Family Pressures Disabled Man To Rehome His Cat After It Puts His Life At Risk, But This Cat Dad Is Not Budging

Living with a disability often means relying on routines, support systems, and small sources of comfort that help make daily life manageable.

For one 36-year-old man, that comfort comes in the form of an emotional support cat who has been by his side through years of health challenges.

The cat is affectionate, gentle, and deeply bonded to him. But there’s one serious problem that keeps resurfacing, and it isn’t easy to solve.

The cat has a habit of chewing on oxygen tubing. Not constantly, but often enough to cause real concern.

The owner depends on oxygen to breathe properly, especially while sleeping, and each damaged tube creates anxiety, interrupted rest, and physical strain.

Over time, he’s tried a long list of solutions, from bitter sprays and citrus deterrents to protective coverings and even rerouting tubing along the ceiling of a previous apartment.

While transitioning between apartments, he stayed briefly with his parents. With oxygen equipment now visible and active in their home, the chewing became harder to ignore.

His mother grew increasingly frustrated and pushed the same solutions repeatedly: crate the cat, muzzle him, or give him away.

To the owner, those options felt extreme and cruel, especially since they would require constant restraint rather than addressing the behavior itself.

Tensions boiled over during an argument where he felt dismissed and ignored, even though he believed he had been trying every reasonable alternative.

Feeling hurt and overwhelmed, he withdrew to his room with his cat, unsure whether he had crossed a line or simply stood up for himself.

Read through the screenshots below to see how the situation unfolded and why opinions are so divided.

Let’s dig into the details

A bit of backstory

OP is determined not to take any of his family’s solutions. He loves the cat too much to muzzle it or give it away, despite the risk it exposes him to

OP moved in with his parents briefly while finalizing his new apartment. They got to experience his cat's persistent chewing up close, and they’re adamant that he needs to get a muzzle

OP and his mom ended up getting into a heated argument

Important edit

Final edit

We gathered some comments from Netizens

“YTA. This isn't an occasional problem you can afford to ignore.”

“Your mom values your life more than she values the cat that is a persistent threat to your life.”

“Giving up my pet would be my last option too, but at some point I’d start at least giving a very stern ‘NO’ and kenneling or muzzling the pet.”

“YTA Your ESA is supposed to support you, not kill you. That's a dealbreaker.”

One side sees an urgent medical risk that can’t be compromised, while the other sees a living companion whose value goes far beyond convenience.

Add a strained parent-child relationship, and the emotions only intensify. It raises thoughtful questions about responsibility and how far someone should go to protect both their health and their heart.

No one wants to lose their fur baby; however, a decision must be made to ensure that OP’s health is protected. Hopefully, OP and his mom can come together to find a lasting solution that both are happy about.

What do you think is the best path forward here? Share your thoughts in the comments.