'I should be asked to choose, and tbh I'd pick my cat 10x over': 24-year-old girlfriend jealous of how well her boyfriend treats their new cat threatens to leave if he doesn't choose her over the feline

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    "Am I overreacting? Breaking up over our cat."

    picture of a cat on a leash outside
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  • 02
    Maria (24F) and I (27F) have been dating for about a year and a half, have been living together for a year, and adopted a cat together less than 6 months ago.
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    Before we adopted her I let M know that I can be, well "extra" when it comes to pets. She says no problem, we get Piper. Important: it was Maria's idea to adopt her. Fast forward and now we are always fighting over her.
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    I am "too much" because I walk her outside (she's an indoor cat) on a leash and take her out for errands in a cat backpack. Every new treat, toy, or scratching post is a blow up. M doesn't want me spoiling our cat.
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  • 05
    I fight with M now a lot because I don't like how she treats Piper, I feel she yells at her often and Piper will run under the furniture and hiss at M. She hasn't ever hissed at me, and generally loves people (very friendly cat).
  • 06
    Our cat is vocal and a bit of a Velcro kitty with me. And I love it. M, not so much. Now the big deal, I like to have Piper sleeping in our room. She's a cuddler. M wants to lock her out of the room because "she's annoying". Our fights get so bad over this sometimes I'll sleep on the couch with Piper.
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    Now M is pressing me to make a choice, to choose her or Piper. M even mentioned she'd eventually leave me over how I am with our cat. Am I overreacting for wanting to break up over this? I don't think I should be asked to choose, and tbh I'd pick my cat 10x over.
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    picture of a cat on a leash outside
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    burnerburner 108 ⚫ 5h ago . Not overreacting. This level of jealousy and attempted control will destroy the relationship sooner or later, and if it's not about Piper, it will just be something else - friends of yours she doesn't approve of, your job, your family, the way you dress; you name it. Make it clear that this is a package deal: living with and loving the cat is living and loving you, and if she can't do that it's time to move on. P.S. to Maria: a woman who wants to date other women but
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    MinnyMindy OP • 5h ago Thank you for that, other issues we've had kind of run along the same vein. I tolerated a lot of it because I do love her, but she's crossed the line with Piper. It was her idea to adopt! She's been trying to convince me I'm crazy and no other person would choose their cat over their girlfriend.
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    FlyswatterArcade • 5h ago It's like she's jealous of Piper. Rehome the girlfriend before rehoming the cat.
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    MinnyMindy OP • 5h ago I think she is. She says things about Piper like "Piper can't stand it when we're together" because Piper will come and try to sit snuggled up in the middle if M and I are on the couch together.
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    picture of a cat on a leash on a tree
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    Due_Piano803 • 5h ago Question: do you ever give her quality time without the cat? I ask bc if the cat is stuck to you like Velcro, how do have alone time? The cat might hiss at her bc it's protective of you bc you two have latched on to each other. Velcro, sleep together? It would make me feel uncomfortable too.
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    MinnyMindy OP • 5h ago We will spend time together outside of the house alone, and private time when it's time for that. It's weird to expect to have a lot of alone time in a house with an uncaged pet though isn't it? Free roam cat and she happens to like to be around people. Piper hisses at M when she's running away from being shouted at or M is trying to get her out of a hiding spot, not when she's with me and everything is calm. What about a cat/pet in general sleeping in the bed makes you un
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    picture of a cat on a leash outside
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    Standard-Yak-3564 • 6h ago It doesn't sound like you're overreacting at all. If she's making you choose between her and your cat, that's a huge red flag. Pets are family, and if she can't respect the bond you have with Piper, it's going to cause resentment.
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    StBernardFever ⚫ 6h ago You can tell a lot from people by the way they treat their pets. Keep the cat and get rid of the spouse. I am a big proponent of buying cats things as they are in the house and need things to do. Why she would be mad about buying things for piper or taking her out is insane. Also, great name. My dog that passed away last year was named Piper.
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    GrumpyOldHistoricist Partners come and go. Cats who are cuddlers are gifts from the universe.
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