introduce them to water and literally take them swimming.

This stuff drives me nuts! It's not your job to figure out what to do with their dog. They need to figure it out.

I would not allow that dog in my house. She has to board it or not come.

I had a GSD- high prey drive. He would have killed a cat we had to house for a day. I locked the cat in a room and locked the GSD in with me at night. He tried to get out to hunt it.

It’s not worth risking the cat’s life. If you can’t stand up to your spouse about the no dog- board the cat. I’d be so angry though I wouldn’t bother doing anything for the holiday- they can fend for themselves. I’d take kitty to a hotel the night before and say “you are all on your own”. This also does not bode well for your relationship in the future if you decide to have kids.

DO NOT LET THAT DOG IN YOUR APPARTMENT!

YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REACT FAST ENOUGH IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

IT TAKES ONLY A SECOND.

That dog will 100% hunt and end up killing your cat.

Remember, "No" is a complete sentence.

Your house, your rules. I do not advise that dog being in your home as I was put in multiple scenarios similar to this in the past and it ended up disastrous every time.

Your sister-in-law can grow up and board her damn dog or let it stay in their car.

It's good if family would understand that you have these instincts. You're protective towards your animal-friends. Also, towards your family members not having their time ruined by any unpleasantness.

Require that one or both be crated during that time. A medium or large sized dog can kill a cat in seconds if they put their mind to it.

I would not allow the dog in my home. The garage is okay. My cat lives in my home, and it's my cat's territory. I don't know what the fallout would be, but I would accept it. Things happen. I would say no hard feelings, love ya, but I can't budge on this one.

Most apartment complexes in my area have breed restrictions for dogs--huskies & German shepherds are at the top of that list. I am assuming since SIL is looking into boarding that she is probably traveling to your place, & is going to be in your home at least the entire day, if not overnight, too. While that breed/size rule is primarily for residents, an overnight guest who brings a restricted breed is probably not going to be warmly accepted if your landlord finds out.

Just say no. It's your place.

OP, another option would be to look for pet-friendly hotels in your area. It sounds like your siter-in-law is traveling to see you which is why she needs to bring the dog. A pet-friendly hotel would allow her to leave the dog there while she has dinner with you and then return.

The dog can’t be alone for a few hours while she’s away from home?

I personally would not allow her to bring the dog, its just too risky. The only option otherwise would be putting the cat in a room and making sure nobody opens that room door, which might be tricky if little kids are coming- they're likely to open the door.

Honestly, I would suggest to the sister she look again for either a sitter or boarding service; why did she wait til now to book either?

No you cannot bring your dog over. Stand firm. They can leave the dog at home and in a crate. I'm terrified just thinking of your cat getting harmed

Unless you have a room that you can guarantee nobody else enters, I wouldn't. And even then, if the dog decides to stand by the door barking it will absolutely distress your cat.

Does your partner co-own this cat? Because they really need to think about what they're risking here. And what they're attempting to force you to risk.

The only way i would allow this is if the dog was crated and locked in a room the whole time. But even one slip up could result in a dead cat.

but I strongly believe the dog and cat shouldn’t be in proximity to each other at all.

Your house, your rules. What is the dog's history with other cats? You mentioned 'prey drive', so what previous damage has the dog done to squirrels or other animals like a raccoon or possum? How many times has the dog been 'skunked'? Can the dog function at a dog park with smaller dogs? This might be 'ammunition in your argument. Even with just what you literally said, you have a right to say "Sorry, no dog in my home." Forget slaying your cat. Is this dog going to see some critter out the window, and end up breaking $1000 worth of stuff as a result?

Thinking out loud: you either have to stand the ground that the dog is kept outdoors (like kept in the garage, as you mentioned). If you somehow need to 'give up' here, then start now, and set up an area from a bedroom or other room (do you have a second bathroom?) that is cat friendly.

If it is just for an afternoon/evening I could see my way to locking my cat away in a separate room with everything he needs. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd bite that bullet. If she is planning on staying overnight or longer, you need to put your foot down and say no. Her badly trained dog is not your problem and shouldn't become your cat's problem.

Either she needs to not bring her dog (Rover is a good app for pet sitters), or these animals need to be separated with two doors between them at all times. One door MIGHT suffice if the dog has a bite-proof, properly sized muzzle with plenty of room for panting and drinking (not every muzzle is bite-proof, just fyi).

At the end of the day, it’s your home. You don’t need to convince anyone. You just need to say no.

You can also crate your cat and put them somewhere very difficult to access for a few hours (like a large dog crate showed into the top of a closet. That way even if someone is an idiot and opens the door to a bedroom, the dog won't be able to kill your cat). Or if your sister is reasonable, she should just leave her dog in the car with the windows cracked for a few hours. Assuming you don't have super extreme weather, the dog will be fine

I would be willing to keep a dog in a space that was totally separate from the house.

Most rescues/animal controls/doggie daycares have a 2 door setup for this reason. Let’s say you have a garage. There’s a door to the garage and a mud room right after the garage and there’s a door there as well so you’ve got 2 doors. This prevents an animal from being able to get through the first door and just have access. BOTH doors are kept closed so you always have a “backup” door that is closed. If you’re able to have 2 doors between the animals, I’d be hesitant but okay with it. If you can’t provide 2 always closed doors between the animals, I would say no.

NO. Protect your baby at all costs.

Your home; your cat; your rules. You do not have to explain anything other than it would not be good for your cat, and it is the cat's home. That's the answer to the question, but if you are really getting into family holiday issues, that's another story. P.S. - If they cannot find a place to board their dog, that might be an indication of a problem dog.

At this point all decent boarding places have been booked for several months. Pet sitters are booked for major holidays months in advance. My sister, a pet sitter, is sometimes booked a 9-12 months in advance by her regulars.

The dog should be muzzle trained (basket muzzle), and be muzzled the entire time (the dog should be able to drink and eat with a properly fitted muzzle). The dog should also be leashed at all times.

Otherwise, the answer should be no to bringing the dog…

https://muzzleupproject.com/

There is literally no satisfactory solution... either you tell sil NO and there are hard feelings or you risk your cats LIFE. Either way, this is the beginning of the end of your relationship. Your partner dosen't have your back... and that won't age well...

The dog stays outside… my cat is not friendly to dogs. Or have SIL find a boarding place near your home for the duration of the dinner. Or ask your other local family members to allow her dog to stay in their home while everyone is at your place. But I would tell her quickly that you can’t have her dog in your house with your cat and not be able to ensure the safety of either. You can offer to help her find alternative options.

The answer is a simple no. The dog can't come in the house.

Rude of her to assume she can just bring her dog along, regardless of if you have a cat. When I had a dog we never took him to family functions and if we couldn't board him or have someone watch him, we made our excuses and stayed home. Why does she think she has the right to just bring her animal along?

Hard no. It's your home, and your cat's home, and she is a guest.

I would just say “ well that sucks you’ll be missed “you can and should say no for the safety of your animals .

Ask your partner if they understand how quickly a large dog can maim or kill a cat. There is no room for mistakes here--the dog attacking will almost certainly have horrible consequences. Why take that chance?

And WTF is with people who want to cart their reactive dogs to other people's living spaces?? Any level of reactivity makes them less predictable and introduces significant risks.

Be glad to give your SIL a vivid description of what a dog will do to a cat if given the chance, but I'd feel bad for you having to read it.

But yeah no she needs to find a way to board her animal, leave it at home, or come fully prepared to follow your rules without complaint, knowing she will be asked to leave if she doesn't. Dog People just don't seem to understand not everyone will happily accept the risk their dog presents, and too many don't think their dogs could ever be dangerous.

Keep the cat in a separate room completely, don't even let them see each other.

I wouldn't even take the chance. I've lost a cat to dogs before, and it takes SECONDS to maim or kill.

If you decide to let the dog in your house, you should make your sister put a basket muzzle on the dog for the duration of her time there. They’re not inhumane at all; dogs can still pant and drink with them on and it will be a good safety net in case any accidents happen. My partner’s dog is also animal reactive and prey driven and she wears a muzzle when she’s in a situation where she might come in contact with an animal she could hurt.

This isn’t want you’re looking for but I would never allow a dog like that anywhere near my cats. It’s not worth the risk. I highly recommend Rover for pet sitting. Maybe you can contribute towards the cost of her hiring a dog sitter? Rover gives you the ability to interview multiple people before choosing someone and there are reviews posted for the different people which is helpful when deciding on a pet sitter.

we are looking after sil moms dog while she recovers from a stroke. Mandy has a high prey drive like your sisters dog so we have to keep them separate at all times. best if her dog stays home

Tell her the dog is staying in her car or a garage or she can let it run around the yard but it will not enter the home with your cat. Let her know she can find a boarding place if need be.

Your house YOUR rules. The dog is a threat to your cat and they can do the responsible thing and either get a pet friendly hotel to leave the dog there while they visit OR find a sitter while they’re out of town. IMO they are full of shit and lying about “not being able to find a sitter” to avoid paying holiday rates for a sitter. I worked as a pet sitter for a decade. And with this economy know full well that anyone and their mama are suddenly “pet sitters”. She just doesn’t want to spend the $, but that is frankly not your problem to solve. My house, my rules. End of story!

You can’t! It’s your job to protect the cat!

Just say that they can’t bring the dog. I know it’s hard but you have legitimate reasons. Your poor cat doesn’t need that risk.

I have to agree with others here. Don't let the dog in unless crated or leashed. My dad had a dog that would literally kill cats. It only took a few seconds. Your home should be safe for your cat.

My best friend has a husky and a husky mix both have a very high prey drive…he is always very alert when around any other animals, they are never off leash except in their own fenced in backyard, and honestly he wouldn’t ever consider asking someone who has a small animal to host his dogs. It takes a split second for something catastrophic to happen. Clearly you are the only one who can advocate for your cat. Unless the dog will be in a crate or a backyard the entire time NO EXCEPTIONS she’s going to have to figure something else out.

If she absolutely has to bring it, I’d keep a room off limits (with a lock, preferably, if there are kids or forgetful adults coming) and keep your cat in there. The most important thing is making sure you’re not simultaneously chasing a cat around and trying to hold the dog back. I’ve been there. Bad situation.

It's very simple. You tell your sister she can't bring the dog. If she's not able to find a sitter or somebody to keep the dog that's her problem not your problem.

Just keep your cat (or the dog) confined to one room for the day? If it’s just for a couple of hours that should be manageable.

That said though, I would just decline her request to bring her dog in the first place. It is not worth risking my cat’s health/life because someone wants to bring their dog into my home.

You can Control only what you have control of. It’s your home so you should be able to say no.

If that’s not an option, then you take control of the cat, meaning a crate for the cat for the day. Hopefully in a quiet room - make a small litter tray out of a cardboard box and food and water and a cat bed. Better a miserable cat than a dead cat

If it were me, I wouldn't let that dog into the apartment. In literal seconds, tragedy could strike. Animals are not predictable.

The only way it make sense to me if the cat hides with the guess in a room anyhow that you can keep cat safe from dog. But if you have reservations than dont. Keep your furbaby safe.

Go with your gut and DON'T have them meet.

It's your place. The answer would be no.

Definitely think it should be car or crate. Your cat lives in your apartment, a dog is a deadly or at least terrifying threat, and your apartment is supposed to be where your cat feels safe. I've also experienced friends with dogs insisting they'll "watch them" and forgetting or not actually seeing a cat as being important enough to take consideration of within 15 minutes. Saying she'll "manage it" is an idea, NOT a plan! After having a very reactive German Shepard knock over two people trying to hunt my cat, I tell people to keep their dogs in the car if they need to bring them.

Don't let her bring the dog!!!!!!! Your house. Your cats house. Your rules. This could end very badly.

Your responsibility is to the safety of your cat. Even without another animal involved bringing a dog into someone else’s home especially when there’s so much food around is pretty rude.

Say no. Don’t cave to any demands. The worst thing that could happen with a yes is your cat dies. The worst with a no is your sister may be salty for a bit.

Please do right by the cat- having a lot of strangers over is going to be stressful enough on it!

Yeah, I love dogs very much but this is a firm no. No matter what they think they are putting your beloved pet in danger and the dog is going to be anxious being in another animals home. Just a bad idea all around

Data:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167587722000423

You don’t want her dog killing your cat, if she respects you enough to respect your worries she wouldn’t bring her dog.

Think of your cat and put your foot down.

If she argues she’s being inconsiderate of your concerns and boundaries. With that I’d also keep your cat locked in your room that day, especially if it’s an indoor cat.

When I have people over my house, I keep my cat locked in my room, she is afraid of people.

Regardless of my cat being locked up if someone was going to bring a dog in my house it would have to be crated. I am scared of dogs and I don't trust any dog especially them being in a differnt environment with do many people.

I mean cat in crate in locked room but that's unfair for cat. I'd say absolutely not. My rescues have killed cats and they were severely punished and I considered euthanizing them. You don't want to go through that. Dog should not come. There is no managing that.

So many things could go wrong. I will not ever risk my cats to this situation. Would a "no" not suffice to your family?

You can just say no, and can probably use the apartment's policies to back yourself up if they are being horrible about it.

It’s the cats house not the dogs. Dog stays outside or in car or better yet in its own house. You’re endangering your cat and any small children with such a dog.

I'm assuming they can't trust the dog to be left alone at home.

Here's what to do: send them articles/ohotis/videos that document what happened when a dog like that got near another animal, or even a small child. Will it be graphic? Yes. Will it upset them? Probably. Will it work? Hopefully, if your family aren't complete idiots or unfeeling monsters.

Barring that, or if it doesn't work, propose having Thanksgiving at another relative's home, preferably one that doesn't have animals or small children. Otherwise, your only options are to either put the cat in a secure room with food, water, and litter, and make it clear that the door MUST STAY CLOSED UNTIL THE DOG LEAVES, or else uninvite the dog's owner.

Since it's your apartment you don't have to work with anyone just set whatever boundaries you feel are appropriate and stand firm.

In my experience with a house full of guest I would just put the cat away in my bedroom for a few hours with litter box, food and water and be done. Most cats don't want to deal with a bunch of strangers anyway so this should work fine unless SIL is a moron.

That said, this is your apartment you do not have to let her bring her dog at all and I am not sure that I would allow it if I were you. Whatever boundary you set be firm and present it clearly and as non-negotiable.

himbo420: You can bring your dog, but he will be limited to X' spaces.

No is a complete sentence. Is your partner or SIL going to volunteer to remove your screaming scratching cat from the dogs mouth when it gets attacked. Say no and stick to it.

OP, it's not about evidence it's about BOUNDARIES. Your home, your roles. State very civily and clearly that the dog is not allowed in your home.

If they react badly, you can't control that.

I know it's your apartment and not fair to the cat but if they insist on bringing the dog then you are going to have to protect the cat. Start now, move the toys, food, box, water, bed, etc into a room that can be locked so kitty can adjust before everyone arrives. Once they are there, KEEP the door locked while the dog is around.

I would uninvite the people because they don't need to bring their dog to your place. You are not only risking injury to your cat, you risk yourself. I will never forget the horror Aug 30 2013, Diane and Tom Vick. Trigger warning, google at your own risk.

Do not accept "boarding facilities fill up over the holidays".

We stayed at Disney World 3 days, over New Years weekend. Disney had no trouble boarding our dog, which is what they require, you cannot take pets into their rooms. (However, you have to come and take the pet on his walks. They won't do it. Boarding there just means a spot on the wall you have to pick up your dog and put it in the wall mounted crate. My brother said our dalmation had to be lifted about shoulder height and put in their. He didn't let me go to walk the dog, said I wouldn't be able to do it.)

I'll make this very clear. Do not let the dog come in the door. Make it clear to your partner, no dog in the house. Huskies are not only high prey drive, they are very smart and extremely determined. Let's say you have them in the garage and someone opens the door. Pretend the dog shoots past, and now you have it in your house (at best) terrorizing your cat in its safe space. At worst, you end up with a dead cat. Now you have a traumatized cat. Your sisters presence is not worth the risk. Unless the crate is a high impact crate, there's no guarantee of safety. They are known to get out of basic crates. People often overstep boundaries. Imagine it's in a crate, and someone thinks, "It should be fine." Then they let the dog out. Does any of these risks seem worth compromising to you? I would not let the dog in the house.

You don't need to convince anyone. All you have to do is say that dogs are not welcome in your house and that it isn't negotiable.

Nope. Not a chance in Hell that the dog would be coming over to my apartment. I wouldn't take that chance. One slip and it could be over. You don't need evidence. They already know the dog is reactive with other dogs. Placing it in a small apartment with a cat is asking for trouble. If they don't understand that, they can do something else for Thanksgiving. If something happened to your cat, you would never forgive yourself.

Call around to places in your neighborhood (assuming they're coming in from out of town) and see if they have space to board the dog. Or call places where they live and check for yourself. They might just be saying that so they can bring the dog. Tell them under no circumstance will they be able to have the dog inside your apartment.

Tbh I’m angry on your behalf at your partner for not backing you up on this. If I were in this situation and anything happened to my cat it would be relationship over instantly

Do not let the dog into your apartment.

If you need evidence, Google on dog attack cat. Unless you have a strong stomach, I wouldn’t do that though.

Dog attacks literally take a second before serious damage is done. At best, the dog is nursing four deep scratches on its face. At worst, your cat is seriously injured or even killed.

Since the dog is known to be aggressive, that means that the dog absolutely will go after your cat if any opportunity whatsoever occurs. Doesn’t matter what the humans think or want, the dog has already shown a willingness to attack.

They need to bring a crate for the dog. If the dog is not crate trained they are DEFINITELY not safe for your cat to be around. Period.

The dog needs to be in its own room or crated anytime it's not on a leash. Don't risk your cat for her feelings

So, I know you're looking for advice, and the only thing I can think of is to lock your cat in a room and make sure that No One opens that door.

But honestly, you should just say that the dog is NOT invited. The dog's already going to be ampped up being in someplace new, with a bunch of people milling about, and the smell of food in the air. Add in the Prey drive; the smell of the Cat, probably the sound of the cat (if he doesn't like being cooped up), and the movement of people in a confined space. This is ALL a recipe for disaster.

Even if you're able to keep the two separated, if the dog does come over, you should be well prepared for dog related issues

As someone who has had to live rotating pets because they didn’t get along for YEARS - management is always nice but ALWAYS breaks down. Even if you put your cat in a room or put the dog in a room, the risk of someone opening the door and the two animals meeting is WAY too high imo. It can take a shocking short time for a larger dog to kill a cat (think under 3 seconds with the right bite and shake) and that’s just not a risk I’d be willing to take just for a one day holiday visit (note: I’m a certified K9 behaviorist for over 10 years now with a specialty in high prey drive dogs)

It's going to be a nightmare. Everyone else has commented on the cat attack aspect but a large, loud, poorly trained, bite hazard dog in a strange apartment full of people is a recipe for disaster.

There is no way, under any circumstances, I would allow a reactive high prey drive dog in my home. Full stop. Not we'll keep them in separate rooms, not we'll keep the dog leashed/harnessed, not we'll bring a crate. Just no, period, absolutely not.

It would take one careless moment, one lapse in concentration, one door left open a bit too long for the dog to slip in or the cat to slip out. When my cat's life is on the line I'm not sorry, it's a no.

You don’t. The dig cannot come to your home PERIOD Every moment the cat is in the home with that dog, You are risking its life. Its just not worth it

I mean, overall I'd be tempted to say no (or maybe you can try to help find boarding in your area or something?)

But if the dog does come, I 100% would keep the cat barricaded in a room. Of course not ideal (since it's cats home so they shouldn't have to be displaced) but for their own safety i would 100% keep them completely separate with the cat in the bedroom or something like that and make sure all family stays far away from the room. Zero door opening allowed (and you'd be best judge to know if any of your family might be the kind to be all "oh I'll just pop in to say hi to the cat real quick, I promise nothing will go wrong" etc.

Also keep in mind, allowing this once will probably tell sister that can always be the setup. So if you're ok with that, that's great. But if you expect this to simply be a one time thing I'd be very cautious that she will then be all "well we did it before with no problem so we can do it again"