To have cried when I heard this cat was ok?

[NotMyCatButMyProblem]

My brother is Autistic.

Last year one of his beloved cats died, due to old age (19), he really struggled with the loss. Shut himself away for weeks, stopped eating and it took me and my parents ages to bring him out of himself again – he literally lives for his pets.

Yesterday the other cat (9 years old) seemed really ill; stopped eating, refused to move around much, and seemed unhappy when anyone went near her; hissing and growling – she’s usually pretty laid back, sits in the most inconvenient spot on the sofa whether someone’s sat there or not, and is usually happy for anyone to go up and give her a fuss so it was really strange behaviour. I was terrified he was going to lose this cat too.

Turned out to be a strained back and a sore tooth. Tooth has been pulled out and painkillers prescribed. She’s on inside only for a few weeks (she hardly goes out anyway) and no-one is to stroke her back at all until she goes back to the vet in a few weeks, but I’m so relieved.

I cried when I was told, was relieved for both the cat and my brother.

But now I feel a bit silly, it’s not my cat, and I’m over 30 years old to be crying over someone else’s cat.

WIBU to cry?

You had a perfectly reasonable reaction, you saw what the death of the other cat did to your brother and didn't want that to happen again. It's absolutely ok to cry when you feel relief.

Of course YANBU to cry. Animals are important to us. DS's best friend growing up was our cat. He's autistic too and just didn't make friends until late in his teens.

It just shows you care about your brother and that you are a loving person. Nothing wrong with that.

Cry if you need to - it is the best way.

Happy tears, relief tears, sad tears, whatever tears.

The fact you shed them is borne of love and no one should ever worry about that.

Mon the cat and your brother

It's the relief. I would have cried to. She isnt just a cat, shes a member of your family.

When DBoycat had to have an operation on his tail both he and I were crying!

I'm happy for you all!