Woman Puts Friend's Overweight Cat On Diet During Year-Long Pet Sitting, Angering Friend For Making Decision Without Consent

"I agreed, but admittedly I wondered I would be able to follow through on my word for a whole year."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• February 29, 2024

Throughout our lives, we run into situations that push us to think hard about what we believe in and see how strong our friendships and relationships are These moments can be tough, but they help us figure out who we are and which people are truly important to us.

Such is the story of a massive cat named Juno and the clash between two friends over her well-being. Juno, a cat of considerable size, lived with her owner, who saw no issue with her weight, attributing it to her natural state rather than a health concern.

The owner's global mobility assignment led to a plea for a friend to care for Juno during her year abroad. With instructions to maintain Juno's free-feeding regimen, the friend reluctantly agreed despite concerns over the cat's health.

The reality of Juno's condition—struggling to perform basic activities due to her weight—prompted an unauthorized dietary intervention. Transitioning Juno to a controlled diet yielded remarkable improvements: significant weight loss, enhanced mobility, and better overall health.

The owner's discovery of Juno's transformation ignited a conflict, viewing the dietary change as a betrayal of trust. Despite attempts to reconcile the situation, the rift between the two friends widened, with the owner declaring an end to their friendship upon return.

OP's friend's cat Juno is unusually large, despite comments about her size, OP's friend insists she's perfectly healthy.

OP agreed to take care of Juno, her friend's pet, during her year-long assignment in Europe.

She briefed OP on cat care before leaving, mentioning Juno's free-feeding setup with a gravity-fed dispenser, OP expressed concern about Juno's weight and hesitated, but she insisted it was her decision.

OP successfully implemented a diet plan for the cat, resulting in increased energy, mobility, and improved breathing within eight months, with the cat now weighing 14 lbs.

OP's friend noticed weight loss in the photos OP sent to her and got upset, demanding OP revert to the old way.

OP's friend is upset because she couldn't find someone else to care for her cat while she was away, she is angry at OP and threatens to end their friendship.

Helping the cat lose weight was the right thing to do, even though it might regain weight when it returns to its owner.

OP's friend's treatment of the cat is abusive.

OP's friend is mistreating the cat by overfeeding it, which can lead to health problems.

OP is not at fault for refusing to participate in animal mistreatment, especially when the cat's health is at stake.

The decision made regarding the pet's feeding was justified, as continuing the previous feeding regimen would have been harmful due to neglect.

Helping Juno the cat lose weight was the right thing to do, even though she might gain it back later when she goes back to her owner. OP did the right thing by putting her on a diet to make her healthier. Overfeeding pets, like Juno, can make them sick, so it's important to feed them the right amount.

OP cared about her and didn't want to see her unhealthy. OP did what she thought was best for her, even though the owner didn't agree. In the end, what's most important is making sure Juno is healthy and happy.

OP did a good thing by looking out for her, even if it caused some trouble with the owner. It's important to take care of our pets and do what's best for them, even if it means making tough decisions.

Damjan