A Cat Owner Tells Her Sister She Would Rather Put The Animal Down Than Giving It To Her Because She Is Historically A Neglectful Pet Owner

Both her dogs ran away and the authorities were once alerted after she locked a dog in a cage for five days without food or water

Chelsi

• Published in Animal Stories
• October 16, 2022

I know people who love and adore animals to a fault. However, I would never, ever trust them to take care of any pets of mine because their love does not make them great pet owners.

This redditor's sister is cut from the same cloth as my friends. OP observed that her sister and her daughter absolutely love OP's cat.

They shower it with attention when they visit OP but they don't know how to do it the right way. They are so terrible with handling the cat that OP has resorted to lying about its whereabouts when the kids are around.

OP's opinion is not likely to change given her sister's history with owning animals. Apparently, she has had two dogs who both ran away due to neglect and a variety of reasons OP didn't share.

OP knew there would be a problem when her sister learns that OP has to rehome her cat. Our dear pet owner will be moving soon and none of the apartments on her shortlist allows pets in their properties.

A friend of OP's stepped up and will likely be the new owner of OP's beloved cat. In a moment of weakness, OP shared this information to their mom who then told OP's sister about the rehoming.

Her sister called her and confirmed if OP is indeed rehoming her cat

When OP said yes, her sister immediately offered to take the cat in but OP said an arrangement has already been made

She tried to guilt OP into feeling sorry for her daughter who will be heartbroken when they hear the news and even played the "family over friends" card

She kept pushing until OP finally said that she won't let her sister or her kids abuse her cat the way they did with their previous dogs

OP said her sister's daughters do not have any idea how to properly handle a cat. In the heat of the moment, OP said that she would rather put her cat down than allow it to be abused by her sister and her kids.

Her sister ended the call soon after and now, their parents & siblings are mad at OP for saying a hurtful thing when she could have just told her sister "no."

OP replied this to the now-deleted comment and we are seeing more reasons why the cat is better off in another home

It's a little bit ridiculous that her sister believed she should get the cat because she's family despite her history with animals

I am 100% team OP by this point because if you treat an animal this badly, then you should never have one ever again

OP did try to say no and leave it at that but her sister kept pushing until OP blurted out what she thought

OP gave her what she asked for— a real, honest answer and she got her feelings hurt in the process. Truth be told, that's on her

OP would have been an a**hole in my book if she gave her sister the cat despite knowing how terrible the cat's life would be with her

Hey, we don't know OP's financial circumstances and her options might be limited

It's not that easy to find pet-friendly places in certain price points

OP is doing the best for her cat in this situation, she did say rehoming her cat was heartbreaking but it was probably the best choice for both of them

No is a complete sentence and OP's sister should have accepted OP's decision and saved herself this grief she's feeling right now

If OP wasn't well-intentioned, she would have allowed her sister to take the cat but OP did the responsible thing and made sure her beloved cat went to a loving home that OP can also visit!

Pets are family and OP's heart must be torn apart by this difficult decision she had to make. She probably would have loved to be in a home where she can take the cat with her but that is not possible right now.

OP did the right thing by making sure the cat will be loved and taken care of by someone who is actually committed. Her sister's feelings will pass but they will not magically make her a good pet owner.

Chelsi