Petiquette: How to Deal with a Cat on the Dinner Table

Expert Charlotte Reed, the author of The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette, takes on a dilemma that's not easy to lick: Friends letting their cat hop up on the dinner table to eat from their plates. Do you have a dilemma that you'd like her to tackle? Drop us an email at tips@peoplepets.com!

Dear Miss Kitty Etiquette:

My husband and I regularly dine with friends at either our home or theirs. The problem is they allow their cat to jump on the table and eat from their plates. My husband finds it especially offensive and refuses to eat at their home again. How do I handle this situation? They are some of our closest friends.

Dear Caught Between a Husband and a Friend:

No matter the situation, no one ever wants to hurt another person's feelings, and here you're stuck in the middle of two people whom you can care about very much.

If the next time you are dining at your friend's home the cat jumps on the table for a snack, you can always make your apologies in advance, pick up the cat tenderly, gently place him on the floor, and politely explain that you do not feel comfortable eating with the cat on the table. If he is stubborn or persistent like the Tonkinese or Bengal breeds, there is always the chance that he will continue to jump on the table, over and over again.

The cat's continuously jumping on the table may indeed be annoying and interrupt the conversation, but your behavior may be deemed confrontational, inciting a dispute. These days, people consider pets part of their family. And, just like you wouldn't want to discipline anyone's child, you might not want to do the same with their cat. Although your handling of the situation is honest and well-meaning, it may end your evening earlier than usual.

A better solution the next time you are invited over is to gingerly tell your friend that your husband is uncomfortable with the cat on the table and that you wouldn't want to interfere with the cat's normal routine. Instead, suggest that both couples dine at a restaurant. By cautiously explaining the situation, you give your friend the opportunity to become aware of the circumstances and choose to deal with the problem. If not, you will still enjoy your time together by dining in a cat-free zone.

Happy Tails,

Miss Kitty Etiquette

How would you deal with this situation? Leave your suggestion in the comments below!

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