'They called me a monster': Cat mom immediately evicts houseguests after they let her indoor-only cat outside despite being explicitly told not to

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 18, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

There's no room in our hearts for forgiveness if you mess with our cats.

We make a lot of jokes about our cats being our children, but they mean more than the world to us. If something were to happen to them, we would be devastated. We may not have changed their diapers, but we do clean up after them, feed them, calm them down, entertain them, and bond with them the same way a parent bonds with their hooman child. And just like parents, we, too, have strict rules about how are cats are treated. And if you're the kind of purrson that thinks we're a little coo-coo for being that way, then you're in the wrong place, bud.

On that same note, our house is also our safe space. We've spent years making it into the cozy, relaxing place we call home. Not just for us, but for our felines as well. So when people come into that space, we obviously want them to follow our rules and maintain that purrfect environment. Well, that didn't happen in our story below, featured on an entertaining Reddit community. A cat mom graciously let her mother's friends stay at her house and strictly told them that doors were meant to be kept closed to keep her indoor-only cat inside. That was the one rule they had to follow.

And it turns out, they couldn't even follow that one. 

They let her cat out, and upon arriving home, realized that her fur baby was missing. 

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  • 01
    'Where is the cat? How long ago did you open the balcony?"
    via Alexander Grigoryev

    Cat hiding behind fence after escaping outside

    All subjects are models.

  • 02
    My mom asked me to host her friends for about two weeks since I have a pretty big house where everyone could fit comfortably. I agreed, plus I already knew these people. I have a beloved cat, Shine, who is strictly an indoor cat.
    via NeonMorisele
  • 03
    When the guests arrived, I explicitly told everyone about this so that no one would dare to let her out and ensured that everyone would keep the doors closed. I was even a bit tense because of their glances and ambiguous responses, but I hoped everything would be fine.
    via NeonMorisele
  • 04
    Everything was great for the first four days. We were getting along well, and they were even playing with the cat. The next day, I left to get my nails done. When I came back and walked into the house, I saw the balcony door wide open. I immediately searched the whole house, but Shine was nowhere to be found.
    via NeonMorisele
  • 05
    I went into complete hysterics. I quickly ran to my mom's friends and demanded, "Where is the cat? How long ago did you open the balcony?" I told them that everyone needed to pack up and go look for her right now. The search lasted until evening. Thank God, the neighbors found Shine in a nearby basement. She was terrified, but the main thing was that she was alive.
    via NeonMorisele

  • Thank goodness they found her! I've had a cat escape once, and it took me more than a week to find her again. I searched every morning and every evening. I carried around a treat bag and left some of my clothes outside so she could find my smell. Every day was a scary unknown. 

    I got lucky, but not every escaped cat finds their way home. This could have ended very badly, but we're certainly glad it didn't.

  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10647195136
    via Tara Vester

    Escaped cat looking for a way back inside

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

  • 07
    After I picked Shine up, I took her straight to the vet to get her checked out. Once we were done, I went back and told my mom's friends to pack their things and get the h I out. They said they were very sorry, claiming they just wanted her to get some fresh air and didnt mean any harm. I said I didn't want to hear it, and they called me a monster.
    via NeonMorisele
  • 08
    beepbeep-gay NTA!!!!!!! i would have done more than just kick them out
    via beepbeep-gay
  • 09
    threedayoldchili Nope not even close to being the ah le. They are. You had a very firm boundary which is completely understandable and they chose to ignore it.
    via threedayoldchili
  • 10
    DarlieTheGnome NTA - I'm glad you found your cat, but I'm so sorry that happened to you. That had to be terrifying. I hope Shine is doing okay now.
    via DarlieTheGnome
  • 11
    TheElvesOfXadia They had one job and they failed
    via TheElvesOfXadia

  • When you go to someone's house, you're supposed to respect their rules, even if you don't necessarily agree with them. Would they have done the same if her cat were a 3-year-old toddler? No. And if they would have, then they should never have been allowed in her house in the first place.

  • 12
    kingcasperrr I was about to say you are a little bit the a h le but they admitted to doing it intentionally (if it was an accident I would have said kicking them immediately is a bit harsh). But it was not. They did it on purpose expressly against your wishes so yeah NTA
    via kingcasperrr
  • 13
    General_Sense7092 You were much nicer than I would have been, glad you got your cat back. No more house guests unless you know they will follow your rules.
    via General_Sense7092
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10647195648
    via Alessandro Armignacco

    Woman holding her cat after she escaped

    (Model representation)

  • 15
    ErebosNyx_ Absolutely NTA and they have no business calling you a monster. I'm so glad Shine is okay, but you shouldn't have had to deal with that stress and worry
    via ErebosNyx_
  • 16
    EightLeged DJ Nope. NTA. I don't play with my babies either. Indoor only. No exceptions.
    via EightLegedDJ
  • 17
    Desperate_Chip_343 Heck nah, NTA people seriously need to learn to respect boundaries
    via Desperate_Chip_343
  • 18
    EvisNuture You had one very reasonable request. They ignored it. You don't even have to ask if you are the a h le. You are not.
    via EvisNuture
  • 19
    III_Industry6452 NTA. You were doing them a big favor by letting them stay with you. You made it clear the cat was to stay indoors. They knowingly let her run off. It cost you stress and a vet visit. You could no longer trust them. Actions have consequences.
    via III_Industry6452
  • 20
    nessyness78 NTA. They were guests in your home and you were very specific and clear about your expectations. They had no right to do that and you're extremely lucky she was found. Well within your right to give them the boot!
    via nessyness78
  • 21
    tehmimikitteh nta. they were trying to get rid of your cat in your house because they didn't want someone else's pet in the house they were staying at for free. i hope you made them go out over the balcony!
    via tehmimikitteh
  • 22
    BulkySource7721 NTA!! Its a matter of fool around and find out. They didn't listen to your rules and/or take them seriously. You have every right to set expectations. Now they can do whatever they want within a hotel's expectations and pay for it too. Glad Shine is okay.
    via BulkySource7721
  • 23
    Comprehensive Home78 Some people are just arrogant and think they know better. If it were an accident, they would have been horrified and offered to pay for the vet. Anyone who doesn't understand, ask them if it were a toddler would they have felt
    via Comprehensive_Home78
  • 24
    differently? Your cat is as just precious to you and you didn't deserve the mental torture and neither did she. Thankfully she was found alive, but it's only luck and she's still tramatised by their actions. The only monster I can
    via Comprehensive_Home78
  • 25
    see isn't you and I wouldn't be agreeing to house guests again. It's just awful behaviour and I am livid on your behalf that they still blamed you for their actions!! &$!#%
    via Comprehensive_Home78

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