'[He said] I was treating her like a child': Friend confiscates her house guest's floss after multiple warnings because it's a health hazard to her cat, only for the guest's husband to call and lash out at the cat owner

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 22, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Being a guest in someone's home comes with a certain set of basic rules, we all know that, right? And being a guest in a house with a cat comes with a few extra. It is your choice whether to stay in those houses or not, but if you do… the guest has to respect the cat and the things it requires. Guests can't mistreat the cats that live there, guests can't try to discipline the cat or, god forbid, hurt it in any way. We would think that people would be aware of that, but we suppose that not everyone is. 

Don't leave your dental floss where the cat can reach it - that was the only request this friend made of her house guest. It's dangerous for her cat to have these things lying around because he likes chewing on them and has already gotten hurt once like that. A simple request. And yet, it could not be followed. 

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for confiscating a friend's dental floss?"

    "There is no 'teaching' a cat to not use their instincts"
    via Unsplash / Juan Gomez - nosoylasonia

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I had a friend come visit from out of town for a long weekend. We've been friend over 20 years, and I was excited to see her.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 03
    She's had cats in the past, but married someone who is highly allergic to almost anything with fur, so she hasn't had any furred pets in many years (she has some reptiles). I have nurmerous cats, and she was also excited to get a weekend of kitties.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 04
    However, it became clear very quickly that she doesn't live with cats. Leaving food unattended, putting cups on the edge of the coffee table/counter, etc, made it a very messy weekend. But whatever, right? Then there was the dental floss.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 05
    For context here, one of my cats ate a string he pulled out of a rug several months ago, and I paid THOUSANDS to save him. Like, he should have d d - not only was it a very long string, but he had numerous post-op complications. But he is my baby, and it was money well spent to me.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 06
    My cat learned exactly nothing from the experience - he still LOVES string and hair ties, and I am hypervigilant about such things being left out where he can access them.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10532033280
    via Unsplash / The3dragons

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08
    I told my friend she CANNOT throw dental floss in the bathroom trash - it has to go in the kitchen trash. The bathroom trash had a lid, but this cat is very smart and very determined. And in the event the lid doesn't get closed, it's essentially leaving string right at cat-height.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 09
    Well, she didn't get the (very direct, not even a hint) hint. I kept finding floss in the bathroom. trash, and twice I found it just laying on the counter, waiting to be swallowed. The first couple times, I tried to gently remind her. Then I directly told her again. When I found floss, yet again, just laying on the counter, I told her she needed to hand over her floss.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 10
    I have the little floss picks she can use, but I cannot have long strings just being left around the house nilly. I cannot afford to have another major emergency vet surgery. I was not rude about it, and I did not yell or anything, but it was just too big a risk to keep allowing her to leave it lying about.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 11
    She complied, but after she went home her husband called me and said I was being totally put of line and treating her like a child, and that I should be more concerned with teaching my cat not to eat string. I do sort of see his point, but the reality is I tried to remind her not to do it, and it wasn't sticking.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 12
    It's literally a safety issue in my home one that could mean life or death. If she couldn't manage to dispose of floss in the kitchen, then my only choice to protect my dumb a cat is to remove the dangerous item. There is no "teaching" a cat to not use their insticts, and hunting/eating things is instinct.
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 13
    AITA here? I feel like no, but the way her husband acted, I'm now not totally sure. (And yes, I gave her floss back before she left. I'm not a floss thief)
    via 5_phx_felines
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10532038400
    via Unsplash / elizabeth - frosted_vulpes_ferrilata

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Looks to us like you were treating her like a child because she was acting like a child. That is not your fault, and it is definitely not something for your cat to pay for. She could not follow the most basic instruction. That was the only reason you stepped in. 

  • 15
    Crazyditz Teaching any pet NOT to eat something that is intriguing to them is like teaching a baby not to hit their head on corners because they should know it will hurt them after the first time. Lol You are NTA
    via Crazyditz
  • 16
    Brilliant County6079 NTA "Don't do things that can kill my cat" is a low bar for requests of a friend staying over. Ask if you can give their future baby sharp knives and a hot poker from the fire in the future, or they'll train the baby first.
    via Brilliant_County6079
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10532033536
    via Unsplash / Piotr Musioł - szamanm

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • We can only imagine how this friend must have presented the story to the husband to get this kind of reaction out of him. Don't blame yourself. You did the right thing and the only thing that you could have done at that moment.

  • 18
    swillshop NTA 1. Ask your friend why her husband is calling you about something between you and her. Is she not willing or able to talk things out with you directly? 2. Ask her if her husband was saying that it's easier for you to train a CAT to learn to distinguish between their play toys and floss AND ignore their natural instincts than it is for her (your friend) to learns to dispose of her floss in a specific trash can.
    via swillshop
  • 19
    Even if a cat could be trained and should be trained to leave floss alone, yours was not. Is throwing floss in the kitchen trash too much to ask to keep your cat safe?!? You even provided a cat-safe flossing solution! You can tell your friend you understand it embarrassed her to have you confiscate her floss but you really need to ask her to consider the risk to your cat from her carelessness. And ask her to consider what she would do if your repeated carelessness kept putting her or her loved o
    via swillshop
  • 20
    OkeyDokey654 NTA. Sounds like you treated her like a child because she acted like one.
    via OkeyDokey654

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warning cat guests drama interesting friends reddit story flossing Cats home
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