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- Oct 13, 2018
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Okay so I have been researching and trying so hard to deal with this issue and just need advice from ANYONE.
Let's start from the beginning. My boyfriend and I got a 6 week old kitten a couple weeks before my graduation, knowing that animals help a LOT with my anxiety, especially cats. We already told our 4 other roommates before even thinking about living together that we planned on having this cat (who is now registered as an official Emotional Support Animal). I won't get into why I need to have him as an ESA, but I've struggled hard with anxiety and depression for a few years now. Over the summer, he lived with one of his siblings and a couple dogs at my grandmas house. We visited him often and he very clearly loved us. Second day of living in our apartment, we took him home (FINALLY!!). He absolutely loved my boyfriend and I, always cuddling up to us and sleeping near us.
What's changed, you may ask?
My roommates have been very rude to us lately. This has caused more anxiety and stress for me so having the cat around really helps. Except...those same roommates have started taking him into their room all the time, even after I have asked them not to. They have done this with my brothers girlfriends' dog as well, and none of us feel comfortable with the animals staying in their room. Ever since this has happened, it seems as if the cat gets out all of his loveiness out on everyone else and has nearly none left for me. My roommates have also called my cat not by his real name ever since he has come, which upset my boyfriend and I. Finally they stopped but I don't know how to exactly tell them I really don't feel comfortable with them keeping the cat in their room. We taught the cat when he first came to stay out of the other rooms and he would never go in them until they recently started taking him in.
The main reason this upsets me is because in times I'm feeling anxious, I don't want to have to fight for the cat or even have to ask if I can play and bond with MY cat.
What has set me off is when my parents came by to visit with him and my roommates wouldn't allow him to leave their room until I asked for him to come out. He does sleep in our room, but as soon as he hears them outside the door he starts scratching the carpet and waking us up really early in the morning.
Please let me know any advice on this issue. We are unfortunately in a 12 month lease with them, with 9 months more to go.
Let's start from the beginning. My boyfriend and I got a 6 week old kitten a couple weeks before my graduation, knowing that animals help a LOT with my anxiety, especially cats. We already told our 4 other roommates before even thinking about living together that we planned on having this cat (who is now registered as an official Emotional Support Animal). I won't get into why I need to have him as an ESA, but I've struggled hard with anxiety and depression for a few years now. Over the summer, he lived with one of his siblings and a couple dogs at my grandmas house. We visited him often and he very clearly loved us. Second day of living in our apartment, we took him home (FINALLY!!). He absolutely loved my boyfriend and I, always cuddling up to us and sleeping near us.
What's changed, you may ask?
My roommates have been very rude to us lately. This has caused more anxiety and stress for me so having the cat around really helps. Except...those same roommates have started taking him into their room all the time, even after I have asked them not to. They have done this with my brothers girlfriends' dog as well, and none of us feel comfortable with the animals staying in their room. Ever since this has happened, it seems as if the cat gets out all of his loveiness out on everyone else and has nearly none left for me. My roommates have also called my cat not by his real name ever since he has come, which upset my boyfriend and I. Finally they stopped but I don't know how to exactly tell them I really don't feel comfortable with them keeping the cat in their room. We taught the cat when he first came to stay out of the other rooms and he would never go in them until they recently started taking him in.
The main reason this upsets me is because in times I'm feeling anxious, I don't want to have to fight for the cat or even have to ask if I can play and bond with MY cat.
What has set me off is when my parents came by to visit with him and my roommates wouldn't allow him to leave their room until I asked for him to come out. He does sleep in our room, but as soon as he hears them outside the door he starts scratching the carpet and waking us up really early in the morning.
Please let me know any advice on this issue. We are unfortunately in a 12 month lease with them, with 9 months more to go.
Welcome to TCS! It sounds like your roommates need a kitten of their own. Perhaps an older kitten or a young cat. Would that be a possibility?
Good update! The cat stays and the roommates are gone! I hope that there was no real damage from the dog attack - keep an eye out for problems that might not be immediately evident, such as soft tissue & nerve damage. And thank you for the update!
Sometimes saying no is the hardest. Sometimes you have to learn to stick to your guns. Maybe practice saying no to little things and strangers so when the time comes you can be more able to start saying no to the big things.
completely recovers. 
