Boyfriend kicked out for hurting my cat - AITA?
AITA for kicking out my boyfriend after he mistreated my cat? Readers weigh in on whether boundaries were crossed and if the response was justified.
A 28-year-old woman refused to shrug off what happened to her timid rescue cat, and now her whole relationship is on the line.
After adopting Luna with her boyfriend of three years, the OP kept noticing him pushing affection anyway. Despite her warnings, one day Luna hissed and the boyfriend was cornering her, trying to pet her while she clearly wanted space. Luna scratched him in self-defense, and instead of backing off, he yelled at the cat and kicked her out of the room.
Now the OP is asking if she’s the asshole for kicking him out, and the argument is getting messy fast.
Original Post
So I'm (28F) and I live with my boyfriend (30M) of three years. We recently adopted a rescue cat named Luna together.
Luna is very timid and takes time to warm up to people. I've noticed my boyfriend trying to force affection on Luna, which she clearly doesn't like.
I've repeatedly asked him to give Luna space and let her come to him when she's comfortable. One day, I heard Luna hissing and found my boyfriend cornering her, trying to pet her despite her obvious discomfort.
I saw Luna scratch him in self-defense. Not only did he yell at Luna, but he also kicked her out of the room.
I was shocked and furious. I confronted him about his behavior, but he dismissed it as 'just disciplining the cat.' I told him he crossed a line and that he needed to leave.
He's been staying at his friend's place since. My friends and family think I overreacted by kicking him out and that I should forgive him since it was just a mistake.
They say I'm being too harsh. I believe he violated my trust and won't change his behavior towards Luna.
So AITA?
Comment from u/LunaLover123
Comment from u/CatWhisperer87
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Comment from u/WhiskerWatcher56
It also echoes the clash between a minimalist girlfriend’s sentimental stuff and her partner’s “declutter everything” demands in this AITA about partners’ minimalist lifestyle.
Comment from u/FelineFanatic23
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That “just disciplining the cat” line is what made the OP go from annoyed to furious the moment she confronted him after Luna got cornered.
Once Luna scratched him and he still yelled and kicked her out of the room, the boyfriend stopped acting like a partner and started acting like a problem.
Meanwhile, the OP’s friends and family are telling her it was a mistake, even though Luna had already shown clear signs she was uncomfortable.
With the boyfriend staying at a friend’s place, the real question becomes whether he actually understands what he did, or just assumes she’ll forgive it.
What would you do in this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.
He might be happier in a different apartment, because Luna is not a punching bag for forced affection.
For another relationship blowup over boundaries, see what happened after she offered parenting advice to her friend.
