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.

Damjan

Published in Animals
31 Dec 2025

Boyfriend kicked out for hurting my cat - AITA?

In a heart-wrenching situation that many pet owners can relate to, a Reddit user has taken to the platform to seek advice after a troubling incident involving her boyfriend and their newly adopted rescue cat, Luna. The original poster, a 28-year-old woman, describes how her boyfriend has shown a troubling disregard for Luna's boundaries, leading to a confrontation that ultimately resulted in him being asked to leave their shared home.

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The crux of the matter revolves around the boyfriend's attempts to force affection on Luna, a timid cat who clearly needs time to acclimate to new environments and people. When the situation escalated and Luna defended herself by scratching him, the boyfriend's reaction was alarming.

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Instead of recognizing Luna's distress, he reacted by yelling and physically removing her from the room, which left the original poster feeling shocked and furious. Now, with differing opinions from friends and family about whether she overreacted, the Redditor is left questioning her decision to prioritize Luna's safety over her relationship.

This thread raises important discussions about trust, respect, and the responsibilities that come with pet ownership—particularly when it comes to understanding and honoring an animal's boundaries. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this emotional dilemma!

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.

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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.

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They say I'm being too harsh. I believe he violated my trust and won't change his behavior towards Luna.

So AITA?