Teased over love for cats

[EriAndo]

This might sound trivial but I’m really upset by people taking the pee on my social media when I post photos of my cats calling them my babies.

Thing is, they are like my babies and people don’t understand. Usually people with kids who take the p@£*

I miscarried at 20 weeks and got two kittens to help me cope. It helped that they needed me and gave me affection when I needed it most.
One of these kittens died before she was 1 (hit by car) and I was distraught and couldn’t go to work for a few days and was reprimanded by my boss even though I explained it was like losing my baby again. I left that job not long after as boss called me ridiculous.
I had another two miscarriages & I got a kitten about 5 years ago and she and my other cat love each other and I love seeing them cuddling and playing, it cheers me up.
Sometimes I take photos and post them on social media & some people make snarky comments. Some ‘friends’ have even deleted me as they’re fed up of the constant cat photos.

AIBU to feel upset?
(Ps: Joined MN when I was pregnant and feel a bit of a fraud as I’m not a Mum yet!)

It's one of those things where you've got to walk a mile in another man's shoes to understand. They just haven't walked that walk. They also don't sound very understanding or compassionate. I'd just delete the comments and carry on. Cats are the best

I am so sorry that you have been through so much EriAndo. It's hard to imagine that anyone who knows what you have been through could be so insensitive.

Of course there is one place where all photos of cats are welcomed and that is on The Litter Tray! I don't actually have a cat myself but do regularly cat sit provide in home assistance to two cats. I think I am not the only Vicarious Cat Lurker either.

My cats were also my baby substitutes - I had 5 miscarriages and ended up with 4 cats but did in the end have a DD. I don't particularly like to plaster Facebook with photos of DD so tend to only really do cat ones. I have to say the cat posts get more likes than the DD ones 🤣🤣

Just ignore your friends! I'm a crazy cat lady and not afraid to admit it x

If I posted pics of my cats on social media and my "friends" took the mick constantly, I would delete them! Not stop posting photos! It's your social media page to do as you wish!

Any real friend would understand how you feel towards yourself cats following the losses you have suffered and not take the mick out of you.

Join Rate my Cat

And post as many as you want

I'd rather see posts about cats then babies anyway OP!

Another non-mum here. My dogs are my babies, I have a friend whose cat is hers. Another vote for you ignoring comments and that you need better quality friends! I'd rather see people's cat and dog photos than of their children... hint, hint, OP

OP I love cats too. There are Facebook groups for cat lovers you can join. We all post pictures of our cats and everyone replies with lovely comments. My friends in RL know I love cats but I don’t put my cat on my own social media as I get what I want out of the cat lover’s groups. Good luck!

Come on OP we need to see your cats!

And don't forget that you are among friends on the litter tray. Many of us have cats as child substitutes!

@Justlovedogs

Another non-mum here. My dogs are my babies, I have a friend whose cat is hers. Another vote for you ignoring comments and that you need better quality friends! I'd rather see people's cat and dog photos than of their children... hint, hint, OP

I do have children, but my dog is still my baby!

I’d like to add my voice to the calls for cat photos...

purpleme12 I kind of agree about the compassionate leave thing, I believe the reason for asking was that colleague had used up all her annual leave (DDog had had lots of vets appointments).

I think boss granted one day as compassionate & allowed one unpaid day. I think it's about understanding your staff & that people cope with things differently.

Cats are better than babies -

• You can safely leave them home alone
• They are self-cleaning
• You don't have to meal plan for them - they're happy to eat the same thing every day
• They don't grow up and start pestering you for expensive things
• An old wine cork or a cardboard box will absorb them for hours
• You can swear in front of them without them copying you
• They don't bring their annoying friends round to your house

@Pelleas
*
They don't bring their annoying friends round to your house*

Not sure about this one - one of my cats seems to have befriended the local foxes and one of them sits at our lounge window every night waiting for the cat to come out and play 🤣

@PhantomErik

purpleme12 I kind of agree about the compassionate leave thing, I believe the reason for asking was that colleague had used up all her annual leave (DDog had had lots of vets appointments).

I think boss granted one day as compassionate & allowed one unpaid day. I think it's about understanding your staff & that people cope with things differently.

Yes not saying they shouldn't have given it or she shouldn't have asked It's good that they're understanding

I was open about my cats being my child substitute when my youngest started making noises about moving out (he then stayed for another couple of years and became their favorite person but that’s another story). I do not have work people on FB, it’s my personal space that I let people into. Cull the work people, unless they are close friends. And post what makes you feel happy!

Pets are just a much easier relationship than people.

Some people aren’t very accepting of others, I’m very introverted and don’t like parties but I don’t feel the need to judge people who love a good night out. Dh was in hospital once and said he needed to come out before I bought loads of Bengal kitten and he was relegated to the garage.

@Fluffycloudland77

Pets are just a much easier relationship than people.

Some people aren’t very accepting of others, I’m very introverted and don’t like parties but I don’t feel the need to judge people who love a good night out. Dh was in hospital once and said he needed to come out before I bought loads of Bengal kitten and he was relegated to the garage.

🤣

I totally get you and am sorry you’ve been through this. I owe my mental health to my older cats - they got me through a very dark place in my life and along with my kittens give me so much meaning to my life.
Cull those people who don’t get it. Your social media is yours to do with as you please. I’m a cat and dog person not a child person - but I don’t yawn everytime someone wax’s lyrical about their offspring and neither should they be rude about my ‘family’.

I accept I’m well into mad cat lady territory with 8.

You should join the Facebook group'Larry the Downing Street Cat For Prime Minister' you can post as many pics of your cats as you like & they can even apply for positions in Larry's Catinet.
My cat is Deputy Home Secretary!!

I also like to post in the groups 'The Cat Book' & 'Cats Against Brexit Mayhem'.
I follow 'Crazy Cat Man' & 'Mickey The Communist Kitty' who regularly requires pics of his comrade kitty followers.....

A couple of the doctors at work like to tease me by calling me a ' crazy cat lady' but I think it's an unfair label to give a woman just because she's single childless & has one cat ffs!!
I do share pics of my neighbour's cats so maybe they think I've got more than one.

But no one makes negative comments on my Facebook about my photos of my cat, although I never refer to myself as 'mum' for example.
When my last cat died everyone was lovely & understanding & work gave me 2 days off.
I think you need to block certain people on your Facebook from seeing your cat photos- you can actually control who sees each post on Facebook.