Maintaining a healthy relationship with one's neighbors can be a challenge.
It is for this reason that many people only make contact with their neighbors when absolutely necessary.
As sometimes, even the tiniest, most inconsequential things could result in an eternal grudge with one's neighbors.
One we're reminded of every time we see them.
The neighbors of Redditor Ambitious-Divide-624 recently paid a visit, asking a favor of the original poster (OP)
A favor the OP was unwilling to oblige, not out of malice, but out of concern.
Even so, the OP's neighbor did not appreciate this decision, even going so far as to accuse the OP of "withholding happiness from her son".
Wondering if this was the case, the OP took to the subReddit "Am I The A**Hole" (AITA), where they asked fellow Redditors:
"AITA for NOT bringing my indoor cat outside to meet the neighbor's kid?"
The OP explained why they, and their cat, set their neighbors off:
"I 22F still live in my parent's home."
"I'm about to graduate and have an agreement to be here, so I can (hopefully) pay off a chunk of my student loans."
"Anyway, I have my own cat, her name is Lily."
"She's very sweet, but it solely indoors."
"She's also very skittish."
"About 3 years ago, we got new neighbors."
"Millennial couple with young kids."
"The oldest, is probably around 4 now."
"My cat's favorite spot in the house is in a sunroom that faces the neighbor's yard."
"Very big windows."
"These neighbors also have 2 huskies, who often get out of their yard and end up in the street (or in our yard)."
"Lily loves watching 'stalking' the dogs and I guess overtime the little boy noticed."
"So the other day I came home and the mom, Jessica, (fake name) approached me."
"Asked if I could bring my cat outside to meet her son."
"Jessica doesn't know that it is just 'my' cat, but she probably asked me because it's a ridiculous request to ask, and figured that I'd say yes."
"Obviously, I said no and that Lily was an indoor cat and doesn't like strangers and I wasn't sure how she'd react to her son."
"Jessica then asked if they could come inside....completely ignoring the part about Lily not liking strangers."
"I said I wouldn't be comfortable with that either, because it's technically not my house."
"At this point the boy came out and was upset he couldn't meet the cat."
"So I showed him some videos and offered to bring Lily to the window."
"This wasn't good enough and Jessica told me that it was 'wrong to withhold happiness from her son'."
"Ever since, my whole family gets death glares from her and she has been posting on the neighborhood Facebook page that our association should ban cats."
"Nobody is talking her seriously because her dogs always escape."
"I do feel bad, because the kid really was sad."
"But also, the mom is really overreacting."
"So AITA for not bringing my cat outside to meet the neighbors kid?"
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The Reddit community overwhelmingly agreed that the OP was not the a**hole for refusing to bring her cat outside to meet her neighbor's son.
Everyone agreed that the OP was not "withholding happiness" from anyone, and that the OP's neighbor needed to teach her son that he couldn't always get what he wants:
"NTA."
"What an unhinged woman."
"No is a complete sentence and your cat is not a toy."- Saffron-Kitty
"NTA but let your parents know."
"Their child's whim of wanting to meet the cat does not overrule the healthy and safety of the cat."- javel1
"Definitely NTA but it’s gonna be fun to watch Jessica every time someone dares to 'withhold happiness' from her little cherub."-Relative_Bluejay6694
“'Wrong to withhold happiness from her son' …"
"Your kid isn’t the main character of the universe, he has to learn no."
"NTA."- Sea_Roof3637
"NTA."
"And Lily thanks you."
"She doesn't wanna meet him."
"She's seen enough from the window."
"Thanks."- ChocLotInvestor
"NTA."
"Entitled adults raise entitled kids."
"The kid would have handled it better if she bothered to explain that kitty is scared."
"Unlike dogs, cats enforce boundaries when their consent is not respected."
"I doubt she would have been happier if her kid got swiped with claws for ignoring your cat’s warnings."- dogatthewheel
"No, you are NTA."
"That is ridiculous lol, you are allowed to have boundaries just like everyone else."
"Also, you are not responsible to give her son happiness."
"NTA."- ComfortableTour7311
"NTA at all."
"What part of 'my cat doesn't like strangers' did your neighbor didn't get?"
"Or the world turns around her family only?"- Odd_Tea4945
"NTA, she's being weird about it."
"Bringing the cat to the window was a nice compromise."
"Imagine the tantrum she'd throw if you brought her son in to meet the cat and she bit and scratched him."
"If she hasn't kept cats and hasn't introduced her son to cats before, it's unlikely that he understands that cats and dogs usually need to be approached differently."
"Playful energy that dogs love can freak cats out, especially if they're already skittish."
"Maybe emphasize that you didn't want to risk the kid getting scratched."- dorkysomniloquist
"NTA."
"Her kid isn't entitled to meet your cat."
"Sorry it makes him sad but consider it his first lesson in not always getting what you want."
"Don't feel bad, you're just looking out for your cat."- whataf*cker91
"NTA and I think i'd be posting it is a pity other people can't trust their pets outside due to large, out of control dogs."- Timely_Egg_6827
"NTA oh my god."
"The mom is such an entitled AH."
"No one is entitled to other people’s animals or property."
"Also her complaining about how cats should be banned (Lily isn’t a problem, she’s INSIDE your house) when her dogs are a huge problem is outrageous."- Pink_lime1210
"NTA."
"Not wanting to bring your indoor cat outside is completely reasonable."
"As for the not reacting well to strangers, you know your cat best."
"No means no."
"They should've been happy you were willing to share videos and pictures."- AgentFrogFace
"Of course you're NTA."
"Mom needs to accept that the rest of the world doesn't owe her kid 'happiness' and that he's going to not get what he wants in life many, many times."
"You protected your cat."
"That's your job."
"Mom's job is to teach kid how to handle disappointment."
"You're doing yours, she's not doing hers. Ignore mom."
"Although HOAs can be stupid, I very much doubt anyone else is falling for her nonsense and you have nothing to worry about."- Puppylover10002
"WTF?"
"Obviously NTA."
"Say you did bring your cat outside."
"She'd most likely become spooked, claw you in her struggle to escape the situation, and run off."
"Then you'd have to deal with the panic and heartache of trying to find your missing, terrified cat."
"Absolutely not."
"You and your baby deserve better."- PuzzledKumquat
"NTA - but the mom is."
"It’s not someone else’s responsibility to provide for her kids happiness."
"She could also use this to teach him about consent and how people don’t have to do what you ask just because you want it."
"But instead she’s likely teaching her kid to be as entitled as she is."
"Going on Facebook to complain about you and your cat indirectly is also prime Karen behavior."- Vyckerz
"NTA."
"Is she stupid?"
"Is this her first day on earth?"
"Your cat lives indoors and is not a fan of strangers."
"You're not withholding anything, and she's wildin."- ranselita
"NTA."
"I'm so dumbfounded by people's reactions/behaviors when they're told 'No'."
"No means no."
"And when they get nasty, my next step would be along the lines of 'f*ck off'."
"But, I'm older, and I don't have patience for the entitled brats anymore."- phyrre58
"NTA."
"She's entitled."
"Also beware the HOA."- Blavkh
"NTA."
"She is very entitled."
"She needs to teach her kid they don't get everything they want."
"My oldest is 3 and I would never dream of asking that."
"I would say the cat stays in their home and we can wave theough the window."
"Child needs to learn boundaries."- axels_mom
"NTA."
"My child LOVES cats, and I would never expect them to be entitled to meeting anyone’s pet."
"Especially since you said that your cat isn’t good with strangers."
"Cat bites and scratches can be very serious."
"Not putting a child in that situation is more than fair."- crimpgirl1234
Had the OP's cat been an outdoor cat that liked people, chances are they would have probably introduced their neighbor and her son to their cat.
Nor did the OP say no out of malice; they were instead protecting both their cat and their neighbor's son.
Seeing that this neighbor's oft-escaping dogs continue to be a problem, one imagines she might eventually come to understand the OP's decision.
