I'm currently in the process of preparing for a ball python. I'm still living with my parents and one of their main concerns with me having a snake is the fact that there are four cats (and two dogs but I'm not worried about them) in the house and they're worried as soon as I bring the snake in, they're going to kill the BP.

I'm going to be keeping it in a tub with a good locking lid so I'm not worried about the cats being able to get into it easily. My bedroom door's shut 90% of the time if I'm in there or not so the cats wouldn't be in there anyways. What can I say to help them understand my belief that the cats won't kill it? They don't think the BP striking at them would stop the cat.