'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

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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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  • 01
    That's when I realized this wasn't about finding a convenient time
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Model representation of a cat mom alone at home, hugging her tuxedo cat after being gone 

  • 02
    I had to go for two weeks for work (it happened month ago), so I asked my sister to look after my cat. He is five years old, I got him when he was a kitten. My sister agreed, said that her house was quiet and that her kids would enjoy playing with him. It was made clear from the beginning that it would only last for two weeks. I left
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 03
    food, toys, a litter box a carrier and some cash just in case. She sent me pictures over the first several days and everything appeared to be good.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 04
    When I got back, I messaged her that I'd stop by that evening to take cat back. She said it would be better to wait until next day because they were going to bed early as they all had a doctor appointment early next morning. Next day she said kids
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 05
    wanted to say a proper goodbye. After another day, she stated unequivocally that the kids had become very attached to him, had started to think of him as their own cat and that a sudden move would be cruel.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 06
    That's when I realized this wasn't just about finding a convenient time. I wrote that I'd pick him up after work. She said that since I work long shifts and her children are at home more frequently, I should consider where he would be best placed.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 07
    When I got there, I said that he was my cat, that the foster time had over, and that I was taking him immediately. My sister was upset, kids were crying, but she handed over the carrier. To be honest, the kids seemed to understand the problem better than my sister once I calmed them down and explained it to them.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10642183680
    via Alberto Bigoni

    Person holding and defending their cat in grayscale (model representation)

  • 09
    The cat looked anxious both in my sisters when I arrived and in the car, but as soon as I got home, he sniffed around the sofa, hopped onto my lap, and began purring, exactly like he always does after my shifts.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 10
    Now my sister is telling the family that I took him from a home where he was loved and am keeping him selfishly. I feel sorry for the children. However this was not a trial for adoption. It was only a short term foster situation and he is my cat. That had to be explained by my sister.
    via Monique_Nelson
  • 11
    The_Bunny_Brat NTA, & is there a reason they need your cat specifically? Like, are they ineligible for some reason to adopt? There are so many animals that could use a home, but yours already has one.
    via The_Bunny_Brat

  • 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.

  • 12
    tuamanno Kids getting attached is normal. That's exactly why the adult should have been reminding them the whole time that the cat was going home in two weeks. That's on her, not you. NTA.
    via tuamanno
  • 13
    MilaBaker64 NTA. She should have prepared her kids to say goodbye from the beginning. Instead she turned handling a pet to his owner into a show.
    via MilaBaker64
  • 14
    Avajiin Big time red flag that she tried to take your cat from under you Do not let her cat sit anymore and if she escalates into trying to force you to give in, stand your ground, that is your cat
    via Avajiin
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10642183168
    via Andrej Lišakov

    A woman holding a cat while sitting on a bed, as represented by a model

  • 16
    morbid_n_creepifying NTA. It wasn't even a foster situation, it was a pet-sitting situation. If you say 'foster' situation to people you know, they may think your sister was in the right. Because fostering indicates
    via morbid_n_creepifying
  • 17
    an interest in adopting the animal you are fostering OR taking care of the animal until someone else adopts them. Your sister was doing neither. She was merely pet sitting your cat while you needed someone to do so.
    via morbid_n_creepifying
  • 18
    Tammy_Bakers NTA. Your sister looks like a profesional drama queen and manipulator. I can bet that this is ain't the frist time she does something like that.
    via Tammy_Bakers
  • 19
    1962Michael NTA. You've done your sister a great favor by allowing her family to "try out" pet ownership. If it had gone poorly then she would have been glad to be rid of him and declined future cat-sitting.
    via 1962Michael
  • 20
    Since it went well, she thought she had to keep YOUR cat. But the kids will get over it quickly enough, and certainly now they know what it's like to have a cat and can decide if they want one of their own.
    via 1962Michael
  • 21
    unstorran NTA. A cat isn't a toy you borrow and decide not to return because your kids got attached. Pets are family, and she was completely out of line.
    via unstorran
  • 22
    mashapicchu She's saying that YOU stole him from a loving home??? She tried to steal your cat! NTA
    via mashapicchu
  • 23
    SunsetEsme Your sister knew from day one that the cat was going home with you. The kids got attached because she allowed them to believe something else.
    via SunsetEsme
  • 24
    palefire101 Your sister is really weird. Send her a link to cat adoption services? There's usually no shortage of cats available for adoption, maybe try to check in with her about what happened, maybe she's fearful a different cat won't get along with kids. But this one is your cat, so of course you are getting them back.
    via palefire101
  • 25
    scalinma NTA. The audacity here is honestly impressive. What was the plan here, just keep delaying pickup until you gave up?
    via scalinma
  • 26
    blancamystiere NTA she is a cat thief and playing victim about a problem that only exists because she created it. The world is absolutely full of cats who don't already have homes and there is nothing stopping her from adopting one.
    via blancamystiere
  • 27
    Tippee ToeSnake Sheesh that would be like you babysitting your sister's children, (by her request), while she went on vacation for a couple of weeks, and you refusing to return her children back to her when she got back.
    via TippeeToeSnake
  • 28
    Your cat is not just your; animal, cat, pet, belonging. Your cat is part of your family. A part of your heart. Your sister is attempting to steal your precious family member.
    via TippeeToeSnake

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