Are grandparents AIBU about us getting a cat??

Whether a cat wants adult company tends to depend on the temperament/ personality of the cat and not how many cats you get. I have two cats and they both like human company, although one only likes a cuddle on her terms and the other is happy to be picked up and snuggled on my terms as well as his. They both like to be in the same room as me and both will come and sit on my lap or next to me in bed or on the sofa. My sibling has a single cat and he is far less friendly, rarely wants a cuddle or to be stroked and prefers to sit in a quiet room on his own to being with others!

TBH I never heard anything so daft!

The Gdcs (10, 9, 5) have 4 much loved cats and they still like coming to stay with us. We just had them here for 4 nights.

Sorry posted twice 🤦🏻

I dint see the reasoning behind this. I have pets (cats and dogs) and I go away. And when my kids were little they never once said ‘oh we can’t go and leave Trixie at home’! They wanted to know they were looked after but that was it.
I recommend Trustedhousesitters.com. An annual fee (~£150) and the actual sitting is free.

I dint see the reasoning behind this. I have pets (cats and dogs) and I go away. And when my kids were little they never once said ‘oh we can’t go and leave Trixie at home’! They wanted to know they were looked after but that was it.
I recommend Trustedhousesitters.com. An annual fee (~£150) and the actual sitting is free.

Hav you thought about getting a house sitter?

I’ve just come back from being away all of summer and I had two different house sitters for the whole period. It’s brilliant as in exchange for having free accommodation, they not only look after your pets but also your garden, pick up your mail and if they are handy, a bit of diy around the house.
I have two cats and a papillon so putting them in catteries is not for me. Also the country I live in, cat and dogs hotels are fully booked a year before.
can’t be faffing about with calling around.

What’s interesting is that the last house sitter-I dropped her off this morning at the train station- is a 65 year old early retiree who’s being all over Europe the last 2.5 year house sitting at in uk but also all over Europe. She will finish in France in March 2026 and by then she would have not have been back home in Australia for three years!

I don’t know why I wrote all of this but I’m super impressed by her.

My point being, if you want a cat , get one.

Picture caption: my bluejay and schylar on a walk with me early this morning.

YANBU but I think you know it's not really about the cat.

Have you told them that you are not going to move back? If they have been hoping for years that you might one day return then you owe them the courtesy of telling them honestly. If you haven't told them, then announcing that you are getting a cat was a rather cowardly way to delivering the message. If you have been honest, then the cat is the final confirmation that you will probably never come back and this is what they are reacting to, I suspect.

They are entitled to feel hurt and sad. You are entitled to live your own life with your own family in the country of your choosing, with a cat if you wish. Both are valid.

Yes, I thought the flying might prove a problem but even more reason to get 2 cats.

Our 2 are cousins (Burmese) and are very close but demand attention and cuddles from we humans too.

That's totally bonkers (cat boarding and cat sitters are a thing) and not really any of their business.

Put it down as the sort of thing parents and grandparents who are separated by borders from their family say. It's mild. It's near inconsequential.

Together with my brother (generally, there were Solomonic exceptions) I spent chunks of many summers with older relatives. On arriving 'haven't seen you for a year, you seldom see us' in a why don't you visit tone. On departing 'when are you coming again?' in a you have been here only three days not the three weeks you think it was tone.

Couple of thoughts OP. I don't know the logistics of flying with cats but if you drive to your homeland you could take the cat(s) with you.

Whether you do leave them for long holidays or not please do get 2 cats. They will have each other when the humans aren't around but as long as you invest time when they are young they will always demand attention from their humans when the humans are around.

I bet most of us are trying to guess where your Destination X is 😏

Children soon get bored of pets, so get 2 cats, someone will come in and look after them. Son will still want to visit the grandparents.

Not your parents decision to make. Sounds like they are overly controlling of your life.
2 cats - definitely best socially for them. We have 2 just over 1 yr old now & have been away a few times. We have a couple of good friends who look after them so dont use cattery/pet sitters. We reciprocate for them by walking their dogs if they are away during day/overnight saving them dog walkers costs. Have occasionally paid our kids cat loving friends for times my friends can't help out, teenagers always happy for extra cash plus some snacks & peace to play on Xbox! Cats are happy with people they already know & being at home. So it certainly possible to organise without huge costs.

Oh my mother is like this as well.

She almost screams 'no' every time I even half suggest a cat. I'm sick of it to be honest.

My Dad asked the other day if I'll be bringing the cat with me to visit (I'm only 90mins away) and I said yes of course. Then we started joke planning a 'catio' for the yard for him to play in. My mother's face was a picture.😂

She actually loves cats and fawns over every one she sees. People are so strange.

From experience, it's not always easy to find cat care for holidays (everyone wants it at the same time). I would suggest to research all the options now, and when you have found suitable and reliable care, tell your parents this to reassure them.

It's ridiculous, your buying a cat not moving to a farm!
I have a cat, they come and go as they please! Very easy animals to own.

I suppose only the OP can decide whether to listen to this stupidity. I wouldn't, but I'm not her.

Cats are not as demanding as dogs. It would be easier to get someone to look after your cat than a dog.

i get why they are saying this but your life choices are not up to them and I think they need to understand and accept this.

But you can take animals abroad when you move - as long as they are appropriately vaccinated and passported.