'Her claim is not reasonable or valid': Cheap ex-roommate who hasn’t paid rent in months demands $700 over laptop damage caused by her own cat

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

Anyone knows that cats and mugs filled with liquid are mortal enemies. No two can exist in the same space at the same time.

That's why we avoid any potential kitty chaos by never leaving out any containers of liquid (unless it's the glass of water she drinks from, because why should she drink from her bowl of fresh water when "our" glass of water is purrfectly within reach?). Never underestimate the amount of damage a cat can do with any household item. You only need to learn that lesson once!

If you don't, you end up in a situation like the one below, where a cheap ex-roommate is demanding to take $700 off her debt of unpaid rent and bills because her cat knocked over her housemate's cup of juice onto her laptop, which ruined it. Firstly, it's her cat, so shouldn't it be her problem? Apparently not. If we've learned one thing from this, it's never to underestimate a cat's pension for causing problems and how cheap people can be. Scroll down to read the full story below!

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  • 01
    'She has zero intention to pay'
    via pixelshot

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

  • 02
    more than half a year ago my roommate, who i don't live with anymore, had her laptop get juice on it because her cat knocked over my drink. she is now demanding i take $700 off of the debt that she owes me for unpaid rent and bills. the laptop was old too, i don't think it was worth that much. do i legally owe her this money?
    via YungDefib
  • 03
    edit: the drink and the laptop were both on the coffee table (where we put drinks) and her cat knocked it over onto the table, it then made a puddle that reached the bottom of her laptop.
    via YungDefib

  • Our cat hasn't ruined our laptop (yet), but they did break a brand-new TV once. We had literally just installed it the night before, we hadn't even turned it on yet, and they knocked it off the shelf while we were at work the next day. That was the worst.

  • 04
    edit 2: thank you everyone for the advice, im going to go ahead and limit contact as much as possible if she's going to act like this. apparently ip ed her off by asking her to sign something saying she owes me the money that she does, and that's what sparked this laptop situation to come up. i don't it want to go to court but if it has to, is has to. Location: West Virginia
    via YungDefib
  • 05
    a LLI 3
    via vm

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

  • 06
    bluegrassgazer She's looking for a way to get out of paying you any of the debt she owes you, IMO. Be prepared to eat it all or go to court over it.
    via bluegrassgazer
  • 07
    Used_Mark_7911 Her claim is not reasonable or valid. However the fact that she would even suggest this is a strong indicator that she has no intention of paying. you the money she owes.
    via Used_Mark_7911
  • 08
    nerdburg It's not relevant to what they owe you. If they want to recover damages for their laptop, they can sue you for that.
    via nerdburg
  • 09
    At best, they might recover the fair market value of the used laptop, but even that is unlikely.
    via nerdburg
  • 10
    It's not uncommon for ppl that owe money to make up reasons why they don't have. to pay. It does not typically go well in court.
    via nerdburg

  • Can you imagine going to court over $700? The judge would just laugh in your face. Especially when they already owe the other purrson money, and it was their cat that did the damage in the first place! They're grasping at straws, and they know it.

  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10526168320
    via izusek

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

  • 12
    Scrublord_Rat NAL, as a pet owner wouldn't it be her fault that her pet caused the damage?
    via Scrublord_Rat
  • 13
    WillAnderson Jr No she does not have a valid claim, you're not at fault for her cat's actions. My advice is to stop associating with her and anyone else that disrespects you so much as to demand something like this.
    via WillAndersonJr
  • 14
    Legitimate_Ear_3895 tell her to sue the cat for the money. you don't owe it to her.
    via Legitimate_Ear_3895
  • 15
    Fantastic-Climate-84 Just take your ex to small claims. They're not going to pay you back any other way, and as others have mentioned this is the rawest of bulls.
    via Fantastic-Climate-84
  • 16
    jansipper She does not have a valid claim. Unless maybe you put the drink in a place where it was reasonably foreseeable that it would fall on her laptop? In terms of getting paid for the outstanding debt, the best way
    via jansipper
  • 17
    is by getting someone to do it voluntarily. Even if you win in court, you still have to collect. If she's willing to pay you everything now less the $700, take it because it's probably all you're ever gonna get.
    via jansipper
  • 18
    Mr_Bill_W Her cat, her computer, her problem not yours!
    via Mr_Bill_W
  • 19
    twhiting9275 She has zero intention to pay. Either s k it up and absorb the loss or take her to small claims
    via twhiting9275
  • 20
    She also has no counter claim. The fact that she's trying this though proves she ain't paying up
    via twhiting9275
  • 21
    eroscripter NAL, Tell her no and that she has 14 days to pay up or your taking her to small claims court.
    via eroscripter
  • 22
    mrrosado The owner of the cat is liable for all the damages that happened next.
    via mrrosado
  • 23
    nahmymanthisaintit NAL but petty, if she sues: counter-sue for a soda her cat knocked over.
    via nahmymanthisaintit
  • 24
    Illeatu2 Did the laptop stop working then? Because it's odd if the fluid only touched the plastic case on the bottom. Take her to court. You have her admission of debt to you. Don't offer money off for the laptop. It was her cats fault
    via Illeatu2

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legal drama rent cat owners roommates laptop Cats cheap animals
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