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DH says cat needs to show more gratitude

483 replies

UngratefulFeline · 06/06/2025 08:52

I’ve been away for a few days and DH managed the kids and the dog just fine.

He’s upset with our cat though and says he made a real effort to bond with him by giving him treats, protecting him when our dog had the zoomies and making sure his bedding was fluffed.

DH said the cat gave nothing back, blanked him and even swatted at DH when he tried to pet him.

DH wants to know why the cat doesn’t show any gratitude. I explained to DH very carefully that the reason the cat doesn’t show any gratitude is because it is a cat.

DH says that is illogical and there must be a real reason and “it’s a cat” doesn’t cut the mustard.

YABU- Deeper reason why cat won’t show gratitude
YANBU- it’s a cat.

OP posts:
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21
MrsCarson · 06/06/2025 18:34

Tell him he needs to have a talk with the cat about gratitude.
I did this to Dh one time when we had a small baby he complained about something being inconvenient or something I told him he should talk to the baby about this if he has a problem. It took a few seconds, then the penny dropped and he walked away feeling like a numpty.

commonsense61 · 06/06/2025 18:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Fascinate · 06/06/2025 18:26

Purplebunnie · 06/06/2025 09:22

My little treasure came and hassled me for his biscuits approx. 6 times yesterday. Whose lap does he sit on in the evening - DH. Nearly every bloody day he does this. Little bastard.

Then there are the odd days when he comes and sits on my lap and it's all forgiven.

Edited to add - he'll walk past DH in the kitchen and DD in the lounge and still come and get me to give him his biscuits - WHY!!😿

Edited

My cat (sadly no longer here) would sleep all night with my daughter, then come into my room in the morning and paw my face until I got up and fed her.

I mean, cat.

caringcarer · 06/06/2025 18:12

CatOnAHotRadiator · 06/06/2025 08:53

Your DH needs learn his place in the pecking order.

This. Tbh your DH sounds a bit dim to think a cat should show gratitude.

Moonlightdust · 06/06/2025 18:08

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/06/2025 14:15

Cats should be rated on two scales:

  • Peaceful - Serial Killer
  • Decorative - Chaos

Ragdolls will fall into the Peaceful and Decorative category - feral farm moggies tend toward the Chaotic Serial Killer side of the graph.

I'll bet everything he's done to 'make friends' has in fact been space invading, borderline threatening and absolutely rude - he's lucky your cat isn't fully Chaotic Serial Killer... he'd be hogtied to the bed missing his eyeballs, entrails and toes otherwise!

Ahh our Ragdoll is just a giant marshmallow 🤣 He’s a total baby and loves cuddles. Our previous Ragdoll was a bit more reserved though.

We had a small fluffy dog when I was young (I know changing species!) who was on the serial killer spectrum. Looked like butter wouldn’t melt but was vile 😆 I remember my brother kindly volunteering to carry her on a long walk (after she refused to go further), only for her to turn and snap at him at the end of it when he put her down! Now that’s ungrateful 😂🤣

MadKittenWoman · 06/06/2025 18:07

Hahahahahahahahahahahahhahah

Givemethesun · 06/06/2025 18:07

Does he not interact with the cat normally! He lives with it?! surely he’d know how they behave now

PopstarPoppy · 06/06/2025 18:00

Doesn’t he understand that we are the ones who should show gratitude to cats because they deign to honour us with their presence?! 😂

Chester23 · 06/06/2025 17:33

Cats are just ungrateful. Mine is unfortunately a little poorly right now and doesn't clean his bum himself so obviously his human servant comes to the rescue.... he bites me 😂 like would he rather be covered in poo.... this is ungrateful 😂

C8H10N4O2 · 06/06/2025 17:16

UngratefulFeline · 06/06/2025 09:30

They walk among us. Like my delusional DH.

Does DH realise that cats and dogs are different animals?

Does he need to go to cat school for “cats are not dogs” beginners class?

GetOffTheCounter · 06/06/2025 17:05

well. (as my user name might suggest- we have cats - and I have a relentless enthusiasm for the idea they might obey one day....) We have 23 year old rescue cat. She is fondly called 'Attack Cat' as she is very very feisty. Yesterday I tried to gently move her while on my lap as I reached for a cup of tea and she attacked me. I said to DH; '[cat name] attacked me!'. His only response was 'aaaahhh..... the darling'. - Her. Not me.

Lucky for Attack Cat she is very very cute. (And currently sitting on my chair while I am sitting on the footstool).

raspberrieswithchocolate · 06/06/2025 17:00

😂

@UngratefulFeline
Today has not been a good day for me. Thank you so much for posting this thread, it's really cheered me up!

P.S. your cat is beautiful

AnotherEmma · 06/06/2025 16:55

UngratefulFeline · 06/06/2025 09:49

The problem is when we first got married our cat at that time was what I would refer to as a low-level cat-kind of like a ragdoll in personality but she wasn’t a ragdoll. You could pick her up and put her on your lap and she would stay quite happily purring. So DH thinks this is the gold standard of cats but of course he is wrong.

He now has a mid-level cat who won’t put up with any of this bullshit. I however grew up with a high-level cat as my first cat so can deal with mid-level cat shenanigans quite easily. DH thinks I let the cat walk all over me but little does he appreciate that my childhood cat was a high-level cat who hated everyone and once left home for six months and moved into the neighbours shed because my parents held a barbecue. She would deign to sit on your lap about twice a year during which time you had to remain perfectly still and not talk or else she would clamp your arm with claws and teeth. Good times.

🤣🤣🤣

CaveMum · 06/06/2025 16:52

I remember a meme that did the rounds during Lockdown. It went something like this:

Dog: Oh wow! You love me so much you’ve decided to spend all your time with me at home!

Cat: I knew they’d fire you, you useless tosser!

NamelessNancy · 06/06/2025 16:32

Not had chance to read full thread (I know, I know, I'm sorry) but isn't showing gratitude against the cat code? I'm pretty sure cuddly shows of affection are also strictly reserved for guests who dislike cats or, even better, are allergic to them.

WhereIsMyJumper · 06/06/2025 16:27

This thread is brilliant.

It’s an evolutionary thing isn’t it? For the dog, they’ve had millennia of evolving to be companions with humans and depend on us for their survival so they have to bond with us! Even from puppies, they mostly want to be near you and follow you around. On an instinctive level, they know that they would most likely not survive without you.

For the cat, they would be absolutely fine without you and your bullshit thank you very much

LondonLady1980 · 06/06/2025 16:25

PollyValente · 06/06/2025 14:20

I miss the laugh emoji so much, so many funny comments.

Absolutely!!!

I have wanted to use the 🤣 emoji for about 99% of the responses to this post!!!

@mumsnet made a HUGE mistake taking that reaction away from us all!

CalicoPusscat · 06/06/2025 15:59

A cat 🤣

He is not inured of the ways of the furry whiskered one!

RedhairDL · 06/06/2025 15:54

Op,

Does your cat ever look warmly at you, nod or give a genuine smile when you’ve done something nice for it?

Does your cat ever offer you a hug, or just a little pat on the back?

Has your cat ever written you a short heartfelt note, left a little present (not a mouse) or made you dinner?

Does your cat ever do things to make your life easier? Or even just respect your time/ energy?

If no to the above then I’m with your husband and your cat is indeed ungrateful and probably does need to start showing a bit more gratitude.

Londonmummy66 · 06/06/2025 15:45

Ours brought in a rat last night. She did not seem impressed that instead of accepting the gift gratefully, we instead, shouted and swore and chased the rat out of the house again, and refused to let her out to retrieve it. She did not understand our lack of gratitude.

She knew exactly what she was doing - it was her ticket to a musical show called "humans".....

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/06/2025 15:26

The ginger/braincell is true I tell you :

Briefly - NDN ginger cat , nice enough fellow , used to wander into my garden but I persuaded him out (humanely , obvs) as I had guinea pigs .

When the piggies crossed The Bridge and we got the cats ( identical don't forget ) Ginger Boy was in the garden, my cats were behind a box. One pops its head out , Ginger is "Oh , trouble" . Other cat pops its head out , Ginger is "Who/What/Why/Where" and left the scene !

A couple of times our boy was being a Dirty Stop Out , DH getting worried , he'd called , shaken Dreamies and gone round the local roads . Even put messages on our street whats-app . Nada .
I came home. shook the Dreamies and heard "Miaow Miaow" at the bottom of the garden, he comes tanking in.
Not waiting for me , but throwing me a Crumb of Hope .
I Know My Place !

buffyandspikeandfaith · 06/06/2025 15:21

ScupperedbytheSea · 06/06/2025 15:13

I love this. I had a floofy lady with the build of a mini hippo. She would do full body slam into you, revealing the loveliest floofy black brown belly.

And god help anyone who tried to put their hand near it, because she would do a version of the following: "I will bite your hand off motherfucker, HOW VERY DARE YOU. "

He’s 7.5kg so I tend to just do what he wants - which is belly rubs, head strokes and as much attention as he’s allowed! In return I get roaring purrs

crackadawn · 06/06/2025 15:19

😂😂😂 made my day this

ScupperedbytheSea · 06/06/2025 15:13

buffyandspikeandfaith · 06/06/2025 13:54

Mine is deeply offended if you don’t give him belly rubs. He will flop down for anyone and is so affectionate it’s ridiculous

I love this. I had a floofy lady with the build of a mini hippo. She would do full body slam into you, revealing the loveliest floofy black brown belly.

And god help anyone who tried to put their hand near it, because she would do a version of the following: "I will bite your hand off motherfucker, HOW VERY DARE YOU. "

DiscoDown18 · 06/06/2025 15:04

My DP also tries to treat my cat as if he is a dog, no matter how many times I tell him that approach won't work. Only last week he thought it would be hilarious to open the food cupboard door, getting the hungry cat's hopes up, and then close it again right in front of the cat's face. Retribution was swift, claws and teeth and were involved and the point was made that cats do not like practical jokes. Doubt DP will learn his lesson, he'll be trying to tickle the cat's tummy again before long.

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