A 22-year-old woman is sparking a heated debate online after standing her ground against her pregnant roommate’s mother, who demanded she “do something about the cats” in their shared home.
In a Reddit post, the woman explained that she owns one cat and frequently fosters others through a local rescue organization, typically housing one or two at a time. She had been living alone in a two-bedroom condo before her best friend, referred to as “Kristy,” moved in over the summer.
The situation escalated when Kristy discovered she was pregnant last month. Though the roommates agreed Kristy could stay until securing her own place, tensions arose after Kristy’s mother visited and insisted the cats posed a health risk.
“Her mom turned to me and said, ‘If Kristy’s going to be living here, you need to do something about the cats,'” the woman wrote. The mother cited concerns over toxoplasmosis—a parasitic infection linked to cat feces that can harm fetuses—and criticized the number of cats in the home.
The poster pushed back, clarifying that only her personal cat has access to common areas, Kristy has no responsibilities for the pets, and litter boxes are cleaned twice daily and kept away from Kristy’s space. While she offered to limit fostering, she refused to rehome her own cat or stop volunteering.
“I love my best friend, but I will not be getting rid of my pet in my own home that was here before she was,” she wrote. Despite Kristy’s attempts to intervene, her mother accused the cat owner of being “selfish.”
Reddit users overwhelmingly supported the woman, with one commenting, “Your house, your rules.” Another added, “If her mom is so concerned, maybe she should let Kristy live with her.”
The post highlights the challenges of balancing pet ownership, fostering, and shared living arrangements—especially when unexpected circumstances arise.
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