After catsitting brother's cat for 2 months while wife was in the hospital, sister insists that Ella is her cat now because her daughters "love her": 'Get your own!'

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Sep 3, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Pets have a way of weaving themsevles so deeply into a family that they become much more than just animals. They can be a comforting companion, a listening ear, even a best friend. Growing up, my parents' tabby cat Julia wasn't just "the cat," she was the glue that held me and my parents together. A family photo didn't look complete without her, she got her own presents on Christmas, and we even celebrated her birthday every year. The idea of losing her, especially to someone else's household, would have been totally unthinkable.

That's the very dilemma one young dad and pet pawrent finds himself in. He entrusted his beloved cat, Ella, to his sister while his wife is in the hospital during a difficult pregnancy. This was always meant to be a temporary arrangement, but when it came time to bring Ella home, his sister and her family had a surprising (and frankly impolite) request. In just a few weeks, Ella had wriggled her way into their hearts, and now they simply couldn't let go. Instead of taking this as motivation to adopt their own new fluffy family member, they actually tried to convince him to them keep her forever! 

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  • 01

    [Am I wrong] for taking my wife's cat back from my sister even though she and her family "bonded" with it?

    A little girl petting a black cat
    via cottonbro studio from Pexels

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

  • 02
    Been a bit of a pickle right now and I'm just wondering if I'm wrong.
    via Reddit
  • 03
    Since I've met and loved my wife Christina shes had a cat named Ella which she adores. I've never
    via Reddit
  • 04
    been fond of pets but Ella is such a cuddly and sweet cat that it's just hard not to love her.
    via Reddit
  • 05
    Woman cradling an orange cat by a window
    via Vlada Karpovich from corelens

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

  • 06
    My wife and I got pregnant with our second and the pregnancy has been h I worse than our first. She's been constantly in and out
    via Reddit
  • 07
    of the hospital and has been sick, her doctors suggested she stay at the hospital for the rest of her term(which was 2 month left) she agreed.
    via Reddit
  • 08
    It was hard for me to take care of our toddler work her and the cat all at once so I asked my
    via Reddit
  • 09
    sister(with wifey permission) if she could take care of Ella till we were out of the hospital she reluctantly agreed and I thanked her.
    via Reddit
  • 10
    Skip to a week ago our second girl is here and it's been amazing. Wifey wanted Ella home to meet the baby lol so I went to get her back.
    via Reddit
  • 11
    Two kids laying down with a cat
    via nattrass from Getty Images Signature

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

  • 12
    When I got to my sister her house and told her what I care for she was visibly sad and asked me if we could talk. Her and my bil sat
    via Reddit
  • 13
    me down and basically told me they had bonded with Ella a lot and their kids also loved her too. They took her to appointments walks feed her and just loved her so much
    via Reddit
  • 14
    They asked if I was willing to just let her stay that they would let Christina see her whenever but she'd be there's now. I
    via Reddit
  • 15
    immediately said no they knew how much Ella ment not only to my wife by my eldest girl too. I told them it s ks that the kids won't have her as much but I can't in good conscience do that to my own girls.
    via Reddit
  • 16
    They tried to argue but I wasn't having it I took Ella and we left.
    via Reddit

  • It is genuinely baffling to me that their reaction to growing fond of Ella was to try to just take her from the people that have been caring for her for years! This could have been a cosmic sign to them to get their own feline friend, but instead, they want to steal someone else's. 

  • 17
    they've called me an a and have refused to come visit and meet my newborn.
    via Reddit
  • 18
    A kitten cuddling with a baby
    via Aynur_sib from Getty Images

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

  • 19
    I don't think I'm wrong but some other families have joined in, which is making think I might be, ?
    via Reddit
  • 20
    Inevitable_Pea_9138 NTA. You stuck with the agreement and it's your wife's and family cat. I'm sure they can adopt a cat that they will love just as much.
    via u/Inevitable_Pea_9138
  • 21
    scarybottom And all this tells us is that the Sister's family would likely enjoy a cat as a pet. GO FREAKING
    via u/scarybottom
  • 22
    ADOPT ONE. Many many fur babies need someone to love them- no need to steal your family member's in a time of stress and illness, FFS.
    via u/scarybottom
  • 23
    [deleted] Bbbbuuttt... then they'd you know, actually have to put effort into research and meeting them, not to mention adoption fees. Why do that when you can try to manipulate family?! It's so much less effort! /s
    via Reddit
  • 24
    Jadie Jang Yeah. What is the DEAL with people fighting over a single pet? If YOU'RE that attached to the pet, imagine how the OWNER, who's had the pet for YEARS feels. Go get your own,
    via u/JadieJang
  • 25
    L 2nd BestAtEverything They tried to claim your cat! Like it's not a living being that you and your family love! I'm not sure why I find that so funny but I really, really do. They do know there are other, family- less cats out there, right?! NTA, full stop.
    via u/2ndBestAtEverything

  • Man, pets are family, too! You wouldn't joke about keeping someone's kid after babysitting them or someone's uncle after having him over for dinner. 

  • 26
    Spinnerofyarn NTA and they should have said something before it got to this point. If their kids are attached, how do they think your kid feels?
    via u/Spinnerofyarn
  • 27
    [deleted] OP Right my eldest love Ella so much, can't even go to sleep without Ella in the room.
    via Reddit
  • 28
    1WildSpunky Never let them babysit your kids. You might arrive to pick them up only to be told they bonded with your kids and intend to keep them.
    via u/1WildSpunky
  • 29
    [deleted] NTA. A pet isn't a commodity. It's a family member and she belongs with your family. Your sister should look into adopting their own family member.
    via Reddit
  • 30
    wlfwrtr NTA Your wife had the cat for years that alone beats the 2 months that sister had it. They probably told their kids that they could keep it without talking to you. Apparently getting their own way is more important to them than your family.
    via u/wlfwrtr

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family drama cat adoption pets cat adoption family feud relationships parenting adopted cat story family Reddit Cats
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