'I packed his bags and told him to leave': Boyfriend of 8 months purposefully lets indoor cat outside, because he believes "cats belong in nature", girlfriend finds the terrified kitty and kicks the boyfriend out

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Mar 6, 2026 11:00 AM EST

If your boyfriend mistreats your cat… we think it's time to rehome. Rehome the boyfriend, that is. 

The indoor-outdoor cat is a real debate in the community, with understandable explanations for both positions. But one thing that we think everyone could agree on is that you do not force an indoor cat to go outside. And you especially don't do it against the cat owner's wishes. You don't have to like cats to understand that letting an animal - who has never been out before - out of the house is dangerous. Indoor cats are spoiled and happy to be spoiled. They are dependent on us, and no matter how curious they might be about the outside world, we know - and we think they know too - that they wouldn't be able to live outside on their own. 

We don't know what could have possibly led this man to do what he did - to purposefully hold the door open for a curious cat and let them out. His girlfriend has explicitly told him not to do that before, and he still did. Now, whether he did it because he doesn't care about the cat or doesn't care about her doesn't matter. Either way, her reaction was on point. 

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for kicking my boyfriend out after he accidentally let my indoor cat outside?"

    Image of a cat peeking through a door.
    via Unsplash / fr0ggy5

    Image of a cat peeking through a door.

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

  • 02
    I (25F) have a strict rule, my cat, Luna, stays inside. My boyfriend of 8 months thinks I'm too sensitive and that cats belong in nature.
    via Curious-Mongoose8549
  • 03
    Yesterday, I came home and Luna was gone. He said he left. the door open while bringing in groceries and she must have. slipped out. I found her two hours later under a car, terrified.
    via Curious-Mongoose8549
  • 04
    I checked my Ring camera, he literally held the door open and watched her walk out. I packed his bags and told him to leave.
    via Curious-Mongoose8549
  • 05
    He's calling me insane for choosing a cat over a human relationship. AITJ?
    via Curious-Mongoose8549

  • It's the fact that you still titled this post with the word “accidentally”. There was nothing accidental about what he did. You saw it yourself, on the camera, that he stood there and let the kitty out - with no care either for the cat's safety or for your desires. You are still, even after throwing this man out, framing the story in a way that defends his actions. And although we understand it - 8 months is a long time to be in a relationship  - we hope that over time, when you retell this story, you will start telling it right, in a way that truly shows how horrible the thing that he did was. 

  • 06
    Image of a cat peeking through a door.
    via Unsplash / Noppon Meenuch

    Image of a cat peeking through a door.

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

  • 07
    Available-Peanut3294 u didn't dump him over a cat you dumped him because he showed you he doesn't respect what matters to you
    via Available-Peanut3294
  • 08
    OldGmaw2023 He wanted her gone .. didn't care if she got k led When they show you who they are - believe them
    via OldGmaw2023
  • 09
    Impossible_Record 103 If he thinks cats belong in nature he can go live there too
    via Impossible_Record103
  • 10
    Image of a cat curled up on the carpet.
    via Unsplash / Simone Dinoia - simonedna

    Image of a cat curled up on the carpet. 

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

  • 11
    eclipsed2112 if he held the door open and watched her walk out, then he absolutely did it ON PURPOSE. maybe he really doesnt like cats or has a streak of jealousy.
    via eclipsed2112
  • 12
    either way he LIED to you and wanted your cat to go away. you made the right choice OP! if he shows that much disrespect now, it will only get worse.
    via eclipsed2112
  • 13
    body_response You're not insane. You're someone who set a clear boundary-Luna stays inside-and he ignored it, watched her walk out, and then lied about how it happened. That's not an accident, that's disrespect with a side of negligence. You didn't choose a cat over a relationship;
    via body_response

  • Honestly, considering the situation - the fact that this is an indoor cat who has never been outside, this story ended much better than he could have. You could has just as easily never found your kitty again. Then, we think that the story would have been framed properly. Whatever you do, do not take this man out. You deserve someone better. It doesn't even have to be someone who loves cats as much as you do. It just has to be someone who respects you enough to not purposefully put your cats in danger. 

  • 14
    Image of a cute cat lying on a carpet.
    via Unsplash / Craig Curtis

    Image of a cute cat lying on a carpet.

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

  • 15
    you chose someone who respects your rules over someone who doesn't. The fact that he thinks cats "belong in nature" is irrelevant-it's your cat, your home, your rules. He broke them, then lied. Bye.
    via body_response
  • 16
    Strong-Holiday4259 he risked your pet's life to prove a philosophical point that's not partner material
    via Strong-Holiday4259
  • 17
    Greedy-Program-7135 My husband HATES cats. I mean he cannot stand them. When they are hungry, he feeds them. When their litter box is dirty, he cleans it. For animals he gets no enjoyment out of, not even a snuggle because he doesn't want to touch them. What you bf did is completely unacceptable. Boot him.
    via Greedy-Program-7135
  • 18
    Image of a cute cat sleeping.
    via Unsplash / Le Stef Botte - lestefbotte

    Image of a cute cat sleeping. 

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

  • 19
    Nosy-ykw But it wasn't accidental; your ring camera shows that. On purpose, he endangered your cat and disrespected your important request. Then attempted to gaslight you by characterizing it as putting the cat ahead of him. You and your cat are better off without him living there.
    via Nosy-ykw
  • 20
    GF85719 He LIED That's why you are RIGHTFULLY kicking him out!!!
    via GF85719

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boyfriend cat drama interesting girlfriend cute cats breakup Cats
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