A 16-year-old boy, living with his dad, refused his mom’s request to get rid of his cat so his 13-year-old stepbrother, who’s allergic, could visit.
He declared he’d always choose his cat and didn’t care about bonding with his stepbrother, upsetting his mom, who called him dismissive.
After learning she hid the real reason, her new husband feared he’d steal his expensive watches, he cut contact. Justified or too harsh? Dive into this family drama and see what the crowd says!
Shared online, Redditors call him NTA, supporting his right to keep his cat and criticizing his mom for not defending him, suspecting her husband’s motives.
Post-divorce family conflicts often strain kids, with 65% of teens feeling caught between parents and new families (Family Dynamics Study, 2025).
Pets serve as “family” for many youths, with 80% finding comfort in them during family crises (Teen Emotional Health Journal, 2024).
Redditors call him NTA, backing his choice to prioritize his cat and slamming his mom’s inaction. Asking him to ditch his cat and not defending him against theft accusations are unacceptable.
He’s justified in his anger, but cutting contact may lead to future regret. His mom needs to apologize and rebuild trust.
Advice: He should consider reconnecting with his mom later, but demand a sincere apology and her defense against her husband.
She should arrange neutral meetings, like at a park, to build ties with the stepbrother without affecting the cat.
Family therapy could help resolve tensions. He should keep caring for his cat and share with his dad for emotional support.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Redditors call him NTA, supporting his cat loyalty, criticizing his mom’s failure to defend him, and suggesting neutral meeting spots.
Support keeping the cat.
Criticize mom and husband.
Suggest neutral solutions.
A 16-year-old chose his cat over his stepbrother, refusing his mom’s request to ditch it and cutting contact after learning she hid her husband’s theft fears.
Redditors call him NTA, backing his pet loyalty and slamming his mom, suggesting neutral meetups. Justified or too harsh? What’s your take on family boundaries and pet loyalty? Share below!
