When Her Roommate’s ‘Temporary’ Cat Became Permanent, Woman Says the Peace in Her Home Vanished

A woman turned to Reddit for advice after an unexpected change in her living situation disrupted the balance she once enjoyed at home — all because of a new cat and unclear boundaries.

She explained that she originally had one cat, and later, she and her roommate jointly adopted a second. At first, everything worked smoothly. The two cats bonded quickly, creating a calm, comfortable environment she deeply valued. “All was well and those two cats got along great,” she wrote.

That sense of harmony vanished when her roommate brought home a third cat. What was supposed to be a short stay of just “a couple days” stretched into two weeks. “Now the whole vibe is off,” she said.

Almost immediately, her own cat’s behavior changed. “My cat is basically hiding in my room all the time,” she explained. The bond between the two original cats also seemed to deteriorate. “The two original cats aren’t cuddling anymore,” she added.

Meanwhile, the new cat began dominating the shared spaces. “This new cat is always in the common space, demanding attention and food,” she wrote.

The situation became even more stressful due to her roommate’s schedule. Because her roommate works nights and comes home very late, she often finds herself managing the cat’s needs alone. “I’m kind of stuck dealing with the cat’s needs,” she said, adding that practical issues were piling up. “The litter box situation is getting out of hand.”

Despite her frustration, the woman admitted she felt torn. She understood that her roommate’s cat needed a place to stay, but she couldn’t ignore how the situation was affecting her and her pet.

“I feel guilty because I know my roommate’s cat needs a place, but at the same time, I’m super annoyed that my cat’s quality of life and our previous harmony is all messed up now,” she wrote.

She emphasized that her anger wasn’t directed at the animal. “I just feel so bad because it’s not this cat’s fault,” she added, noting that unresolved issues with her roommate made the conversation feel uncomfortable and complicated.

Reddit commenters were quick to validate her feelings. Many pointed out that the core issue wasn’t the cat itself, but how the decision was made.

“You’re frustrated because a major household change was made without real consent,” one commenter noted.

Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “The issue isn’t the cat — it’s that the decision was made unilaterally.”

In the end, many agreed that wanting to address the situation didn’t make her unreasonable. As one commenter put it, wanting change “doesn’t make you an AH.”