When people fall in love, they often make big changes for each other. They might quit bad habits, eat differently, or dress better. But when it comes to pets, things can get tricky.

A 22-year-old man shared his problem on Reddit. His girlfriend of seven months told him he had to choose: give up his cat, Mittens, or end their relationship.

His girlfriend is a dedicated vegan and believes that having a cat goes against her values.

He explained in his post: “I’ve been dating my girlfriend for seven months. She’s amazing, and we get along great in many ways. She’s a strong vegan and told me early on that she wants her partner to share her cruelty-free lifestyle. Since I was already a pescatarian, it wasn’t hard for me to switch to a plant-based diet. She was proud of me for going cruelty-free, and we became known as ‘the vegan couple’ on our college campus.”

Vegan Girlfriend’s Shocking Demand: Boyfriend Must Choose Between Her and His Cat!

When people fall in love, they often make big changes for each other. They might quit bad habits, eat differently, or dress better. But when it comes to pets, things can get tricky.

A 22-year-old man shared his problem on Reddit. His girlfriend of seven months told him he had to choose: give up his cat, Mittens, or end their relationship.

His girlfriend is a dedicated vegan and believes that having a cat goes against her values.

He explained in his post: “I’ve been dating my girlfriend for seven months. She’s amazing, and we get along great in many ways. She’s a strong vegan and told me early on that she wants her partner to share her cruelty-free lifestyle. Since I was already a pescatarian, it wasn’t hard for me to switch to a plant-based diet. She was proud of me for going cruelty-free, and we became known as ‘the vegan couple’ on our college campus.”

about:blank

However, the issue of his cat, Mittens, was always in the background. “I’ve had her for three years and I love her. She’s so sweet and cuddly. But my girlfriend was always a bit nervous around her, saying it was because she didn’t grow up with cats. So, we kind of agreed to hang out at her place more, and we didn’t really talk about Mittens again.”

Their relationship grew stronger during the pandemic, and they started talking about moving in together. This led to a serious conversation where his girlfriend surprised him by saying she couldn’t see a future with him unless he gave up Mittens. She believed owning a cat went against vegan principles because cats hunt and eat meat.

“I was shocked,” he wrote. “I told her there was no way I would give up Mittens. I explained that I was doing my best to minimize harm by buying reputable cat food. Many vegans own cats and feel the same way. But my girlfriend got angry and asked, ‘How much meat does your cat eat? How many animals died to make that food? Would you be okay if it was human meat?’”

Frustrated, he left her apartment and went home to cuddle with Mittens. Later, his girlfriend sent him a link to a Reddit thread about why domestic cats should go extinct.

He ended his post by saying: “I’m not going to get rid of my cat. But it hurts to think our otherwise great relationship might end because of this. I don’t really get where she’s coming from, because lots of vegans own cats.”

In a subsequent update on r/relationship_advice, he clarified that his girlfriend’s extreme views on domestic cats were not representative of the vegan/vegetarian community as a whole. “I do think that, sometimes, new vegans can be a little overzealous. In reality, most of us are just doing the best that we can to not hurt animals!”

He also revealed that they had broken up. “I would never, ever give up my cat Mittens,” he said. Reflecting on the situation, he admitted: “Many users said that this situation was about control, not veganism, and looking back, I do see a pattern of control on my girlfriend’s part.”

Ultimately, he decided that parting ways was the best decision given the issues in their relationship. Would you have done the same in this situation?