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Husband Makes A Selfish Decision To Bring A Kitten Home Without Considering His Family’s Feelings
Interview With Expert
Adopting a furry companion is a life-changing experience because pets can provide wonderful companionship, love, and tons of entertainment. Even though having a cat or dog sounds like a lot of fun, it definitely requires effort and patience. That’s why you shouldn’t just adopt an animal on a whim.
Even if you’ve always wanted a four-legged friend, there’s a lot of thought that should go into the decision first. You definitely shouldn’t just pick up a kitten and spring it on your unsuspecting family, like this guy.
More info: Mumsnet
RELATED:
Adopting a pet shouldn’t be a rushed decision, it requires a lot of forethought
Image credits: Anna Keibalo /Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The poster explained that her husband always wanted a cat, but she and her two sons never wanted to get a pet for their house, especially as her older son was quite against the idea
Image credits: Cats Coming / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Despite knowing how much his family didn’t want a pet, the husband brought home a kitten one day without telling anyone
Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)
When the man was asked if his family just had to accept his impulsive decision, he said yes, meaning that he didn’t care if his family felt uncomfortable having a pet around
Image credits: WinkyTinky
The poster was annoyed as she and her kids would have to take on the stress of looking after the kitten because she knew her husband wasn’t very responsible
You probably know of situations where kids have pleaded with their parents to get them a pet, even if they’re not responsible enough to own one. In this story, the tables were turned. The poster’s irresponsible husband just went out and got a kitten even though his family didn’t want to own one. He didn’t care that his kids were uncomfortable with the idea and that a pet would stress his wife out.
To understand more about adopting a pet and the best way to go about it, Bored Panda reached out to MeloCat. Known to just make things work, no matter how difficult, MeloCat cares for a large family of rescued and adopted cats, including special needs cats, feeder mice, and feeder fish.
Through her travels, MeloCat, the cat guardian, offers heartwarming stories and practical how-tos, encouraging everyone to make a difference and never just walk by in a world where animals lack a voice. Based on this story, we asked her if it’s okay for someone to surprise their family with a pet.
She told us that “a ‘surprise’ pet might only be appropriate if the person is certain their family is fully prepared, mentally, physically, and financially for the responsibility. Bringing home a pet can bring joy, but it can also create unforeseen burdens if the family isn’t fully on board or ready for the commitment.”
She also explained that “it’s important to have a candid conversation. A few things to consider are:
- The family member’s age.
- Longevity of the pet.
- The type of care the pet requires, [and] the financial and emotional toll it might take on the family.
- Whether the pet is suitable for the household (e.g., housing restrictions, noise, or space concerns).
- The stability of family dynamics and future plans.
We also contacted Petra Luna, the creator of the CatCrazy channel, for her opinion on this situation. She told us that “surprising a family with a kitten can be a sweet gesture, but it’s important to think things through to make sure it’s a ‘pawsitive’ experience for everyone involved, especially the cat!”
“Adding a furry family member is a big and long-term commitment, so make sure everyone is on board. Doing some research on what cats need is key before diving in. Check for cat allergies in your family, make sure you have enough space, and see if your lifestyle is a good fit for a cat,” Petra added.
Image credits: cookie_studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Getting an animal as a gift is a huge life-changing experience, so it’s understandable that the receiver might be shocked. Some pet experts state that if one’s partner adopts an animal without asking, the anger and frustration felt might not just be about the pet. It often stems from a feeling of hurt that one’s companion would make such big life decisions without even asking them.
That’s exactly how the woman felt. She even shared that when her husband went to work, she would be alone with the kitten and care for it. Even when her son was home alone, he’d have to figure out how to grapple with the cat’s needs. So, the family felt like their entire lives were upturned by the dad’s impulsive actions.
To understand how the man could have approached the situation differently, we asked MeloCat what a person should be prepared for before adopting a cat or any pet. She said that “pets aren’t fluffy toys. They are sentient beings with their own needs and emotions. As they say, ‘To us, they may be a pet, but to them, we are their entire world.’”
“Here are some key points to consider:
- Lifespan: domestic short-haired cats, for instance, can live 12 to 20 years; cockatoos 40 to 60 years!
- Companionship: most animals need interaction/companionship; consider their well-being when you’re not home. Are they staring at four walls all day?
- Financial responsibility: like us, pets will require more medical care as they age. Preventative care, diagnostics, and treatments = $$$!
- Life circumstances: life can change: new jobs, new homes, health issues. Do you have contingency plans?”
All of MeloCat’s questions are designed to make a person carefully consider their decision to adopt a pet. Based on the dad’s actions, it’s clear that he didn’t do any thinking or planning at all. He just wanted a cat and decided to make his long-time wish come true. But by doing so, he did a big disservice to the animal and to his family.
CatCrazy Petra also added that “it’s a good idea to involve the whole family in the decision-making process. Don’t forget about the financial side of things: food, vet visits, grooming, and toys can add up. Make sure your home is cat-proof with all the essentials like a bed, tree, litter box, bowls, scratching post, and grooming tools. Keep any dangerous stuff out of reach, too.”
“Think ahead about vet care and pet insurance, and have a plan in case of emergencies or vacations. It might seem like a lot, but it can be a fun process that brings your family closer together. By being prepared and fully committed, you’ll ensure your new furry friend gets all the love and care they need, and your family can enjoy the experience together,” Petra explained.
As MeloCat stated: “A pet, surprise or not, can’t be a surprise for long. You have to think of yourself as a parent, not a shopper. Adopting a pet is a lifelong commitment, one you have to keep, even if your own world shifts!”
The poster and her family were absolutely in the right to be angry at the man for his rash decision. We can only hope they managed to sort out the situation in the best way possible for themselves and the animal.
Folks were concerned about the kitten and urged the poster to convince her husband to rehome it
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What do you think ?
Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo 4 months ago
Headline should be: "Woman Hates Her Husband and Her Life Oh Yeah And Theres a Kitten Now". Like, this family clearly is not doing well, the kitten is beside the point
Sand Ers 4 months ago
Exactly. The switch flips when it turns out that having brought it home, he can’t be bothered to give it any attention, or learn how to care for it properly. I can’t tell if it was a deliberate provocation, or if he’s just a selfish idiot who sees the cat as a home furnishing instead of a small furry feline person. But he’s clearly the AH, and the family is not overreacting.
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Weasel Wise 4 months ago
Seriously? The oldest son, a college age guy, started to CRY because his dad brought a cat home?! 12yo "doesn't want to come home if the kitten is there too"?! I agree, pets should be discussed before moving them in. But crying and refusing to go home are major overreactions to a friggin' kitten.
Vinnie 4 months ago (edited)
It wasn't just the kitten mewing loudly - the oldest is neurodiverse. It can be hard for a neurotypical person to imagine what it's like to be set off my one thing too many. Sometimes the most compassionate approach to differences is to tell oneself, "I may not understand this, but I can still try to treat the other person with respect."
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Sunny Day 4 months ago
OP really impressed her kids with her own dislike of indoor pets. Never having had one, the kids wouldn't develop that opinion on their own without a lot of negativity and doom from mom. "Oh, they're a lot of work, they're messy, they'll throw up in your shoes, YOU will have to be completely responsible for cleaning up after them, so you'll have to drop an after school activity. We won't be able to go on vacation and leave it home alone. . .. Now, who wants a pet?" OP should rehome the kitten & tell hubby it must have escaped thru the gaps in the fence. It would have a better life away from this family.
Donna Mueller Cloud 3 months ago
If rehoming is done in this way, she is being just as dishonest and inconsiderate as he was in bringing the cat home in the first place and does no consider the family dynamics or the kitten's welfare.
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Cronecast AtTheRisingMoon 4 months ago (edited)
I actually took about an hour to think about this one because the guy should — by all healthy relationship standards— not have done that and yet, I can’t help but feel this was a desperation move on his part to cope with his own stress from living there. The House of Zero Chill. That’s a lot of high strung , super sensitive to change people in one house. The OP acknowledges the son who is distraught over the kitten may be neurodivergent multiple times. So, get him diagnosed and get him some specialized help because the freaking post was nerve wracking, and no one sounds prepared to cope with the slightest external stressors.
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guyx23 #bringthemback 🇮🇱️ 4 months ago
My first year in college, I spent the summer in my hometown at my mom's place while school was out. I adopted a cat a few months prior, and brought him with me for the summer. My mom was perfectly okay with it, but my youngest sister, 15 at the time, was quite upset and literally cried when I brought him home... Aaaand fast forward two months later, my mom and sisters fell in love with him because he's the best boy and insisted that I let him live at my mom's while I'm in college. Which I did, and took him back after I graduated. He went on to live a long and happy life
Tyranamar Seuss 4 months ago
This woman sounds completely insane. She's got some severe anxiety issues that the kids have picked up on.
rullyman 4 months ago
I say this as an English woman who is about to become a mother- a huge number of English mothers are straight up neurotic. You see it all over Mumsnet and in real life if you interact with them. Everything is a huge stress and anxiety inducing and they catastrophise constantly. OP is one of these women.
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Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Not everyone wants a pet. I hate to say it, but maybe OP could take that poor kitty to an animal rescue place. If there are 4 people ignoring that poor kitty, plus it's scared out out it's mind being in a new place. Very sad.
Vinnie 4 months ago (edited)
From reading to the end, the OP does feel compassion for the kitten, takes cares of it, and her younger son plays with it. However, it's a good idea to look to rehome it, as it might not grow on them.
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Citizen. X 4 months ago
Upset over a KITTEN?.... lol You would think he had brought home a Rabid-Skunk.
G A 4 months ago (edited)
You sound like a family of awful, selfish, c***s and the ONLY one that deserves pity is that poor f*****g kitten. Give it to a shelter to be adopted before you traumatise it any further you self obsessed narcissists. F**k you and your vile children. A plague on your house. I hate you all.
FreeTheUnicorn 4 months ago
You are raising sociopaths if your kids have never expressed interest in a pet.
Scott Rackley 4 months ago
If a kitten is going to torpedo your son like this, boy, do I have some bad news for him. Life is way harder than that.
Steve Hall 4 months ago
The poor cat is the only thing that is not totally crazy in that family.
Just stopping by 4 months ago
What is with this family. This was exhausting and I honestly don't know who to feel sorry for. I really want to say the dad was wrong for bringing a kitten into this mess (poor kitty) but it also seems like he needs a friend in the house that's..idk normal? Everything in this family seems pretty dramatic or maybe sensitive? They all especially mom and eldest son needs therapy
Don't even 4 months ago
It's a f*****g cat and their lives are turned upside down. Yeah they all need intense therapy and meds. Please re-home the kitten to a loving home.
Diddle 4 months ago
We always watch videos about how it's usually dads who don't want animals in the house, then end up falling in love with them. This mum seems like she's projecting a lot of her issues onto her children. Keeps talking about older son being stressed about everything that every teenager stresses about. If anything, having a pet is like being high on serotonin all the time, there's this little thing around the house who has a blast everytime they see you and all they want is to play. I had to beg my mum to keep the stray cat I found when I was 14. My beautiful boy has passed at the age of 17, he made every single day of those 17 years happier and a little brighter with his mere presence. I can't imagine my teenage years without him. He was such a big source or love and comfort. Don't ever deprive a child from an animal's love.
meeeeeeeeeeee 4 months ago
What the f**k is wrong with this family? Lives have been destroyed by a kitten. The 16-year-old doesn't want to come home if a...kitten is going to be there? I really, really want to know how they deal with any hardships, christ almighty, they're insane crybabies
robin aldrich 4 months ago
Who doesn't want a cat? what is wrong with the family?? I side with the husband ...sorry
sturmwesen 4 months ago
Not everyone is a cat person and I say this as a pet person. I have an allergy and am not willing to weed out my possibly poisonous plants or have a cat on shelfs etc. Nothing against them,but they are just not for me. I will play/interact with them outside though.
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turk 4 months ago
The fact you keep calling the kitten "it" over and over again makes me doubt that you haven't been cruel, or at least uncaring to the poor little fellow. But the only one in that family that seems normal is the father. To have such hatred for a kitten is serial killer territory. If anything, the father should get the hell out of the relationship with this callous women and those kids lacking in simple empathy.
Allison Slagle (Randomosity) 3 months ago
That poor kitten deserves a nice home that's not filled with selfish, neurotic @ssholes.
ZestyBison 4 months ago
I feel if you truly need a pet, and this is a non-negotiable point, and your entire family doesn't like pets for whatever reason, you tell your family that there will be a few family member and that's that. Not two cats, not a dog as well, no additional hamster, one pet. You then encourage the family to be nice to their new sister/brother and remind them when they are 18 and live on their own, they can choose to have an animal or not in their home. He deserves a little buddy to spend time with, and I've never heard of an entire family disliking pets - there are definitely some arguments of control to be had here. If a second pet is truly insisted, let some time go by, but please don't get excessive and don't hoard.
Happy_Pandalover 4 months ago (edited)
Some of these comments are just as insane as this whole family. Apparently this woman is already overwhelmed with her full time job, her children (one, who struggles mentally) and a husband, who neglects family life and doesn‘t show responsibility at all. You can‘t just bring home a cat, expect others take care of it and go against everyone else‘ wishes. A cat is not a toy, it needs love and care. You need to be able to take care if it. So no: It‘s not just a cat and they are not overracting. I feel sorry for the cat. It should be somewhere else.
Debbie 4 months ago
The woman knows that having a pet is not just having it. Taking care of another avoidable btw thing is a buurten in to our other things she has to care for. The mental load and understanding needs of a pet. But why accept the pet? She could have put her for down and said to bring it back?
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Joelle Jansen 4 months ago
It's simple; Don't bring a pet into the home if the other family members/housemates are not on board.
zovjraar me 4 months ago
a pet is an optional family member. you do not bring one into the household without everyone's approval!!
Mumma Cass 4 months ago
Re-home her husband then re-home the kitten to someone who is prepared to take responsibilty for the kitten! Her husband sounds like an irresponsible man-child
P.L. Packer 3 months ago
Husband is an a*s. I would inform him that he is NOT going anywhere for the weekend or to his music events he is staying home to take care of HIS kitten he brought home without discussing it with the family. If he ignores OP, then the kitten is re-homed, the locks changed and DH can figure it out.
Reta Murphy 3 months ago
Headline should be: Oldest child controls the family. If he doesn't allow it, it is not to be done!
Manuela Gäns 3 months ago
i pray to every possible god - the old ones and the new - i ll never meet this family in real life... what a bunch of twats, all of them! poor kitten!
Sarah Léon 3 months ago
You don't adopt an animal without the consent of all the family. But the kid's reaction, even neurodivergent, shows how the mother really thinks. My Evil-Step-Mother hates animal (she's Evil...) and when her kids were toddlers, they were forbidden to touch any dog or cat or anything. So by the time they were 4 and 5, they panicked every time they saw a dog, screaming and running... One day I had enough, I took my brother and presented him a carlin I knew was a sweet boy. I explained to him to stay still if a dog is too happy, and the dog will calm down. I told him to "be a statue" and he did. And the dog calmed down. After 10 minutes of doing it, they were playing football together in the yard, and each time my brother was a little overwhelmed, he became a statue untill the dog calmed down and so on... he learned it to his sister with my help, and now my sister (17yo) has a cat, and my brother (16) loves all animals ! Oh and we are all autistic except ESM of course.
Alexa 3 months ago
Not insane at all. If people in the home don't want a pet for whatever reason, that should be the end of it. The husband is so selfish forcing it on his family - unfair to them and to the animal. Not everyone likes animals in the house, even if you like animals generally. My partner doesn't want a pet, but he loves animals. We have fish becaseu I already had them before we moved in together. I'm asthmatic so no furry stuff anyway. Getting a pet is a huge responsibility and should be a family decision, not forced on anyone. The lad is right to be upset that his feelings were not taken into account at all, particularly given the other things he is dealing with. They don't need another thing to care for right now, and should focus on their kids.
Cassie Casey 1 month ago
Please just rehome the kitten. It'll be happier almost anywhere else. Maybe dad and kitten can move, and leave the rest of the unhappy family to deal with each other.
Nimitz 4 months ago
The OP obviously doesn't want anything or anyone to get more love than her. Cats are a source of comfort and joy. The kids will come around once they learn how to love the animal on their own and realize the mom is full of s**t. What a toxic creep. The dad finally got fed up at having a house over-controlled and lacking in love, so he finally decided to get a cat. Also, who the hell has a "conservatory"? For some reason that's a weird red flag to me
Sinclair 1 month ago
Not everybody considers fur all over the house and poop in a box of gravel to be "comfort and joy".
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Red Skye 4 months ago (edited)
Oh the old cats are Lactose intolerant b******t. NOT ALL CATS ARE SUCH A THING, just as NOT all humans are, until the cat PROVES it is, you shouldn't take the milk away for all you know your husband brought kitten milk and put it down for the cat. But like you care, everything is a hysterical overaction, most kittens you can barely hear in another room with the door closed. All thee people saying rehome the cat STFU... its the husband's home too and HE PAYS FOR THE HOME, the utilities, the food, and apparently KNOWS he has a SAH wife, so what is allegedly cruel about giving a kitten HE WANTS in HIS HOME. This poster is just a hysterical Cat hater, so what if your COLLEGE AGE son doesn't want a pet, is HE paying the mortgage, the utilities, for the food on the table, FOR HIS OWN CLOTHES, His Phone, his internet, ANYTHING, or even his own college fees, NO I DOUBT IT when he's paying ALL THAT he has a right to ban pets, UNTIL THEN your husband has a right to get a pet if he wants too. If your COLLEGE AGE SON can't handle it he can move into a college dorm,.
Cody Greenwood 4 months ago
Humans really shouldn't be drinking cow milk either
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Caro Doughty 4 months ago
I understand your Husband brought a car at home without ask, but I never read you sit down and talked with him to know why did he do that? I never read he called everyone and introduced Max and what does he expect as family to do with the new pet. What I can see from your first, second, and third update is your children are immerse in their own world and their needs, nothing is more important than what they want and if something or someone brake that their answer is over the top. I can understand their discomfort and upset because the situation but a 16 yo crying because the situation is too much, a 12 yo saying "I don't want to come back home" , and you supporting this behaves because they are kids and move to college and social issues are happening it is overwhelming, and now a cat Jesus poor kids how many problems. Maybe the dad brought home because he expects his kids stop to think just on them I feel compassion for the cat
Watermelon 4 months ago (edited)
I call BS on a teenage boy giving that much of a s**** about his dad getting a cat, unless his mom has been influencing him the kid for a long time.
Tyranamar Seuss 4 months ago
I agree with you Watermelon. Mom's brainwashed these kids and no they're all anxious about it like she is. She sounds hysterical.
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Alistair .Brownlee 3 months ago (edited)
Just wait a few years. That cat will be their best friend. All this stress in your life? Oh but there's a friendly floof to give you cuddles. Also cats are pretty independent so there's no need to worry so much about it.
Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo 4 months ago
Headline should be: "Woman Hates Her Husband and Her Life Oh Yeah And Theres a Kitten Now". Like, this family clearly is not doing well, the kitten is beside the point
Sand Ers 4 months ago
Exactly. The switch flips when it turns out that having brought it home, he can’t be bothered to give it any attention, or learn how to care for it properly. I can’t tell if it was a deliberate provocation, or if he’s just a selfish idiot who sees the cat as a home furnishing instead of a small furry feline person. But he’s clearly the AH, and the family is not overreacting.
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 4 months ago
Seriously? The oldest son, a college age guy, started to CRY because his dad brought a cat home?! 12yo "doesn't want to come home if the kitten is there too"?! I agree, pets should be discussed before moving them in. But crying and refusing to go home are major overreactions to a friggin' kitten.
Vinnie 4 months ago (edited)
It wasn't just the kitten mewing loudly - the oldest is neurodiverse. It can be hard for a neurotypical person to imagine what it's like to be set off my one thing too many. Sometimes the most compassionate approach to differences is to tell oneself, "I may not understand this, but I can still try to treat the other person with respect."
Load More Replies... Sunny Day 4 months ago
OP really impressed her kids with her own dislike of indoor pets. Never having had one, the kids wouldn't develop that opinion on their own without a lot of negativity and doom from mom. "Oh, they're a lot of work, they're messy, they'll throw up in your shoes, YOU will have to be completely responsible for cleaning up after them, so you'll have to drop an after school activity. We won't be able to go on vacation and leave it home alone. . .. Now, who wants a pet?" OP should rehome the kitten & tell hubby it must have escaped thru the gaps in the fence. It would have a better life away from this family.
Donna Mueller Cloud 3 months ago
If rehoming is done in this way, she is being just as dishonest and inconsiderate as he was in bringing the cat home in the first place and does no consider the family dynamics or the kitten's welfare.
Load More Replies... Cronecast AtTheRisingMoon 4 months ago (edited)
I actually took about an hour to think about this one because the guy should — by all healthy relationship standards— not have done that and yet, I can’t help but feel this was a desperation move on his part to cope with his own stress from living there. The House of Zero Chill. That’s a lot of high strung , super sensitive to change people in one house. The OP acknowledges the son who is distraught over the kitten may be neurodivergent multiple times. So, get him diagnosed and get him some specialized help because the freaking post was nerve wracking, and no one sounds prepared to cope with the slightest external stressors.
Load More Replies... guyx23 #bringthemback 🇮🇱️ 4 months ago
My first year in college, I spent the summer in my hometown at my mom's place while school was out. I adopted a cat a few months prior, and brought him with me for the summer. My mom was perfectly okay with it, but my youngest sister, 15 at the time, was quite upset and literally cried when I brought him home... Aaaand fast forward two months later, my mom and sisters fell in love with him because he's the best boy and insisted that I let him live at my mom's while I'm in college. Which I did, and took him back after I graduated. He went on to live a long and happy life
Tyranamar Seuss 4 months ago
This woman sounds completely insane. She's got some severe anxiety issues that the kids have picked up on.
rullyman 4 months ago
I say this as an English woman who is about to become a mother- a huge number of English mothers are straight up neurotic. You see it all over Mumsnet and in real life if you interact with them. Everything is a huge stress and anxiety inducing and they catastrophise constantly. OP is one of these women.
Load More Replies... Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Not everyone wants a pet. I hate to say it, but maybe OP could take that poor kitty to an animal rescue place. If there are 4 people ignoring that poor kitty, plus it's scared out out it's mind being in a new place. Very sad.
Vinnie 4 months ago (edited)
From reading to the end, the OP does feel compassion for the kitten, takes cares of it, and her younger son plays with it. However, it's a good idea to look to rehome it, as it might not grow on them.
Load More Replies... Citizen. X 4 months ago
Upset over a KITTEN?.... lol You would think he had brought home a Rabid-Skunk.
G A 4 months ago (edited)
You sound like a family of awful, selfish, c***s and the ONLY one that deserves pity is that poor f*****g kitten. Give it to a shelter to be adopted before you traumatise it any further you self obsessed narcissists. F**k you and your vile children. A plague on your house. I hate you all.
FreeTheUnicorn 4 months ago
You are raising sociopaths if your kids have never expressed interest in a pet.
Scott Rackley 4 months ago
If a kitten is going to torpedo your son like this, boy, do I have some bad news for him. Life is way harder than that.
Steve Hall 4 months ago
The poor cat is the only thing that is not totally crazy in that family.
Just stopping by 4 months ago
What is with this family. This was exhausting and I honestly don't know who to feel sorry for. I really want to say the dad was wrong for bringing a kitten into this mess (poor kitty) but it also seems like he needs a friend in the house that's..idk normal? Everything in this family seems pretty dramatic or maybe sensitive? They all especially mom and eldest son needs therapy
Don't even 4 months ago
It's a f*****g cat and their lives are turned upside down. Yeah they all need intense therapy and meds. Please re-home the kitten to a loving home.
Diddle 4 months ago
We always watch videos about how it's usually dads who don't want animals in the house, then end up falling in love with them. This mum seems like she's projecting a lot of her issues onto her children. Keeps talking about older son being stressed about everything that every teenager stresses about. If anything, having a pet is like being high on serotonin all the time, there's this little thing around the house who has a blast everytime they see you and all they want is to play. I had to beg my mum to keep the stray cat I found when I was 14. My beautiful boy has passed at the age of 17, he made every single day of those 17 years happier and a little brighter with his mere presence. I can't imagine my teenage years without him. He was such a big source or love and comfort. Don't ever deprive a child from an animal's love.
meeeeeeeeeeee 4 months ago
What the f**k is wrong with this family? Lives have been destroyed by a kitten. The 16-year-old doesn't want to come home if a...kitten is going to be there? I really, really want to know how they deal with any hardships, christ almighty, they're insane crybabies
robin aldrich 4 months ago
Who doesn't want a cat? what is wrong with the family?? I side with the husband ...sorry
sturmwesen 4 months ago
Not everyone is a cat person and I say this as a pet person. I have an allergy and am not willing to weed out my possibly poisonous plants or have a cat on shelfs etc. Nothing against them,but they are just not for me. I will play/interact with them outside though.
Load More Replies... turk 4 months ago
The fact you keep calling the kitten "it" over and over again makes me doubt that you haven't been cruel, or at least uncaring to the poor little fellow. But the only one in that family that seems normal is the father. To have such hatred for a kitten is serial killer territory. If anything, the father should get the hell out of the relationship with this callous women and those kids lacking in simple empathy.
Allison Slagle (Randomosity) 3 months ago
That poor kitten deserves a nice home that's not filled with selfish, neurotic @ssholes.
ZestyBison 4 months ago
I feel if you truly need a pet, and this is a non-negotiable point, and your entire family doesn't like pets for whatever reason, you tell your family that there will be a few family member and that's that. Not two cats, not a dog as well, no additional hamster, one pet. You then encourage the family to be nice to their new sister/brother and remind them when they are 18 and live on their own, they can choose to have an animal or not in their home. He deserves a little buddy to spend time with, and I've never heard of an entire family disliking pets - there are definitely some arguments of control to be had here. If a second pet is truly insisted, let some time go by, but please don't get excessive and don't hoard.
Happy_Pandalover 4 months ago (edited)
Some of these comments are just as insane as this whole family. Apparently this woman is already overwhelmed with her full time job, her children (one, who struggles mentally) and a husband, who neglects family life and doesn‘t show responsibility at all. You can‘t just bring home a cat, expect others take care of it and go against everyone else‘ wishes. A cat is not a toy, it needs love and care. You need to be able to take care if it. So no: It‘s not just a cat and they are not overracting. I feel sorry for the cat. It should be somewhere else.
Debbie 4 months ago
The woman knows that having a pet is not just having it. Taking care of another avoidable btw thing is a buurten in to our other things she has to care for. The mental load and understanding needs of a pet. But why accept the pet? She could have put her for down and said to bring it back?
Load More Replies... Joelle Jansen 4 months ago
It's simple; Don't bring a pet into the home if the other family members/housemates are not on board.
zovjraar me 4 months ago
a pet is an optional family member. you do not bring one into the household without everyone's approval!!
Mumma Cass 4 months ago
Re-home her husband then re-home the kitten to someone who is prepared to take responsibilty for the kitten! Her husband sounds like an irresponsible man-child
P.L. Packer 3 months ago
Husband is an a*s. I would inform him that he is NOT going anywhere for the weekend or to his music events he is staying home to take care of HIS kitten he brought home without discussing it with the family. If he ignores OP, then the kitten is re-homed, the locks changed and DH can figure it out.
Reta Murphy 3 months ago
Headline should be: Oldest child controls the family. If he doesn't allow it, it is not to be done!
Manuela Gäns 3 months ago
i pray to every possible god - the old ones and the new - i ll never meet this family in real life... what a bunch of twats, all of them! poor kitten!
Sarah Léon 3 months ago
You don't adopt an animal without the consent of all the family. But the kid's reaction, even neurodivergent, shows how the mother really thinks. My Evil-Step-Mother hates animal (she's Evil...) and when her kids were toddlers, they were forbidden to touch any dog or cat or anything. So by the time they were 4 and 5, they panicked every time they saw a dog, screaming and running... One day I had enough, I took my brother and presented him a carlin I knew was a sweet boy. I explained to him to stay still if a dog is too happy, and the dog will calm down. I told him to "be a statue" and he did. And the dog calmed down. After 10 minutes of doing it, they were playing football together in the yard, and each time my brother was a little overwhelmed, he became a statue untill the dog calmed down and so on... he learned it to his sister with my help, and now my sister (17yo) has a cat, and my brother (16) loves all animals ! Oh and we are all autistic except ESM of course.
Alexa 3 months ago
Not insane at all. If people in the home don't want a pet for whatever reason, that should be the end of it. The husband is so selfish forcing it on his family - unfair to them and to the animal. Not everyone likes animals in the house, even if you like animals generally. My partner doesn't want a pet, but he loves animals. We have fish becaseu I already had them before we moved in together. I'm asthmatic so no furry stuff anyway. Getting a pet is a huge responsibility and should be a family decision, not forced on anyone. The lad is right to be upset that his feelings were not taken into account at all, particularly given the other things he is dealing with. They don't need another thing to care for right now, and should focus on their kids.
Cassie Casey 1 month ago
Please just rehome the kitten. It'll be happier almost anywhere else. Maybe dad and kitten can move, and leave the rest of the unhappy family to deal with each other.
Nimitz 4 months ago
The OP obviously doesn't want anything or anyone to get more love than her. Cats are a source of comfort and joy. The kids will come around once they learn how to love the animal on their own and realize the mom is full of s**t. What a toxic creep. The dad finally got fed up at having a house over-controlled and lacking in love, so he finally decided to get a cat. Also, who the hell has a "conservatory"? For some reason that's a weird red flag to me
Sinclair 1 month ago
Not everybody considers fur all over the house and poop in a box of gravel to be "comfort and joy".
Load More Replies... Red Skye 4 months ago (edited)
Oh the old cats are Lactose intolerant b******t. NOT ALL CATS ARE SUCH A THING, just as NOT all humans are, until the cat PROVES it is, you shouldn't take the milk away for all you know your husband brought kitten milk and put it down for the cat. But like you care, everything is a hysterical overaction, most kittens you can barely hear in another room with the door closed. All thee people saying rehome the cat STFU... its the husband's home too and HE PAYS FOR THE HOME, the utilities, the food, and apparently KNOWS he has a SAH wife, so what is allegedly cruel about giving a kitten HE WANTS in HIS HOME. This poster is just a hysterical Cat hater, so what if your COLLEGE AGE son doesn't want a pet, is HE paying the mortgage, the utilities, for the food on the table, FOR HIS OWN CLOTHES, His Phone, his internet, ANYTHING, or even his own college fees, NO I DOUBT IT when he's paying ALL THAT he has a right to ban pets, UNTIL THEN your husband has a right to get a pet if he wants too. If your COLLEGE AGE SON can't handle it he can move into a college dorm,.
Cody Greenwood 4 months ago
Humans really shouldn't be drinking cow milk either
Load More Replies... Caro Doughty 4 months ago
I understand your Husband brought a car at home without ask, but I never read you sit down and talked with him to know why did he do that? I never read he called everyone and introduced Max and what does he expect as family to do with the new pet. What I can see from your first, second, and third update is your children are immerse in their own world and their needs, nothing is more important than what they want and if something or someone brake that their answer is over the top. I can understand their discomfort and upset because the situation but a 16 yo crying because the situation is too much, a 12 yo saying "I don't want to come back home" , and you supporting this behaves because they are kids and move to college and social issues are happening it is overwhelming, and now a cat Jesus poor kids how many problems. Maybe the dad brought home because he expects his kids stop to think just on them I feel compassion for the cat
Watermelon 4 months ago (edited)
I call BS on a teenage boy giving that much of a s**** about his dad getting a cat, unless his mom has been influencing him the kid for a long time.
Tyranamar Seuss 4 months ago
I agree with you Watermelon. Mom's brainwashed these kids and no they're all anxious about it like she is. She sounds hysterical.
Load More Replies... Alistair .Brownlee 3 months ago (edited)
Just wait a few years. That cat will be their best friend. All this stress in your life? Oh but there's a friendly floof to give you cuddles. Also cats are pretty independent so there's no need to worry so much about it.
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