AITA for Ruining My Sister’s Christmas by Saying No to Her Cat?
I (45M) host Christmas dinner every year for my family. I live with my fiancée and her two cats, who are my little buddies. They don’t do well with other animals, so when guests come over to our house, we keep them in a separate room with everything they need to stay comfortable and calm.
This year, my sister (38F) asked if she could bring her emotional support cat. She’s had him for about six months, and I know he means a lot to her. However, her cat has a habit of jumping on counters, which I find really gross (especially in a kitchen setting), and she’s mentioned before that he doesn’t get along well with other animals.
I told her I wasn’t comfortable with her bringing him because (1) it might stress out my cats, and (2) I don’t want a cat roaming my house, potentially jumping on my kitchen counters while I’m trying to host and serve food. I also mentioned that my cats would already be confined to one room, which is enough of an inconvenience for them.
She didn’t take it well. She accused me of being unsupportive and not understanding how important her cat is for her mental health. I suggested that we could celebrate at her place instead, but she said it’s not the same and that she wants the “traditional family Christmas” at my house.
My mom thinks I should just “deal with it” for one day to avoid drama, but a couple of other family members have sided with me, saying it’s my house and my rules.
I feel bad because I know her cat helps her a lot, but I also feel like I’m entitled to set boundaries in my own home. AITA?
