To not buy her a tail, so she can be like her friend who ‘is a therian’

Laura9899 · 2026-09-26T22:34:23+00:00

My ten year old has a friend who seems nice and has sane sensible normal parents and yet she wears a tail and tells my daughter she’s a therian. I’m not in any way happy with all the furry rubbish and this feels along the same lines. My daughter has now asked to be a cat for Halloween, then asked for a furry tail as part of her costume, and now I think it’s actually so she can join in with her friend. They are only ten so it’s likely just play but there’s no way I’m letting her go out in a tail 🙄.

ShakingAndCrying · Today 04:37

AStonedRose · Today 03:26

I personally don't see a problem with this. But then, I'm a squirrel, so my perspective may not be everyone's.

You do sound nutty 😉😆

TheBlueKoala · Today 04:23

Tell her you'll get one too? And then start miauling everytime she asks for something.

caringcarer · Today 03:50

Besidemyselfwithworry · Yesterday 23:58

I mean I just wouldn’t tolerate this nonsense, end of

Me neither. Its nonsense and I wouldn't tolerate it. I think some parents are very wishy washy and then get surprised when their DC run rings around them.

Leafstamp · Today 03:43

AStonedRose · Today 03:29

Have you not frequented the 'FWR' board? All these weird trans, non binary etc. people are all in a cult, and they go round basically stealing people's kids. There's a special hidden internet they all meet on. They hypnotise them or something and then won't speak to their usually glaringly transphobic parents.

Being serious, I agree. I think the cat costume is fine and normal. Don't overthink it.

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This is a very flippant and unhelpful post about an extremely serious issue.

Encouraging children to alienate their loving family does happen in the crazy world where people think that a child can be “born in the wrong body”.

OP, your instinct is right about “therian” - and so is the poster saying it’s often a thin end of the wedge.

Beesandhoney123 · Today 03:42

AStonedRose · Today 03:26

I personally don't see a problem with this. But then, I'm a squirrel, so my perspective may not be everyone's.

😀😀😀

Beesandhoney123 · Today 03:39

Her friends parents obviously think its just a phase and she will grow out of it.

It depends if they are aware of it as a growing issue among children who do not see it as make believe.

You can buy a cat costume for kids on amazon for halloween. The tail ties on with ribbon. It is not in the least bit realistic Keep it in the dressing up box. Get the crappiest one you can find and dont replace it.

I saw a smartly dressed woman on the tube. But there was sonething off. Took me a moment to realise it was the very realistic end of a furry tail dangling from.under her skirt. Could see tail outline under her skirt up to her bum. It looked like a giant furry tampon string.

Full blown furry:) but they do keep it a secret which of course tells you they know its weird among their peers. And that someone is telling them differently.

AStonedRose · Today 03:29

Mouldemort · Today 02:34

I love a good Mumsnet moral panic. If she wants to have a cat costume with a tail let her do it. Don’t make a big deal about it. The internet can’t make you gay or transgender, and this is not remotely connected to that.

Have you not frequented the 'FWR' board? All these weird trans, non binary etc. people are all in a cult, and they go round basically stealing people's kids. There's a special hidden internet they all meet on. They hypnotise them or something and then won't speak to their usually glaringly transphobic parents.

Being serious, I agree. I think the cat costume is fine and normal. Don't overthink it.

AStonedRose · Today 03:26

I personally don't see a problem with this. But then, I'm a squirrel, so my perspective may not be everyone's.

Copperoliverbear · Today 03:20

I’d say if you don’t want to buy her one don’t, let her dress up as something else and tell her why. You are not comfortable about it, she is a child and not a cat.

CrazyMidget · Today 03:10

Antisocial81 · Today 00:15

Really? I don’t recall any children being like this when I was a child, or my own children or their friends doing this. I think it’s nice to let children play make believe and be dreamers, but this is something else (driven by chat forums etc on the internet). It’s not pretending to be something (well it is); in their heads they ARE those things. It’s fucked up, not just part of a normal childhood.

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I was just thinking how none of my friends or I, or anyone at school, thought they were an animal!

Mouldemort · Today 02:34

I love a good Mumsnet moral panic. If she wants to have a cat costume with a tail let her do it. Don’t make a big deal about it. The internet can’t make you gay or transgender, and this is not remotely connected to that.

LivingTheDreamish · Today 02:32

YANBU. Who knows where DD's friend picked up on the term therian, I'm sure they don't understand, but it's a dangerous and weird fetish and you don't want your DD dabbling in it. And don't be buying her a cat costume whatever you do! Be the parent that puts a stop to it.

BlackRowan · Today 02:31

You really need to unclench

BlackRowan · Today 02:28

What’s the big deal?
if the peers judge her that’s the consequence for her to discover on her own

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · Today 02:11

Antisocial81 · Today 00:15

Really? I don’t recall any children being like this when I was a child, or my own children or their friends doing this. I think it’s nice to let children play make believe and be dreamers, but this is something else (driven by chat forums etc on the internet). It’s not pretending to be something (well it is); in their heads they ARE those things. It’s fucked up, not just part of a normal childhood.

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Constant mind changing is very normal for kids.

And they have always come out with daft stuff.

Calliopespa · Today 01:44

For fancy dress, such as Halloween, it's perfectly ok.

Don't make the whole thing more intriguing for her by saying no and making a big deal of tails.

When it isn't fancy dress time, then no tail. Simple as that. Just be normal about it. Saying no tail for dressing up is you making an issue of it.

OneoftheWeddingPeople · Today 01:40

Why’s that funny? This is an established fetish movement. Yes hopefully it’s a harmless childish phase but I wouldn’t want to take that risk. It’s a little old for imaginative play. I loved imaginative play myself but everyone had stopped it by 10.

Ayarreet · Today 01:20

"full blown furry" 😂😂😂

Ayarreet · Today 01:17

InfoSecInTheCity · Today 00:54

@OakleyAnnie ways to ‘plug them in’ to your rear end that don’t involve an elastic band or clip 😂

Edited

Safety pin?

Ayarreet · Today 01:16

10 year old. Halloween. Therian.
How does your brain make the leap?!
She's 10. It's Halloween. It's normal.
None of this conversation is normal.

NewDogOwner · Today 01:15

Show her the pictures of Pride in Brighton with all the men dressed up as pups along with people in other fetish gear.

OneoftheWeddingPeople · Today 01:04

Agree with you op it’s weird and slightly sinister. Would not be facilitating

deadbobaplace · Today 00:59

I don't see why you can't let her be what she wants for Halloween? Being a cat is pretty innocuous compared to some of the costumes out there.

PotentialPartTimer · Today 00:58

I regularly wore cat ears and occasionally cat nose paint as a baby goth/emo teen 20 years ago. Shame the world's gone mad since then. We hadn't even heard of furrys.

ThatCosy · Today 00:55

I remember playing being horses with friends as a kid. The tail was imaginary. I'd relax a bit unless there's a massive reason not to.