'He is my cat': Cat mom leaves her 5-year-old feline with her sister for 2 weeks, she tries to keep him for her kids purrmanently, until the cat makes it clear where he feels safe

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Jun 28, 2026 7:00 PM EDT

Nobody can come between a cat mom and her cat, not even her own sister.

It's purrfect when you have someone in your family who loves your cat enough to take care of them when you're gone. It makes your vacations or work trips so much less stressful knowing that you don't have to invite a stranger into your house to watch your cat while you're gone. Because, let's be honest, we've all had some terrible pet-sitter experiences. I know I have.

But there's a hidden downside to taking favors from family members, and just like in our story from a helpful online subreddit community, the negatives can sometimes outweigh the positives. When our cat mom had to go on a work trip for 2 weeks, she left her adorable 5-year-old cat with her sister and her sister's kids. When she returned, her sister kept making excuse after excuse to delay the pick up. Her kids wanted to say goodbye, she was tired after work… and that's when our cat mom realized it was never about finding a convenient time. Her sister wanted to keep her cat for her family.

It's understandable for her kids to get attached. The kids don't know any better, but the sister is a whole other issue. She should have prepared the kids for the inevitable goodbye, but instead, she gave them false expectations that caused a pawsitively unnecessary meltdown.

The good news is that our cat mom got her cat back, and upon arriving home, her fluffy feline went from anxious to relaxed in a matter of minutes. We can't say the same for her sister's kids and their own relationship. Sometimes, family isn't all it's cracked up to be.

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via Getty Images For Unsplash+

Model representation of a cat mom alone at home, hugging her tuxedo cat after being gone
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Person holding and defending their cat in grayscale (model representation)
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The real reason is because people are lazy. Her kids were already attached, the cat was already used to their home, and it would have been an easy adjustment. She already had all of her sister's food, litter box, and toys, so all she had to do was keep the cat. But, there is absolutely no reason why they, as a family, couldn't go out and adopt a cat themselves.
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A woman holding a cat while sitting on a bed, as represented by a model
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