‘She called me sobbing and demanded I give her the kitten’: Grad student tries to rehome stray cat, only to be caught in a classmate’s emotional spiral over an unconfirmed adoption

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 1, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Cats can make us do crazy things, there is no doubt. Whether it is buying ridiculously expensive food that they will never eat, toys they will never touch or in the most devious of cases cause us to adopt ten friends for them to play with. But the crazy in this story is a little more heartbreaking than usual, considering that it was caused by a cat being given to someone else, instead of the hooman who lost their mind. Now, mind, it is likely a good thing that this person was not awarded the title of pawrent, as they would have likely struggled to give the kitty the support and stability they deserve.

But nonetheless, love is love and it is hard to see love torn from someone, even if it is for the greater good. But there is a good news and a happy ending to this story (which we will not ruin for you), but it is safe to say that the lesson to learn here is that if you want to adopt a cat, just do it, do not dilly dally.

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    My classmate calls me crying and demands I give her the kitten I found and have been trying to rehome.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 02

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

    Cheezburger Image 10523611904
    via fantom_rd via Adobe Stock
  • 03
    I should probably post this on , but this is where my first instinct told me to post this due to the root of the story "kitten rehoming." Long story, short, I
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 04
    found a kitten and have been taking care of it and realize that, with my current cat and housing situation, I cannot keep it. So I reached out to a few classmates (grad students, all mid 20s, me included) who I knew were looking for cats, and invited them over to meet it.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 05
    One such classmate, I'll call her Ashley, came and met the baby. This kitten has an incredibly outgoing and affectionate personality, and she loved him. But she let me know her financial situation wasnt great and that she was working on it. She also let me
    via ChaoticPeachie

  • Well, we have to commend this hooman for doing the right thing and seeking stability for her kitten. One of the most important things in feline parenthood is being able to accept your limitations and knowing that once they affect your cat child, it is time to find them a better home. Which is likely not one that is facing financial difficulties. 

  • 06
    know she would be traveling for the holidays and that she wasnt sure how this would all work. She wanted him, but the logistics weren't right. I told her I was
    via ChaoticPeachie

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  • 07
    going to wait to advertise him until after Thanksgiving and that she could let me know for sure anytime before then. She left me feeling 50/50 that it would work out and told me she would "let me know" -- isnt that usually what ppl say when they're going to tell you no? They just arent sure yet?
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 08
    Well, flash forward to yesterday, a few days after this exchange, my brother calls me telling me one of his friends absolutely wants it. I
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 09
    asked a few questions in regards to the kittens wellbeing in this new home (indoor only, vet care, etc) and was satisfied. I text Ashley and let her know the kitten will be going to this new home for a trial period and perhaps long term, and that I would let her know if it didn't work out. I said it lighthearted
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 10
    and I expected something like "aw bummer. Ok. Let me know." Instead, she blew up. She slammed me for my bad communication, for me ripping the kitten out from underneath her, and told me she was working on logistics and wish I had told her sooner that I was looking at another home.
    via ChaoticPeachie

  • Wow, talk about a lack of stability. This is likely a person who should not be responsible for the wellbeing of an animal. A reaction like that is not going to help anyone, let alone an innocent kitten who simply wants to be loved.

  • 11
    I responded a few times in a very controlled manner: I understand. You were being a responsible pet owner and making sure it was going to worknout. I didnt
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 12
    advertise him like I said I wouldnt. This just fell into my lap. Etc etc. Just very reflective listening and calm composure, since I still have to work with her in future course work.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 13
    But she kept going, saying the same thing over and over, I typed up a message laying it out bluntly, decided it was a bit harsh and that if I sent it I was opening the conversation to be a bit...
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 14

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

    Cheezburger Image 10523611648
    via lalalululala via Adobe Stock
  • 15
    brutal. So I offered to call her and work this out over the phone. I am a LOT better verbally than I am at texting.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 16
    So we did. And she was SOBBING on the other end. And she was telling me that I am a terrible communicator. That she assumed the kitten was hers and I was just holding it for her. That I should
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 17
    give it to her before Saturday if I am going to at all. That she would come pick it up IMMEDIATELY if she had to. I kept explaining that I wasnt trying to hurt her, I didnt know she was this serious about it, and that I didnt advertise him like I said I wouldnt. She wasnt
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 18
    really listening, and she was dissolving into less comprehensive blubbering. Now, I'm friends with her, or I thought I was, and I was beginning to realize that this might be about more than the kitten, so I took a timeout from the conversation and told her to BREATHE. I told
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 19
    her that this is just a kitten and she is going to be fine, regardless of the outcome. I told her that there are so MANY kittens. I told her I didnt realize this was such a big deal to her. I told her that I would talk to my brother and mom and figure this out and call her back in the morning (it was about 9p).
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 20
    Essentially, once i talked to my family, I realized that she was being emotionally manipulative and throwing a tantrum about a kitten. My parents alluded to her not being emotionally stable, and we came to the decision to rehome the kitten with my brothers friend due to the combination of factors. However,
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 21
    it is now the next morning and I need to text Ashley. I have a message prepped: a greeting, the decision, an apology that its not going to worknout, a statement about how i hope this relieves some of her stress, and a happy thanksgiving. Im hoping the short
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 22
    and sweet nature of it can nip any future long messages in the bud, but I'm anxious to start this all back up again.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 23
    ConstantReader6... You made the right decision. Include her financial problem in your message, that you need to place the kitten where her best interests lie and that vet bills can be substantial just for routine injections and care.
    via ChaoticPeachie
  • 24
    Help her realise she isn't in a financial situation that would allow proper care at present.
    via ChaoticPeachie

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caught student stray cat call cat stories emotional demanding kitten classmates reddit story spiral rehome give crying
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