Daughter refuses to buy gifts for her mother's cats after a year abroad, explaining that she is on a tight budget, mother's humorous reaction sparks family tension: 'Your sister is not going to buy you anything'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Aug 18, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

People dress up their pets, bedazzle their collars, and even bake them pet-friendly birthday cakes. It's cute and it's socially acceptable. We, more than anyone, understand that some people (us) truly view their animals as their babies, completely understandable. However, there are certain boundaries that should be addressed. Like ensuring you don't push your 'pet mother/fatherhood' self-appointed title onto anyone else…It just makes things complicated, and ultimately quite strange!

I'm sure if you ask nicely, your family members will allow your pet to sniff their shoes, and maybe even give them a cuddle or two..But when this mother expects her daughter, who's visiting from abroad, to bring gifts for her entire family and her cats…she might reply with a confused paw-don me?! How can she ask her daughter, knowing she is on a tight budget, to buy gifts for her pets when she can barely afford gifts for her own family? And then proceed to get offended when she refuses?! 

I'm starting to wonder who (or what) this mother views as her favorite child…?

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  • Tension rises, and this daughter eventually ends up ignoring her mother's calls. Okay, perhaps there is some oversensitiveness present or a case of some major miscommunication? Not every family member will have mirroring priorities, so this mother should stick to the gift-purchasing for her cats, whilst this daughter works through having a more open approach to others' humor. 

  • 01
    Old lady holding a small cat
    via imgenes-de-xocins

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for not answering my mum's calls after she got upset at me for not buying her cats anything?

    Background: I live abroad(Europe) and will be visiting home (South Asia) next week. I work a semi stable job with decent pay, where
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 03
    I can make ends meet if I budget well. My mum video called me and mid conversation asked if I'm
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 04
    getting anything for the cats. I told her that with all the gifts and things I've bought for my family (that she is well aware of), I am
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 05
    way over my monthly budget and it's not like the cats are gonna remember it per se. I'm there for 3 weeks. She says that I'm coming
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 06
    home after a whole year. I told her no. I'm not getting anything for the cats. Then she turns to one of the cats and says in a baby
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 07
    voice, "Your sister (me) is not going to buy you anything. Claw her/Scratch her when she comes, yeah?"
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 08
    I got mad. I don't appreciate this. Ik they are cats but I don't like this attitude. And I told her, asked her what the h I does she mean?
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 09
    That just because I'm not buying someone, even cats, they are not only allowed but encouraged to hurt me? She got really defensive,
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 10
    saying they are cats and they dont understand orders and she is just joking. I hung up on her and refused to answer further
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 11
    calls. Now she is sending me voice memos, asking why am I suddenly like this, getting mad at the smallest things and not
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 12
    the smallest things and not understanding and over reacting. So AITA? Update: I called my mother we kind of cleared the air. Probably will have a deeper conversation when I go home
    via EffectiveEchidna6190
  • 13
    A cat fast asleep next to a wrapped gift
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 14
    Anon_819 They can have the boxes, tissue paper that the other gifts come in! My cats love receiving packaging from other people's gifts more than anything else.
    via Anon_819
  • 15
    tredjef I have two cats and love them like family. I would never expect anyome to bring them anything and your mother's behavior is inacceptable. Not only the gifts thing, but calling you sister and making jokes about aggression. NTA
    via tredjef
  • 16
    Seaworthiness Hot2770 Your mother is wrong!! I have a cat and would never expect my daughter to buy it a gift. Most of the time cats won't play with the gift anyway. Their favorite gift is a empty box to jump into.
    via Seaworthiness
  • 17
    ObjectiveLanky6146 Nta. Ya mum sounds like she's trying to guilt you
    via ObjectiveLanky6146
  • 18
    Reasonable-Wedding21 My cat is my baby, not anyone else's. It's my privilege and responsibility to get them things, not anyone else's.
    via Reasonable-Wedding21
  • 19
    Chartreuse-Tassel NTA but you could pack a couple of hair elastics.
    via Chartreuse-Tassel
  • 20
    VirusZealousideal72 I mean, the comment was clearly just a joke? What are you so sensitive about? YTA.
    via VirusZealousideal72
  • 21
    Sorry-Visit-6743 NTA and I say this as someone who used to have cats and now has birds. Expecting someone to bring a gift from a trip for the CATS? They don't even know what that MEANS!
    via Sorry-Visit-6743
  • 22
    completedett YTA She was just joking.
    via completedett

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Tags

visiting presents sensitive drama jokes mother gift cute cats comedy Travel entitled family daughter Cats home savings money animals
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