Younger boyfriend moves in with his 26-year-old girlfriend but refuses to get along with her cat, so she breaks up with him to protect her precious pet: ‘[My pets] always come first’

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Apr 9, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Happy Wednesday, friends and felines. Cats have always been our furst love, and anything else comes in second, including boyfriends and girlfriends. That's just the way it is. Hoomans come and go, but our relationship with our cats is one that has saved us, brought us joy, and made our lives better time and time again. We wouldn't trade them for the world, so if a potential partner doesn't get along with our cats, we can say with purrfect certainty that it is a huge red flag.

They don't have to love our sweet kitties as much as we do (as if anyone ever could), but they at least have to enjoy their purresence and give them the respect they deserve. If they don't, it's time to kick them to the curb and start something new. We know that may sound pawsitively harsh, but believe us, if they don't like pets, they'll never fully merge with your lifestyle. That's why when this younger boyfriend moved in with his feline-fanatic girlfriend, they ran into a situation messier than our cat's litter box. Scroll through the full thread below!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Advertisement
  • 01
    My boyfriend and I are on the verge of breaking up because of my cat
    via RyanKing999

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    So, I have a cat, who is 3 years old, and a dog who is 2 and a half, which I adopted separately from a shelter when I was still single. They are my world, I would literally do anything for them and I can't imagine my life without them, they literally saved me from a really bad depressing time and got me moving again. And they're literally like sisters and love each other.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 03
    About a year ago I met my boyfriend at work, we started dating and all was going pretty well, until he moved in. He is not a pet person at all. My dog loves him, but my cat is terrified of him. He has been living here for about 5/6 months and things are only looking worse between them. I've tried everything with them but nothing seems to work.
    via u/Unable_Law4877

  • Cats have good instincts. If our cat doesn't trust someone, nine times out of ten, we also find a reason not to trust them. It may take a while, but our cats are usually right. No, they did not pay us to say that.

  • 04
    When I try to talk to him about it he just gets mad and defensive, saying there's nothing more he can do to help her get used to him. That, combined with some other attitudes I've seen from him towards my dog and cat that I did not like at all, and was pretty vocal about, is seriously making me think this relationship does not have any kind of future.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 05
    Like I seriously think my cat is getting depressed because she is so scared of him. And she's not a scared cat, she always goes to greet everyone, even if she doesn't know them, is amazing with dogs, even giant ones. And I love her and she deserves to live the best life.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 06
    Please I need some advice on how to handle this, because I don't know what to do anymore.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 07
    Edit - thank you for all the responses. Since a lot of people are asking for more information here it goes. We have tried things like him doing her feeding, she'd just wait for him to leave the room to go eat. I also bought some of her favourite treats for him to give to her, she won't take food from him. Also with toys but
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 08
    no luck as she is very playful. I've tried to explain some cat body language to him that he basically disregards and then says he's done everything he can to make her like him.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10490949632
    via TommL

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Need another laugh? Subscribe to our newsletter for a weekly serving of the silliest cat content!

  • 10
    Also no we didn't move too fast, we were going on dates and spending time together for about a year before we even started dating, being boyfriend and girlfriend, you know. And then about 6 months after that he
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 11
    basically lost his house, he was renting with his friends and the owner sold the house. And I was not letting live on the streets, and it was supposed to be temporary until he found a new house to rent.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 12
    And didn't think I had to say this but obviously giving my pets never was/is/will be an option! I love them and they always come first
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 13
    Edit 2: I never expected so many responses, so thank you all for taking the time.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 14
    We have talked multiple times about this, and I've told this is very important to me, and if my cat doesn't feel safe in her own home then something's got to change. But clearly nothing is working, and it's making me so sad to see my cat like this
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 15
    I have decided that tomorrow after work it's time to have a talk, maybe it's time he starts looking for another place to live.. Thank you all again, I'll give you an update in a few days.
    via u/Unable_Law4877
  • 16
    traderjoezhoe I don't want to upset you by saying this but I don't think he is nice to your cat when you aren't around.
    via u/traderjoezhoe
  • 17
    - No-Resident9480 'He is not a pet person at all' sounds like you are simply not compatible long term. Pets are SUPER important to me and I couldn't imagine my life without them. A partner like yours is simply not on the same page as me in terms of a future together.
    via u/No-Resident9480

  • Our partner also didn't have any pets before meeting us. He definitely didn't consider himself a “pet person," but once he realized how purrfectly ameowzing it is to have a fluffy, adorable little cat in your house that just wants to snuggle all the time, he quickly changed his pawsition on pets.

  • 18
    My partner was not a pet person as he didn't grow up with them but once we moved in and got pets - he LOVES them. He didn't totally vibe with my first cat but certainly didn't have a problem with him either. If it's been 5-6months and there are still doubts then I think you know the answer.
    via u/No-Resident9480
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10490948864
    via chendongshan

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 20
    DontDrinkItMan It's only been a year. Cut your losses and find someone who actually likes your pets. Especially since he's getting mad and defensive about it when you try to talk to him
    via u/DontDrinkItMan
  • 21
    about it... My better half "didn't want cats." But I have pictures of the cats snuggling on him and even him sharing his ice cream with one, ha ha! THIS is what you need.
    via u/DontDrinkItMan
  • 22
    knowsaboutit it's not the cat...it's the incompatibility, inability to see the other's perspective, the lack of empathy, and a lack of relationship skills to learn how to take care of another person and respect their feelings and get along. Read your post with
    via u/knowsaboutit
  • 23
    these factors in mind. He's tried to gaslight you into thinking he's just not a cat person and that's ok
    via u/knowsaboutit
  • 24
    Your cat does deserve to live the best life, and so do you!!!! you know what to do, but just aren't ready to do it....don't. put it off for too long, don't get hurt.
    via u/knowsaboutit
  • 25
    greenmyrtle Better to break up over the cat now than over the kids later
    via u/greenmyrtle
  • 26
    SnarkyGoblin1313 Keep the cat and the dog, drop the man. Honestly not liking animals or pets is a huge red flag imo.
    via u/SnarkyGoblin1313

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boyfriend break up pets Precious relationships girlfriend cute cats Cats animals relationship drama
Scroll Down For The Next Article