I was out with my mom all day today, so I'm just now getting back to this thread.

Thank you for your advice. I'm taking it into consideration.

To answer some questions about why they gave me the cat in the fist place; my brother & sis-in-law don't like the cat. They've kept him (as well as another cat) shut up in their bathroom for several months. Also, my sis-in-law told me that whenever she lets him out, her allergies act up & her son starts coughing.

The reason they want him back now is two-fold; 1) their daughter (age 4) noticed the cat was gone & cried. 2) My sis-in-law is the type to fight to the death when she wants something, so this is now a mission for her.

It's quite possible that they will give the cat away again in a few months -- but it won't be to me, as I am now the enemy for having said "no" at first. (Actually, as it stands, I have not told them otherwise.) They have had several (nine, I think - usually one at a time) dogs over the past three years and have given all but one away. The one they have left, they're trying to get rid of as well.