Steer clear of taking possession of that key!

Oh dear, I hope 'son' doesn't tell the BF you have one of the new keys so that he's bothering you.

The son should make a video or picture catalog of his mom's possessions.

Ditto all the above.

Is there really a cat living there alone now?

Death of a loved one and money can sure show an ugly side to people.

The cat belonged to her former husband but no one can catch her! She will come out to eat during the night or when no one is home...otherwise she stays under a bed. She did get to the place where she would come sit on my friend's lap, but as soon as she moved, the cat was gone! Her husband put on leather gloves and leather coat to try to get in carrier to take to vet....and then got face scratched!

I don't know think the son will tell BF that he changed locks. Son told me he left me a key...in hiding place....so I do not have it in my possession. I also plan to be out of town this weekend...so we will see what happens.

Some one needs to set a live trap in the room the cat is in put the food in and shut the door to the bedroom so it has to go in the trap to eat. The trap will close and the cat will be fine. Then someone needs to decide what happens to the cat. Take it to the vet for check up.

Unless your friend asked for your continuing involvement in her affairs (as executor?) or with her family, now is the right time for you to put the car into reverse and back away from this melodrama.

The son isn't concerned, he's going away for the weekend. Don't get stuck holding the bag or having involvement you needn't have. Good luck.

If you do take possession of the key, keep quiet about it. No one else need to know except you and the person who gave it to you.

I have heard so many stories of someone dying, and by the time the family arrives, everything of any value is gone and all the helpful friends have no idea where anything might be. From your description, I don't trust that bf.

The boyfriend sounds shady as all get out. Avoid him with a 10 foot pole....

Telling the local police that the house is now vacant is okay. I would not alert them to the BF though. All this is conjecture on Phoggie's part.

I agree with Snidely. The key is hidden, to be used only in case of emergency. Phoggie, you need to take a step back.

I agree with so much already said here. Try not to get involved. And DON'T let anyone know you have the key. Tell the son not to tell anyone you have a key.

And I'm incredulous that the son is going away for the weekend and hasn't made any plans for the poor cat. That poor cat is already traumatized and now its life is going to be made worse. Its only caregiver has died and now it's being left in the house totally alone. Food? Clean litter boxes? Your friend would be so sad.

So the "play with the cat" excuse is lame. I feel sorry for the cat, it's not very adoptable. I hope son didn't put the new key in the old hiding spot. BF needs to be warned to stay out under penalty of trespass.

Friend and bf went away for days at a time...so cat is used to be alone. The cat has plenty of food and water and the litter box is being cleaned by son's wife. I have checked on food (a package of food lasts 4 days) and water for cat several times while they were gone and perhaps that is why son wants me to have access to key, because I live just a few blocks away from friend's house and he lives 15 miles away.

I actually lived in that house for 9 months while house-sitting for friend while she worked out of state and my home was being built, so I really know where things are better than son...and she was always open with me where things were "just in case" something happened while she was gone.

The reason son is gone this weekend is to take care of some business because he and wife are in the process of adopting a baby....so that will be a happy time when that happens. They found out the day his mother died and the baby will be named after his mother.