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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sister told me to buy a Christmas present for her cat?! Wwyd?

275 replies

Bear18 · 18/12/2018 23:48

Two years ago my sister bought a cat. Her husband works shifts and she said it would be lovely to get a cat to keep her company, I thought nice idea.... the first year she had the cat I said sis what would you like for Christmas, got any ideas?! Sister says oh don’t worry about me just buy for my cat, I thought she was joking, but no she was serious. I asked again for any ideas as I do find her hard to buy for, it’s better to ask. Anyway she gave me some ideas then later on she said ‘your buying for my cat right?’ i say eh? You want me to buy for your cat and she said well yeah she’s my baby blah blah.

So I thought, bite the bullet just get her cat something, it will make her happy, so I did.

Now this year I have been asked to buy for her cat again.....

Every time I catch up there’s always a story about the cat. When my dd plays with the cat she always get told off by my sister, dd don’t do that, don’t sing too loud, don’t move too quick it will startle the cat. I have caught my sister shouting at my dd over the cat!!!! - tbh it’s doing my head in. My dd is good with pets and is very gentle with the cat, she doesn’t need to be constantly told off.

I can tell she is a bit obsessed with the cat. I don’t have pets so I don’t get it. But would you ask someone to buy for your pet??

I have a list of what the cat likes and doesn’t like.... I have spent half hr on amazon .... then logged out and thought I have too much sh&t to do...... plus I feel petty because of the way she snaps at dd.

Do I give in and buy the cat something??? Wwyd ???

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 19/12/2018 12:43

Not normal at all and don’t bother pandering to this and buying for the cat.

Coronapop · 19/12/2018 12:49

When my sons were very young they found a wrapped tube of cat treats under the tree - and ate them.

Blacktoffeecat · 19/12/2018 12:49

Our cats have a stocking that says “Santa Claws” on it. It was a present from my mum. Bet your sister would love one of those, fill it with a packet of dreamies, a catnip toy and a tin of tuna. Aldi were selling Prosecco for cats the other week too?

SummerStrong · 19/12/2018 12:55

If it made my sister happy, then yes, I'd buy the cat something

halcyondays · 19/12/2018 13:06

Just buy the cat a toy or something, not sure what the issue is.

KittyMcTitty · 19/12/2018 13:17

I don’t think you should ever HAVE to buy anyone or anything a present but Poundland do filled cat stockings! For £1 might be worth it for the peace?

PumpkinKitty82 · 19/12/2018 13:20

Some people treat their pets like they are children , it’s actually quite common so therefore she’s protective over it like someone would be over a small child.
Don’t be too hard on her even if she is a crazy cat lady

macarenaferreiro · 19/12/2018 13:21

Tell her it's A FUCKING CAT which doesn't know it's Christmas.

Some people are totally unhinged when it comes to their animals.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/12/2018 13:24

I buy for a friend's dog because he is the lovliest dog in the world and we look after him a lot. But my friend has never, nor would ever, demans I buy for him.

I have bought him some doggy pigs in blankets this year Grin

OutPinked · 19/12/2018 13:25

Ha this is amusing.

My aunt and uncle had many fertility problems and needed three rounds of IVF to have my cousin. Before she was born they just had the dog, Jake and she absolutely doted on him in a similar way. Insisted on everyone buying presents for him, talked about the dog as if it were a human etc. When it died she was devastated and went into mourning for months, still has a framed photo of said dog on the mantelpiece all these years later. They obviously had a daughter in the end but the dog was basically like the favourite older sibling Grin.

To some people their pets are their children so to speak. Just buy the cat a cheap toy, B&M do loads.

VickyEadie · 19/12/2018 13:26

Two of my closest friends (who both have dogs) routinely buy Xmas presents for our dog. As a result, we feel obliged to buy things for their dogs, even though we think it's fucking stupid.

steppemum · 19/12/2018 16:38

well, becuase I have kids, our pets have stockings (For the kids excitement as they open the pets stockings Hmm)

But, while the dog gets proper stuff in his stoclcking, the cat's is a pain, the only thing I could put in that woudl actually be of any good to the cat is a real mouse.
I am not that cruel!
So I stick a bag of dreamies in, so that dd2 can spend the rest of the day feeding them to the cat.

GlitterStick · 19/12/2018 16:52

A list of what the cat does and doesn't like! Grin
She's batty.
I'd go with the tin of tuna suggestion upthread lol.

GlitterStick · 19/12/2018 16:55

Oh and anyone on FB saying Santa Paws is on their way.... stoppit!!! Grin

KellyW88 · 19/12/2018 17:18

I’m a cat person and would never insist that anybody buy for mine, but before I had my DD and DS I did transfer a LOT of my maternal feelings onto my cats :’) it is weird but it happens.

She sounds OTT when telling your DD off about playing with the cat though, I’d understand if she were perhaps worried that the cat may scratch or bite your DD if it’s startled because that could cause a rift.

As for the request, there are plenty of cheap and cheerful gifts for cats so I would just grab a few little bits for the sake of peace - but that’s the way I am.

Might be worth you trying to speak to her about her reactions to your DD playing with the cat though - my DS is best friends with my youngest cat and they have had a lot of boisterous play together, as a mum and pet owner I know it’s my responsibility to teach DS to not get too rough (lots of sitting with them both and showing DS how to pet gently etc.) and to reprimand the cat if he gets in any way aggressive - but as you say your DD is naturally very gentle with the cat... I’m sure you’ve tried but maybe try speaking to her about her attitude and see if there’s a deeper reason for her concerns about them playing?

CSIblonde · 19/12/2018 17:21

Well at least it's a cheap present. Why not, I buy my cat fresh (reduced yellow sticker) chicken pieces & new toys at Christmas. She gets the odd small bit of tuna & chicken here & there anyway but a full meal of it twice on the day. My partner bought her a present too, unsolicited, which was sweet. She's family to me.

Doggydoggydoggy · 19/12/2018 17:25

I always ask for a present for my dog....

She gets so excited when she realises one is hers and loves ripping the paper off Grin

Couldn’t care less if people think I’m mad tbh

hiddeneverythin · 19/12/2018 17:29

@Yidette86 by your child, are you referring to a human child or an animal "child"? I'm not an animal lover so I don't get the whole "fur baby" thing

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 19/12/2018 17:34

We buy for our own cats (and, I suppose, next doors Xmas Wink).

In fact, looking at the pile of presents under the tree, their's is clearly the biggest, but it's a new scratching post that saves our furniture so win/win.

We always do well with the stinkiest catnip toys. These are really stinky good, the cats actually queue up for them (also handy if you want the cats to unwrap their own presents) Xmas Grin

Hmmmbiscuits · 19/12/2018 17:38

If you have kids and she doesn't and she buys your kids toys, I would think it would be a nice gesture to get the cat something as she obviously care a lot about it. Just spend a few quid on a toy and take round some leftover turkey.

Hmmmbiscuits · 19/12/2018 17:41

I have also bought my pets a toy for my son to give to them, as I think he will enjoy it. I'm getting fuck all for Christmas though, so might even buy myself something to unwrap, which some people think is bonkers.

Cuddlykitten123 · 19/12/2018 17:42

Just get it something from the poundshop no big deal

TheDowagerCuntess · 19/12/2018 17:46

It's my observation that the people most obsessive about their pets are child-free/less people.

Every pet-obsessive I've ever come across has coincidentally also not had kids. I think it is some sort of transference of maternal/paternal instinct onto their pet.

HildaZelda · 19/12/2018 17:50

I have a cat myself, but your sister sounds a bit OTT to be honest.
Buy the cat a multipack of Dreamies. Poundland had some in a nice tin for about 3 or 4 quid.

Bostonbell · 19/12/2018 18:00

My dogs send amazon parcels to their dog friends and we buy all our dogs 7 and cats 6 Christmas pressies . So yes buy your ds cat a pressie