Redditor Balks When Roommate Tells Them To Rehome New Cats Since His Girlfriend Is Allergic

For a lot of people, a house does not become a home until it has a pet.

But not everyone is equally appreciative of pets, whether it's a personal preference or an allergy, cringed the members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subReddit.

Redditor SomeoneHeaven had always wanted a pet, and when their work schedule changed, they finally felt free to get two cats.

When their roommate's girlfriend demanded that they remove them to accommodate her allergies, the Original Poster (OP) instead gave their roommate an ultimatum that did not include the cats.

They asked the sub:

"Am I overreacting by refusing to rehome my cats and telling my roommate that he can move out because his girlfriend is allergic to them?"

The OP was the one renting their apartment.

"My name is the only one on the lease."

"My roommate is an old classmate and one of my best friends. He needed a place to stay, so I let him move into my spare room."

"He pays half the rent, and I cover the other household expenses like utilities, internet, food, and water."

The OP was finally able to get a pet.

"Recently, my job approved a hybrid schedule where I work from home about 70% of the time."

"Because I'll be spending much more time at home, I decided to get pets. A dog didn't seem practical since we live in the city and I don't have a good place for one to exercise regularly, so I adopted two cats."

"My roommate knew I wanted pets and had known for a while that I was considering getting them if my work situation changed. When I mentioned getting cats, he didn't object."

Their roommate's girlfriend was not as welcoming of them.

"The issue is that his girlfriend is over very frequently, usually around five days a week, and often spends the night."

"A couple of days ago, she came over, saw the cats, and told me she's highly allergic to cats."

"She said they needed to be removed from the apartment."

"I told her that wasn't going to happen. I said she's a guest in the apartment and doesn't get to decide whether my pets stay or go."

"She got upset, and my roommate told me I shouldn't speak to her that way."

"The conversation ended there, and everyone went to their rooms."

The OP gave his roommate and his girlfriend an ultimatum.

"The next morning, my roommate told me he agreed with her and that the cats shouldn't stay because of her allergy."

"I told him I understood that she was allergic, but the cats weren't going anywhere."

"I also said that if that was a dealbreaker for him, he was free to find another place to live."

"He got very angry and called me inconsiderate for not accommodating his girlfriend's allergy."

"AIO?"

Fellow Redditors weighed in:

• NOR: Not Overreacting
• YOR: You're Overreacting

Some reassured the OP that it was their home, their rules, and their cats.

"Your house, your rules. He (and his girlfriend) can kick rocks. Keep your fur babies, and good for you for bringing them into your home." - MasterWinstonWolf

"It's your home. It’s not like he didn’t know about the cats before you did it. You told him what you were doing. She doesn’t live there and doesn’t get a say. NOR." - girlwiththemonkey

"The girlfriend doesn't get to throw rules around like she owns the place. H**l, the roommate doesn’t get a say, either."

"It’s not his place; he’s not on the lease. He was never officially asked to move in. He was crashing at a friend's house. And now thinks he owns and is entitled to it." - Big-Tomorrow2187

"Deathly allergic but still stayed in the house? More likely, she just doesn’t like cats or has a slight allergy. Either way, she likes those free amenities MUCH more than she doesn't like the cats (which is why she's mad about potentially being thrown out)."

"NOR. Not her house, and he’s not on the lease." - EJK_PlantsAreFriends

"If it were truly a deadly allergy, you'd think her long-term boyfriend would've known and brought it up when OP first mentioned getting cats."

"Still not their place at all to tell the actual leased renter who is doing his friend a favor what to do, but it makes more sense than her being surprised when she shows up to find cats."

"Why didn't the roommate even mention that OP was considering pets? Every member of my family and all my friends knew when I was looking to adopt two cats, lol. If I were living with someone and THEY were planning to adopt pets, those same people in my life would know because who doesn't discuss major life changes like that with the people around them??" - bada**b***h

"You even let him know in advance, and he didn’t say anything. The time to discuss it was before you brought them into the house. Not that it would change anything since it is your place, but you could have given it consideration. That time is past."

"NOR. The cats are there, and he needs to decide if he wants to leave or spend more time at his girlfriend's house, but it is not your problem to solve." - Helpful-Science-3937

"Oh h**l no, you are 100% in the right!"

"Not only do they have no say in the matter, particularly her, but as soon as someone who you graciously allowed to stay over without paying rent demands you do something, well, that's a get-the-f**k-out-and-never-come-back response, in my opinion."

"Don't allow anyone to freeload off of you. Stand your ground, and tell him she's no longer welcome, and if he doesn't like it, find another place. You've been more than gracious to her, and they are both being disrespectful!" - AmbassadorProper1045

"Those cats better be chipped, registered, locked in his room when he's out of the apartment, and security cameras installed in his room."

"Maybe even warn them that he's putting in cameras, but not exactly where. Secret cameras would be good for consequences if they pull some s**t, but the fear of video proof leading to consequences would protect his cats better." - anndor

"NOR, but be very careful when leaving the house, because situations like this can end with the cats 'running away.'"

"Make sure your cats are chipped and registered, then inform your roommate that if anything happens to your cats, you will pursue legal action against him. NOR." - Vaaliindraa

Others urged the OP to set firmer boundaries with the couple in general.

"You are 100% right, but you should have stopped the five-nights-a-week sleepovers. If you get another roommate, make that clear. A girlfriend would have to have a lot of nerve, a LOT of it, to ask the guy whose name is on the lease to get rid of his pets." - LovedAJacka**

"The next roommate needs to be told up front that you are renting to one person. A five-night-a-week girlfriend is almost a third roommate living rent-free." - Old_Interview_5856

"OP is paying for all utilities. The roommate only pays half the rent. OP covers everything else, and I’m sure those utilities have gone up with at least a little with a third person living there five days a week."

"Also, be very careful that the gf isn't able to gain any tenants' rights or anything. Don’t let her receive any mail or packages. I think it usually requires more consecutive nights, but I’d be putting an end to five nights a week since you didn’t agree to two roommates and he’s not covering any other costs."

"It's probably best to have him move out. I wouldn’t trust him alone in the apartment with the cats, as he might 'let them out by mistake' or something else that would make them disappear. Protect yourself and your cats over everything."

"Your roommate and his entitled girlfriend can find another place to live. NOR." - trapped_4_life

"NOR, wow, that's insane. Girlfriend pays nothing, and she's dictating what you can do in your apartment?"

"She's there five days per week?!! Check your lease; you are likely in violation of having someone staying too much at the apartment."

"Your friend is paying half the rent, but you're paying everything else. Neither your roommate nor his girlfriend has any say over your cats."

"The roommate can move out. OP took him in as a favor, not because he needed to save money. Time to go." - CrankyCrabbyCrunchy

"Tell him that you are allergic to his live-in girlfriend and her obvious entitlement, and now that you're working from home a lot more, you need his bedroom for a home office! They are taking advantage of you." - Honest_Boysenberry25

The OP had been incredibly kind up to this point to allow their friend to live in their apartment at an extremely reduced rate and to even allow their roommate's girlfriend to visit frequently without ever pitching in.

Now that the OP had done something for themselves, adopting two cats, suddenly their roommate and girlfriend had something to say. If they really didn't like it, they could take all the money they'd saved thanks to the OP and put it toward an apartment they could share.

In the meantime, the OP could dream up all the way to convert their roommate's old bedroom into a home office and cat hotel combo.