My SIL insists on bringing her menace to society 'child' on Christmas Day

“How do I keep my kids safe without upsetting her again? What can I say to her? How do I even phrase it?” 

The in-law claws are out this Christmas. 

A mum is dreading spending the holidays with her in-laws due to a menace to society 'baby' being there.

It's actually a cat, not a baby (as everyone calls it) and it belongs to her sister-in-law. 

Not only is it spoilt and indulged, human food brings out its aggressive nature, making Christmas Day an, ahem, cat fight.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

RELATED: Girl finds cameras at sleepover, but what happens next is alarming

"The cat is her world"

The woman reports, “She’s bitten me before while I was just sitting on the sofa, scratched my husband simply for sitting too close to her toy, and even leapt at people with claws out from the back of a sofa or armchair.

“She also has this habit of scratching legs under the table while people are eating. It’s not exactly a relaxing presence."

At a loss for how to handle the situation for another year, the mum turned to an online parenting forum for advice.

“The cat is her world, and last year, when I gently suggested she keep the cat in a separate room during meals, she was really upset."

The SIL insists the cat must “roam free,” and treats the animal as more than just a pet.

“She treats the cat like her child. Any discussions regarding her cat being aggressive or in fact not equal in importance to a child end in SIL crying,” she explained.

The pet is handled like a baby. Image: supplied

Last Christmas, her young children became the target of their Aunt's 'baby'.

“Despite my best efforts to keep an eye on my two toddlers, one of them ended up with a big scratch from the cat while swinging their legs under the table,” she explained. 

“How do I keep my kids safe without upsetting SIL again? What can I say to her? How do I even phrase it?” she asked.

RELATED: I don't want to spend another sh*t Xmas with my inlaws 

"The cat will be getting kicked"

Commenters offered advice and validated her concerns.

“While I find this cat hilarious, the presence of children makes it less so,” one wrote.

“I would tell her the cat will be getting kicked if it scratches me or my children,” said another.

Some even sympathised with the animal.

“That poor cat is incredibly stressed and would be happier shut in a quiet room upstairs on its own,” a commenter wrote. 

Many also suggested that her husband take some responsibility.

“I completely agree with everyone that it should be him saying something, but it won't because he avoids conflict massively, so it'll have to be me,” she said. 

Originally published as My SIL insists on bringing her menace to society 'child' on Christmas Day