r/AmITheJerk•
Wiabuuu323

AITJ for getting upset about my roommates forcing their cats to live outside instead of just finding them a better home?

Been living in my roommates house for months now and I've been noticing a patterns on the way they treat their animals. My roommates use to have 4 cats that they raised primarily in their house since they were kittens. These cats have lived in the house for years but within the past year my roommates got 3 German shepherd puppies that they were fostering. They needed up keeping them but since they got them the puppies have been untrained. I believe their cats got stressed out because of the sudden change along with puppies growing larger and not having any proper discipline or training. Their cats started peeing all over the house out of protest which most cats will when they are stressed. Instead of acknowledging this my roommates instantly blamed their cats and have basically been making them stay outside to live. They put out food and water for them but because these cats have only lived indoors most of their lives the cats have been struggling tremendously and barely get any time or attention from my roommates other then in passing when they come home from work and see them outside. One of my roommates cats even passed away from an untreated UTI they couldn't find out in time. Then my roommate cried about it even though it was their cat that they chose to leave outside in the first place. They plan to put the remainder of the cats which are elderly outside to make more room. I told them that this seemed cruel instead of just finding another alternative where the cats can live out the rest of their elderly years. No one wants to listen to me and they pulled the "this is my house my choice" card. While I understand it's their house I still find something deeply disturbing about raising an animal while it's baby then tossing it aside like it's nothing when you get new animals you're more preoccupied with. I understand cats are capable of living outside when food and water are still provided but I also know that cats that were mainly raised indoors should not be thrown out like that. My roommates just think I'm dramatic and are saying I need to stay outside of their decision. I feel like I'm crazy for having basic sympathy and I just feel really bad for their cats. Am I in the wrong for saying anything?

Posted Dec 7, 2025, 10:56 PM UTC

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