'I don’t feel comfortable talking to her anymore unless she reaches out with an apology': Pawrent erupts after 27-year-old cat sitter refuses a two-hour trip to feed the cat an extra meal, leaving their friendship hanging by a whisker

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Jul 16, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Taking care of a friend's cat seemed like a simple favor for this 27-year-old, especially since the friend's apartment was close to her work, making the commute easier. She stayed at the apartment from Wednesday to Saturday morning, happy to help and confident the cat was well cared for. But when her friend's flight got delayed, the situation got complicated.

The friend asked her to make a two-hour round trip to feed the cat an extra meal. She explained she was already out having dinner and had plans afterward, believing missing one meal wouldn't hurt the cat. However, her friend reacted strongly, sending urgent messages and accusing her of neglect.

Now, she's left wondering if she was in the wrong for refusing to drop everything to feed the cat during a delay. Was she being careless, or was she reasonable in expecting the cat to be fine for a short time without extra attention? She returned the key and set boundaries but feels conflicted, curious whether others think she should've done more or if she made the right call standing her ground. After all, sometimes even the best intentions can leave you tangled in a catty situation.

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  • 01
    'I can't drop everything now and travel 2 hours (back and forth) to feed the cat'
    via pixelshot / Canva

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

  • 02
    I, 27F, recently agreed to take care of my friend's cat while she was away traveling for a few days. We're not really close friends, but she asked me because her apartment is close to my work, and I live an hour away from my office.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 03
    From last Wednesday to Saturday morning, I stayed at her place for cat sitting, and I was happy to help because it was reduced commute for me and it's not much work to take care of a cat. She was supposed to be back Saturday night, and I left enough food for the day for the cat as I was leaving around noon.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 04
    Around 6PM as I was having dinner with friends at a restaurant back in my city, my friend called me to tell me that her flight had been cancelled, and they rebooked her flight so she will arrive Sunday noon instead of Saturday night.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10530097920
    via Tookapic from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 06
    She asked me if I could come back to her apartment to feed the cat, as I am the only one with the spare key to her apartment.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 07
    I told her I am in the middle of dinner and we are going to a party afterwards, nothing bad will happen to the cat if she skips a meal or two until tomorrow noon, so I can't drop everything now and travel 2 hours (back and forth) to feed the cat. I did offer, if for whatever reason her flight is further delayed, then I will come on Sunday to feed the cat.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 08
    Then she told me she can't believe I would let a poor innocent animal starve and suffer, just to be able to party and enjoy myself. She said this is animal ab e and she will have to report me.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 09
    She hung up on me, and then she sent me a series of text that switches from begging for me to go to her apartment to cursing me that I am a cruel animal ab er.
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 10
    I ignored all her messages and today I gave her key to a common friend so she can get the key back, as I don't feel comfortable talking to her anymore unless she reaches out with an apology. A part of me does feel bad about what happened tho, maybe she was just paranoid about her cat suffering?
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10530098176
    via nathaphat / Canva

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

  • 12
    So what do you think.... AITA for refusing to travel an hour to feed her cat in this situation??
    via Ok_Staff4255
  • 13
    LdiJ46 That was absolutely ridiculous. You left on Saturday leaving the cat enough food for Saturday. The cat was certainly NOT going to starve if not fed again until Sunday. That was not ab ive in any way, shape or form. Your friend needs to get over herself. I am a cat lover and cat owner myself BTW.
    via LdiJ46
  • 14
    UpbeatAd4822 The cat had enough food for Saturday and the girl was supposed to come home on Sunday. How is this cat skipping a meal? Maybe the time will change but the cat will still get fed. You then kindly offered to come the next day if something happened again. NTA all the way.
    via UpbeatAd4822

  • You left enough food for the day and offered to come back tomorrow if needed. It’s unfair for her to blow up and try to guilt trip you over something reasonable like that.

  • 15
    Several-Adeptnes... I mean yes the cat would survive but that also really sks for them to miss a meal or two? Like it's still a living creature with a functioning stomach
    via Several-Adeptness-83
  • 16
    llunaCrick NTA. You already did her a favor by cat-sitting, left enough food for the day, and even offered to help if her flight got delayed further. Her freakout was unwarranted, cats don't starve overnight, and her guilt-tripping was manipulative.
    via llunaCrick
  • 17
    Fresh_Caramel81... This isn't even that you refused to 'drive an hour' to feed her cat. you were out, you were busy. You may have been drinking. No- you shouldn't have to drop all that to go feed her cat.
    via Fresh_Caramel8148
  • 18
    She needs to have a better plan in place, honestly. Relying on someone who lives an hour away was never a good idea.
    via Fresh_Caramel8148

  • It’s not fair to expect someone to drop everything and drive over two hours when there are plenty of closer options. That’s a lot to ask for just one missed meal!

  • 19
    ExpertRegister1353 As a huge animal lover, you did nothing wrong. The cat will be fine.
    via ExpertRegister1353
  • 20
    jdo5000 Ultimately the conversation should of been had beforehand about what would happen if she was unable to return on time so you both had the same expectations. Just poor communication as a lot of things on here are.
    via jdo5000
  • 21
    vivid_prophecy NTA. The cat owner was irresponsible for not having a back up plan. Expecting you to be available at their beck and call is outrageous. You are not responsible for their cat, they are.
    via vivid_prophecy
  • 22
    Everyone on here saying "oh but the poor animal needs to eat" - it sure does! Which is why the owner of the animal should have a plan in place for if their flight gets canceled or delayed. It's not OP's responsibility and acting like the cat not being fed again until Sunday would be somehow detrimental is absurd.
    via vivid_prophecy
  • 23
    secret_identity_too NTA. Her cat will be fine. You did what you agreed to do and offered to go back Sunday if she got delayed further.
    via secret_identity_too
  • 24
    Savageasflux NTA. If it goes on for more than 2 days then you'd possibly have a problem, one night any cat will survive just fine even if it was hungry already, let alone that you left it with some food and water even just a day's worth. This is not animal ab e at all, the cat will be fully fine.
    via Savageasflux
  • 25
    Expensive Excus... NTA. You were already doing a big favor for your friend. If she cannot afford to board her cat when she is out of town; that is her issue not yours. You did the job you agreed to do.
    via Expensive_Excuse_597

  • This pawrent needs to check herself. You were just doing a kind favor, and she could’ve shown some appreciation or at least a bit more understanding instead of flipping out like that.

  • 26
    UsagisBuns NTA The cat will be fine. Good news is you dont have to pet sit anymore.
    via UsagisBuns

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neighbors pets fight advice feline argument Cats cat owners
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