Realization within

Lately, I’ve been noticing that my cat seems a bit depressed. She’s not playing as much as before. Sometimes, if I take out her toys, she’ll play for a little while but quickly loses interest. Other times, she still eats well and does her usual activities, so she’s not completely unwell. I think part of this might be because of my own mood and struggles—my mental state probably affects her too.

Another major factor is how our family members treat her. My guardian sometimes treats her like a plaything, while my sister and I treat her like our baby girl. That love and care make her very close to us, but she seems to sense the tension in the house. For example, my grandma has said things like she wants to kick the cat out, just because we spend more time with her. This kind of threat makes my cat anxious, and I think it contributes to her avoiding interactions. She’s smart and seems to understand human language a bit—so when she hears such things, she probably feels sad or threatened.

A recent incident made me especially worried. Today, my grandma saw me giving a little milk to the cat. She got very angry and said she would complain to our guardian when they returned from a funeral. I wasn’t doing anything wrong—I just gave the cat a little milk carefully, from a safe distance. But it seems like even this small act of care is seen as a problem.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s fair or reasonable that we’re being told we’re not “eligible” to play with or care for the cat just because of our age. I’m 15, my sister is 10, and we genuinely want to show love and attention to our pet. Pets benefit from care and interaction, and the cat clearly feels comfortable and close to us. My grandma’s reactions, including extreme comments about marriage and having children at our ages, are completely inappropriate and impossible. They feel more like attempts to control us rather than protecting the cat.

Despite all this, I want to make sure my cat feels safe and happy. I know she’s stressed by the tension in the house, so I try to interact with her gently and give her a safe space where she can retreat. I just want her to know she’s loved, without getting caught up in arguments.