'“Can’t you just get rid of the cats?”': Allergic parent demands family rehome their beloved 15-year-old senior kitties, sparking family feud over fur and feelings

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 25, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

Fifteen years ago, this family adopted two shelter kitties despite knowing one of their parents was allergic. At the time, it seemed manageable. Visits were infrequent, no kids to handle, and the cats filled the home with purrsonality. The parent has never truly warmed up, annually reminding everyone of the feline faux-paw. This week, after the grandkids' sleepover triggered a sneeze-fest, a dramatic message arrived: "Can't you just get rid of the cats?"

To be fair, the furmiliy has bent over backward, lint-rolling like Olympic champions, furoiusly vacuuming, locking cats away, and even investing in air filters. Sometimes the parent reacts, sometimes not, even without meds. Interestingly, when siblings had cats, no whiskers of blame were directed their way. And when a supposedly "hypoallergenic" attic cat moved in, the parent mysteriously had zero reactions. Suspicious? Fur sure.

Now, rehoming is on the table, but these cats have been an emotional lifeline, especially during postpartum struggles. The new plan? Try science-backed kibble to reduce allergens. In the end, the cats are clearly more than pets. They're family. Would keeping them really make this pawrent the villain?

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  • 01
    'My parent never directly asked me to rehome them until today'
    via MoiLolita from Pixabay / Canva

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

  • 02
    Fifteen years ago I adopted two cats from a shelter, knowing one of my parents has cat allergies. The reactions range from "like hay fever" to almost nothing. My partner has always had cats, I like cats, and at that time we had no kids. We only saw my parents every few months, and we visited them instead of them visiting us.
    via Ambystomax
  • 03
    My parent has never been happy about the cats, reminding me about it at least once a year. My parent never directly asked me to rehome them until today; My kids slept over, my parent had a bad reaction and sent me a long WhatsApp about how cat allergens spread, ending with: "Can't you just get rid of the cats?"
    via Ambystomax
  • 04
    We've always tried to minimize problems: clean clothes before visiting, air filters, vacuuming, locking the cats away, etc. Sometimes my parent reacts, sometimes not, even with allergy pills. Once, my parent dropped by unannounced with no prep from us, no pills and there was no reaction at all.
    via Ambystomax
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10546228224
    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.

  • 06
    My sibling also got cats a few years after me. Later they rehomed them because the cats could only stay indoors after moving, which made my parent very happy. But when my parent reacted at family gatherings, only our cats got the blame... Never my sibling's, even though their cats weren't rehomed yet.
    via Ambystomax
  • 07
    Two years ago, my parent had someone living in their attic with a "hypoallergenic" cat. My parent had no symptoms at all. Since there are no truly hypoallergenic breeds, I feel anticipation plays a big role in my parent's reactions.
    via Ambystomax
  • 08
    Today I called and said rehoming the cats is a huge ask. I promised to be extra cautious and said we'd try a new cat food shown to reduce allergen production by 50%. That would make our cats comparable to the "hypoallergenic" attic cat.
    via Ambystomax
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10546225664
    via Valerii Honcharuk / Canva

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

  • 10
    That said, if it came down to it (EDIT: if everyone in this sub says I should), we do have family willing to take them. But my wife struggled with depression after childbirth, and the cats were incredibly helpful for her. They're very special to us. WIBTA if I keep my cats?
    via Ambystomax
  • 11
    for... NTA Do not rehome those cats. Your parents are emotionally manipulating you to get their way. They don't like cats. That's what this comes down to. Those cats are your family too. They have known you for their lives. Don't disrupt their lives over the selfishness of your parents.
    via forever_a_rose
  • 12
    If your parents love you, they'll make you a priority, even if they have a slight reaction to your cats. Plus, their symptoms are minimal. If they blame the cats for not visiting, or making it hard for you & your family to visit them, then it's a load of
    via forever_a_rose
  • 13
    Parking_Tangelo_... NTA - but you would be if you dump cats you've had for 15 years at the demand of parents who don't live in your home.
    via Parking_Tangelo_6567
  • 14
    If there was a family emergency or changed living situation and your allergic parent was part of your household, it's reasonable to consider their allergy more. But this is your home. Those cats have been with you longer than your kids. Rehoming them at this point in their lives would be cruel, and it's rude of your parents to ask.
    via Parking_Tangelo_6567
  • 15
    If this is an ongoing conversation with your parents, offer cleaning/disinfectant measures and to fund allergy medication. I'd also say that the cats are part of your family and won't be going anywhere.
    via Parking_Tangelo_6567

  • Your parents don’t even live with you. Rehoming beloved cats for people who only see them occasionally is just wild. There are so many other ways to manage allergies without giving up family members!

  • 16
    Lucky_Volume3819 NTA. Your parents have no right to dictate what you do in your own home. Your parents are unbelievably massive for suggesting you rehome senior animals in particular.
    via Lucky_Volume381
  • 17
    keesouth They've dealt with it for 15 years and they also don't live with you. NTA.
    via keesouth
  • 18
    shreyaa7 If you re-home senior cats in their older years, YWBTA. Meet the parents at their place or outside.
    via shreyaa7

  • You’ve had these cats for 15 years. They’re senior cats and clearly part of the family. Your parents have managed this long, they’ll be okay. No need to uproot them now.

  • 19
    messy_tuxedo_cat NTA, Assuming your parents allergic reaction is genuine, they have options to control the situation. If I were in their shoes, I would pick up a couple spare sets of clothes for the kids and have them shower and change clothes right when they get to the house. Then there is
    via messy_tuxedo_cat
  • 20
    no luggage or other soft items to carry dander. You can pack any electronics or other items the kids might need in plastic bags and wash any potential hazards upon arrival. It might be a little annoying and disruptive, but not nearly as bad as asking someone in my family to part with beloved pets.
    via messy_tuxedo_cat
  • 21
    The fact they're jumping straight to asking you to rehome your pets instead of making any effort at all seems pretty controlling and you would be TA to your wife if you gave in to that demand.
    via messy_tuxedo_cat
  • 22
    Fiempre-sin-tabla You would NOT be the a hole for keeping your cats. When you lived in their home, it was their house/their rules; anything you didn't like about it, you just had to cope, adapt, or lump it. Now you run your own home, which means it's your house/your rules. That means they will have to cope, adapt, or lump it.
    via Fiempre-sin-tabla

  • One of the best parts of being an adult is making your own rules and living how you want. Your house, your rules. The cats have been there 15 years, they stay. 

  • 23
    LdiJ46 Your parents are complete and total for asking you to get rid of your cats and you absolutely SHOULD NOT do it. If that means you and your children spend less time at your parent's house, then so be it. They are incredibly entitled.
    via LdiJ46

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Cats family drama adopted advice feline pawrents family senior cats parents
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