'You should not have a cat': Entitled cat owner brings his cat to an off-leash dog park, dog dad demands they leave after heated confrontation

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Sep 13, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Dog parks are like the wild west - unpredictable, dirty, and full of some shady characters. Pawsonally, we don't bring our doggo to dog parks, mostly because she doesn't get along well with lots of dogs in one place, but also because we don't like the shenanigans that go on there. There's too much barking, too many power plays for dominance, and too big a chance of something going wrong. And that's just when only dogs are involved. They're too volatile, and if we're being honest, too many of the dogs are not trained well enough to actually listen to their owners if they were to do something wrong.

Well, because we can, we're going to share a story with you that could make any dog park situation pawsitively worse - a cat. Especially when a large pack of dogs is together, anything moving becomes prey. We've never heard of someone bringing a cat to an off-leash dog park, but there's a first time for everything. A dog dad encountered an entitled cat owner with his cat on a leash just chilling in the dog park. The cat was obviously quite stressed. After a heated confrontation, he forced the cat owner to leave, and we still can't imagine what this cat pawrent was thinking.

Is your inbox feline too professional? Add some cats falling off counters. Subscribe here!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Advertisement
  • 01

    Cat at off-leash dog park rant

    Dogs playing outside including 'It's common sense that you wouldn't bring a cat here where dogs are running around off leash'
    via Gili Pup from Pexels

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

  • 02
    I just had the most insane experience at an off-leash dog park.
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 03
    So when I get there this guy is trying to get his cat out of a tree for about 30 mins and you'd think he'd maybe leave the park when the cat gets down. No. He sat there with his cat, in plain view of where my dog was, where he was off leash. He was
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 04
    fine at first and then notices it's actually a cat and goes chasing and barking after it, but doesn't actually do anything (which I know he wouldn't, he's still a young dog and doesn't understand the different smell). And this is a common fact; dogs will usually chase after cats, and some WILL go in for the k■.
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 05
    I told him he needs to leave the park because this is an off-leash DOG park and he goes "well I'm allowed to be here and my cats on leash. You can call animal control" I'm like "well okay but they're not going to do anything, and it's an off leash dog park,
    via yasmatazzzz

  • We're also technically allowed to drink the full carton of milk while in the grocery store and then pay for it after, but why would we? It just doesn't make sense. Even if your cat is fine with dogs, you have no control over the 5, 10, or 20+ dogs that are in the dog park. You can't trust anyone else's pet but your own.

  • 06
    it's common sense that you wouldn't bring a cat here where dogs are running around off leash." He remains, staring at his phone. So I get my dog under control for a couple minutes but he goes after the cat again (which obviously I
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 07
    Dog and cat playing
    via Natasha Makarovska's Images

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

  • 08
    regret not putting him on leash at this point) and the cat is meowing loudly over and over, very obviously stressed at this point. I get my dog under control and on leash and he's like "get your f-in dog out of here!" and I say "no, you need to leave the park! you are stressing out your cat! you should not have a cat!" That's when he left.
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 09
    So all in all my main concern is the well being of that poor kitty. He had absolutely no regard for the cat's safety and was willing to put his cats life and well being in danger all so he could try and get his way. This was a big park too with a giant field 50
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 10
    ft away so there was ample space he could have taken the cat, and he decided to go to where dogs are off leash running wild. I'm all for walking your cat and bringing them to parks, but please do not take your cat to off-leash dog parks
    via yasmatazzzz
  • 11
    and then get mad when a dog chases it. It's common sense. Anyone who actually cares for their cat would not do this. I really hope he learned his lesson and that he never takes his cat to any off leash parks ever again.
    via yasmatazzzz

  • We also hope he never does this again. Just, why? If the cat is leashed, he could go anywhere, anywhere, with his cat. Anywhere that wasn't full of dogs hyped up chasing each other around. The logic isn't logic-ing.

  • 12
    Seayarn ⚫ 5h ago My beagles love cats- their cats! If they don't know the cats, they want to meet them and say hello, and obviously, that seems scary to a cat. Cats and dogs have totally different body language.
    via Seayarn
  • 13
    This man is a total moron who cares nothing for the safety of his cat, dogs, or any of the people around him. Anything might have happened!
    via Seayarn
  • 14
    Leashed cat walking outside
    via elenazarubina

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

  • 15
    Namasiel 5h ago Groomer, has 2 lovely mutts ... Things that don't belong at an off leash dog park: animals that aren't dogs, food, children under 12, dogs in heat, dogs who are scared or aggressive, dogs still leashed, dogs with owners who don't give a sh.
    via Namasiel
  • 16
    What do I always see at the dog park? All of the above.
    via Namasiel
  • 17
    SonoranRoadRunner He was looking for a confrontation.
    via SonoranRoadRunner
  • 18
    netscorer1 • 4h ago I'm just trying to fathom why on Earth this guy thought bringing cat to a dog park is a good idea. The cat will obviously be stressed, the risk of a large dog going for the cat is huge and no owner would be able to guarantee that they would be able to stop their dog from attacking cat. It's just a lose-lose for everyone.
    via netscorer1
  • 19
    . CrazyFoxLady37 • 4h ago Why would anybody WANT to bring a cat to a dog park? I don't get it. I don't get what he wanted out of this experience.
    via CrazyFoxLady37
  • 20
    blast3001 4h ago Cat guy is either incredibly dumb or looking for a fight. I probably would have looked around for a camera. This would be something a nuisance influencer would do.
    via blast3001
  • 21
    kittyhm 3h ago I'd never take my cat to an off leash dog park, but I did once take her to a Pets in the Park event. No problems whatsoever. Well, she hissed at a couple who sniffed her bt, but the dogs were very well behaved. None even barked at her. The local shelter even had cats there and the dogs were good around them.
    via kittyhm
  • 22
    Only dog that was an issue apparently had a Tortie sister at home and when he saw her he started crying and trying to get to her. The owners kept apologizing, but I just had them bring him close enough to sniff her. She was unimpressed, he was just confused it wasn't his kitty.
    via kittyhm
  • 23
    And she goes to the vet on a leash. Never had a problem with the dogs there, but they were on leash too. Apparently, according to my vet, cats on leashes there are quite common. The ones in carriers are usually the ones stressed
    via kittyhm
  • 24
    about being at the vet. They even have a resident cat at the vet and never had a problem with a dog. They have to hide him from my cat though, because she hates other cats.
    via kittyhm
  • 25
    In this case, this cat did not feel comfortable and should not have been there. You have to know the temperment of your animal and be prepared that someone else's animal may not be well trained with no recall. I have seen the same with small dogs around big dogs.
    via kittyhm
  • 26
    StockDoctor11 • 4h ago I agree, cats shouldn't be at dog park. But also, people need to train their dogs. My dog wouldn't run after it. It's for this same reason my dog isn't allowed at most beaches anymore. No one trains their dogs properly anymore, so my
    via StockDoctor11
  • 27
    well trained dog has to suffer. It's not hard. Doesn't require anything more than some tasty treats and repetition. I trained my dog to listen to my snap, if snap. She is by my side, or runs too me. Simple as that.
    via StockDoctor11
  • 28
    Otaku-Oasis • 4h ago Also.... train your dog, My dogs even mid chase of a cat, bird, raccoon, other dog stop in their tracks when i give the command "STOP" (when said creature is on our property otherwise they don't chase) and wait for me to release the before moving again (one is 5 months old) if you are having your dog at an unleashed park train it.....
    via Otaku-Oasis
  • 29
    Dogs won't "usually" chase after cats poorly trained dogs will chase anything if a bad owner lets them. It's a little gross how you puff up your chest proudly with a poorly trained dog and point a finger at the cat owner... both are in the wrong.
    via Otaku-Oasis
  • 30
    Syralei 3h ago Was this a labeled, fenced-in legal dog park, or was it an area of the park where people just let their dogs off leash?
    via Syralei
  • 31
    Asking because, in my city, there are TONS of entitled dog owners who let their dogs offleash in every g din park. Even just on sidewalks. I take my cats on leashed walks. I had to get a pet stroller and train them to jump into it on cue and when they see dogs because dog owners here can't be trusted to follow basic leash laws.
    via Syralei
  • 32
    Cats, unfriendly dogs, kids, people who are afraid of dogs, all deserve to enjoy parks without offleash dogs jumping on them or running up to them in general.
    via Syralei
  • 33
    So, if this was a legitimate, fenced-in offleash dog park? The cat owner is a 1. If it wasn't and was just an area of a basic park with no fenced in off leash area? You're the
    via Syralei

Check out our Instagram for more hilarious animal content!

Love our stuff? Shop for some of our pawsome merch here.

Tags

dog park pet ownership dogs leash cat owners house cat dog dad animals entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article