Roommate refuses to replace $800 mattress after her cat ruins it, claims it's not her fault: 'She freaked out and called me heartless for threatening her cat'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Mar 11, 2026 4:00 PM EDT

If it's your cat, you're responsible for the damage they do. 

We all love our cats, but you have to admit that they come with some drawbacks. The good usually outweighs the bad, but that doesn't mean that there aren't going to be some bumps along the way. Animals are unpredictable after all, and they don't have the same priorities as humans do. Sometimes it will make a mess, and you will have to clean it up. They will make odors that you have to contend with, and they will sometimes permanently alter your furniture. They will knock over precious belongings, and they will feel no remorse about it. It's just what cats do. And we put up with it because we love them, and they make our lives better in so many ways. But you also have to be responsible for what your animals do when you're at home, especially if you live with roommates. When you were finding a place to live, you were probably thinking about whether or not they would be OK with pets. You probably have some sort of agreement in place that one of you, the cat owner, will assume all responsibility for the animal. 

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  • 01
    A cat scratches the post of a sofa
    via Thức Trần

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

  • They will pay the bills, clean the litter box, and make sure they are fed and entertained. You're the one who wanted the cat in the first place, so it's your job to keep everything running smoothly around them. And that sometimes means fixing things that they break. That's what happened in the story, when a classic cat moment happened while the roommates were away. But instead of owning up to the mistake and trying to make it better, they wanted to fight off responsibility. This is no way to be a pet owner, and it gives other pet owners a bad name. The roommate was left wondering what they could do in that situation. Should they move out and just give up on the roommate relationship entirely? Or should they stand their ground and try to make the situation better through communication? Read on to see what happened in the story and see what commenters have to say about it.

  • 02

    Am I in the wrong for telling my roommate to pay me for a new mattress after her cat destroyed mine?

    I'm sharing a 2 bedroom apartment with my roommate Claire. We've been roommates for a year and get along fine. We each have our own bedrooms but shared common areas. I bought a new queen mattress last year $800 memory foam. It's very good quality. Claire has a cat (Luna) She's supposed to keep Luna in her room when I'm not home or sleeping because Luna likes to scratch furniture and
    via u/Plane-Lobster6079
  • 03
    jump on beds. Claire agreed to that rule when we moved in. Two weeks ago I came home from a weekend trip. My bedroom door was open (I always close it). Luna had peed twice on my mattress and clawed deep holes in it (big rips in the top layer, two separate pee spot) Mattress is ruined, smells bad, can't be saved. Vet said Luna might have a UTI but that's separate. I showed Claire the damage with photos. Asked her to pay for a
    via u/Plane-Lobster6079
  • 04
    new mattress since her cat did it while she left my door open. At first she said "cats do cat things" and asked if I can keep using the mattress like that. Later she offered $50 as a gesture. Mattress is $800+ to replace. I told her she needs to pay the full amount or find a new place for Luna (like rehoming or boarding when she's away). She freaked out and called me heartless for threatening her cat and in her words the bed is still
    via u/Plane-Lobster6079
  • 05
    useable. Now all the neighbors knows I'm trying to force her to get rid of Luna and being a bad roommate. I like Luna but I shouldn't have to pay $800 because her cat wasn't contained like we agreed. I offered to split it 50/50 as a compromise and she refused. AITA for demanding she pays the full cost?
    via u/Plane-Lobster6079
  • 06

    Commenters took her side in this roommate dispute.

    Hot Weather_2691 No, but this is a good area. for small claims court. You get a new mattress and solve the roommate problem.
    via u/Hot_Weather_2691
  • 07
    Discount_Mithral NTA. Offer to switch mattresses with her since it's still usable to her. Keep all the texts including images and if she doesn't buy you an exact replacement, no cheeping out, take her to small claims court.
    via u/Discount_Mithral
  • 08
    LaurelEllena INFO: Why did your roommate open your door? Did she confirm that she let the cat into your room? I think forcing a cat to stay in only her room and not common areas isn't a sustainable rule, but not allowing in your room is perfectly reasonable. My call would depend on who left your door open
    via u/LaurelEllena
  • 09
    Judgmental_puffer NTA 1. Find a new roommate 2. Take this one to small claims court 3. Get a key to your room. and lock doors once you're about to go away. Like this is easy math, her cat ruined your furniture, roommate as the owner
    via u/Judgmental_puffer
  • 10
    replaces it to mitigate the damage... ETA: you are already extremely generous to offer her to split it 50/50. After her demeanour I'd request a full replacement from her
    via u/Judgmental_puffer
  • 11
    A woman makes up her bed putting a sheet on it
    via Unsplash+ (Blake Cheek)

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

  • 12
    InstructionTop4805 Cats only do cat things. when their owners are too selfish to take care of the cat properly. If she won't. pay to replace the mattress, small claims court is probably your only option. Get a lock for your bedroom door and rehome the roommate and her cat as soon as possible.
    via u/InstructionTop4805
  • 13
    Rude_Meet2799 NTA. She apparently opened the door and then left it open. I wouldn't have offered to split the cost. She's right about one thing, animals can't really be held responsible. That's why they have owners to be responsible for them.
    via u/Rude_Meet2799
  • 14
    Flat-Replacement... NTA. "Cats do cat things", yes, but you're not a cat owner! I'd be pl ed about someone going into my room while I'm gone by itself, let alone everything that happened after.
    via u/Flat-Replacement4828
  • 15
    GobiPLX "cats do cat things" No, peeing in bed or in general outside litterbox is NOT 'a cat thing'. It's either behavioural problem, or can even be sign of serious urinary health problems. Healthy sterilised cats don't pee outside litterbox. This girl is neglecting her own pet and disrespecting you as a roommate.
    via u/GobiPLX
  • 16
    NTA, but run away from her when you can and look for a new room. It's going to be even worse, both with cat (prepare for whole house smelling like ) and her as an a hole
    via u/GobiPLX
  • 17
    Pretty-Persimmon... NTA Her cat ruined your $800 mattress because she broke the rule you both agreed on Cats do cat things doesn't magically make it your bill
    via u/Pretty-Persimmon840
  • 18
    Goldensrule777 NTA. 1. You closed door. She opened door. Why? 2. People are responsible for their pets and their actions. As well as her own for opening your door. She should replace like for like. In the future a 30$ mattress protector would be a worthy investment. Good luck!
    via u/Goldensrule777
  • 19
    lemon_charlie NTA. Cat owners take responsibility for what their cats do. Claire hasn't accounted for why a door you left closed was open. If the bed is usable, Claire can use it.
    via u/lemon_charlie
  • 20
    Axiom713 NTA - She owes you the full amount. Don't negotiate. She also opened your room and let the cat in and did not supervise it either. She is FULLY responsible. It is not normal for a cat to pee in a bed.
    via u/Axiom713
  • 21
    Sparklesnrainbows NTA! Ask her to swap mattresses then if she won't buy you a new one. She says its usable so let her use it. Her cat did damage to your property she is responsible for it.
    via u/Sparklesnrainbows
  • 22
    PhilsFanDrew Realistically you aren't getting that money for a new mattress. Even if you get a judgement in a small claims court most places aren't going to enforce it or it will be up to you to chase down others. My advice, replace the mattress, buy a lock for your bedroom, put a camera in your bedroom and turn on when you are away. Start looking for alternative living arrangements for when your lease is up.
    via u/PhilsFanDrew
  • 23
    Unlucky_Ninja_5739 In the interim, can you switch mattresses with her? You know if it's "still usable"?
    via u/Unlucky_Ninja_5739
  • 24
    HallGardenDiva Put the ruined mattress in your roommate's bedroom on top of her mattress so she can smell the stink of cat urine. Maybe she will be able to see your point after that! If doing this doesn't work, take her to small claims court.
    via u/HallGardenDiva

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pet parenthood drama pets bad roommates psycho roommate cat owners roommates Cats
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