17-year-old lets girlfriend house her cat temporarily, but girlfriend now claims ownership of the cat and refuses to give up pawrenting rights: 'We still get into arguments about this'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Nov 23, 2025 5:00 PM EST

Having a cat is a ton of responsibility, and when we're young and teenagers, it can be hard to understand the weight of being a pet pawrent. The protagonist in the story below certainly doesn't understand. She gets a cat, but realizes that she can't house it in her place, so she seeks refuge in her girlfriend's home, as she lives with her mom. Her mother wasn't so thrilled initially about the cat, but she warmed up to it. Now, a predicament comes up. The protagonist wants full and complete ownership of the cat and sees it as hers, but the girlfriend and mom now think it's their cat. 

To be fair, the cat is being taken care of by the girlfriend and her mom. Despite the protagonist spending most of her time at her girlfriend's house, the primary caretakers are the girlfriend and her mom. This becomes an issue when the girlfriend's mom starts feeding the cat on her own, and starts to take control over the litter box and other cat related things. This creates tension between the owner and her girlfriend, and they get into arguments about it. She seeks internet advice on what to do, but it turns out they're not on her side. 

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  • 01

    My gf and her mom claimed my cat as theirs

    "I wasn't allowed to keep him at my house”
    via Cong H from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 02
    i am a 17 year old female and my girlfriend is 18 i got my cat from one of my friends from school who found him in a tire and had
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 03
    nowhere to go so i took him in. I wasn't allowed to keep him at my house so me and my gf made an agreement to keep him at her
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 04
    house. Her mom wasn't allowing it but finally caved but i asked my gf if he can be mine since i never had a pet of my own ( mind u she
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 05
    has three other pets of her own) she got defensive and said since that it was staying there it'll be hers, i gave in after awhile. I
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 06
    basically live at her house so i was with him everyday feeding him cleaning up after him and just caring for him i even bought him
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 07
    a nice litter box but suddenly her mom started feeding him before i got up (she's weird when animals get involved) and even threw out
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 08
    the litter box that i bought him and replaced it with dish plate holder thing???? i asked kindly if she would just let me take care of
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 09
    him she accepted but continued to take care of my cat. flash forward to present day they still
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 10
    claim my cat as theirs and we still get into arguments about this. WHAT DO I DO????
    via u/Plastic_Dragonfly365
  • 11
    iopele •4h ago From what you describe, they've been housing,
    via u/iopele
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10578591744
    via Bella Btn from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 13
    feeding, and caring for the cat since the very beginning. That's their cat.
    via u/iopele
  • 14
    Emotional-Ad-1431 • 4h ago Honestly it sounds like she was being really nice letting you and the cat stay there.
    via u/Emotional-Ad-1431
  • 15
    Until you move out with your gf and both take the cat it is kind of theirs...
    via u/Emotional-Ad-1431
  • 16
    Niasssssseeeeeee • 4h ago It's difficult but they are the ones housing the cat and giving full time care too.
    via u/Niasssssseeeeeee
  • 17
    I feel like the cat is theirs although you are the one who introduced them all.
    via u/Niasssssseeeeeee
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10578590976
    via carlosrojas20 / Canva

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

  • 19
    NobodysLoss1 • 4h ago Once you have your own place, get your own cat if
    via u/NobodysLoss1
  • 20
    they won't let you take this one. It's really as much, or more, theirs.
    via u/NobodysLoss1
  • 21
    kittensox • 4h ago Next time you get a cat, ensure it's microchipped so
    via u/kittensox
  • 22
    you can prove ownership. I know it's not what you want to hear, but this is their cat now.
    via u/kittensox
  • 23
    anrgyorganven... • 4h ago This isnt going to end well, if you two are partners idk why there would be an argument on what is who's...
    via u/anrgyorganvendor
  • 24
    If you took in the cat and your gf is willing to be the main shelter and if you "basically live there" why
    via u/anrgyorganvendor
  • 25
    does it matter who's cat it is unless the mom is trying to microchip it and keep you away from the cat. As for her
    via u/anrgyorganvendor
  • 26
    throwing away your things, you might want to talk to your gf about that.. i mean.. is she condoning that type of stuff from your mom?
    via u/anrgyorganvendor

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