Should My Roommate Pay for Our Cats Food?

A 28-year-old woman refused to keep paying the premium cat food bill alone, and her roommate is acting like that makes her the villain. The cat is “our lovely cat together,” but the money part? That’s where the love stops.

She covers the entire cost of high-quality, nutritious food because she’s the one who’s picky about what the cat eats and actually puts in the time to bond and care. Her roommate, a 25-year-old nonbinary person, likes having the cat around, but they don’t do much beyond that, so they’re arguing they shouldn’t pay for something they don’t actively participate in.

Now this roommate situation is turning into a full-on standoff over who gets to enjoy the pet, and who pays for it.

Original Post

So, I'm (28F) living with my roommate (25NB). We have a lovely cat together, whom I adore and shower with love and attention.

I've always been particular about the type of food I provide for my cat, ensuring high-quality, nutritious options. Although my roommate doesn't dislike the cat, they aren't as involved in caring for or bonding with our pet.

Here's the issue - I foot the entire bill for the premium pet food, which can get quite expensive. Initially, I didn't mind covering the costs since I'm the primary caretaker.

However, over time, I've started feeling resentful that my roommate enjoys the benefits of having a pet without contributing financially. I've attempted to discuss splitting the pet food expenses, but my roommate believes that since they don't play a significant role in caring for the cat, they shouldn't have to contribute financially.

They argue that they shouldn't pay for something they don't actively participate in. I get their perspective, but I can't shake off the feeling of unfairness.

AITA for demanding that my roommate share the pet food costs, even though they have minimal involvement with our cat?

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This is also like the AITA where a roommate demanded split pet surgery costs for a luxury vet.

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She’s already “footing the entire bill,” and it’s starting to feel like her roommate is getting cat perks without cat responsibilities.

When she brings up splitting the premium food costs for their shared cat, her roommate hits back with the “I don’t participate, so I shouldn’t pay” logic.

The argument gets tense because she’s the one choosing the high-quality food, while they’re basically treating it like optional involvement.

By the time they’re still stuck on the same disagreement, she’s left wondering if she’s the asshole for wanting fairness over free benefits.

We'd love to hear your take on this situation. Share your thoughts below.

If one roommate is paying for the cat while the other just benefits, nobody’s going to feel like the bad guy for long.

Want more roommate money drama? Read how one refused to split pet supply costs for shared fish.