this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2026
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This sounds like a conversation you should be having with your brother-in-law.
I am fully aware that my cats require far fewer resources than my stepsons, but that doesn't prevent me from counting them as a valuable part of the family unit.
Also, we adopted all of our cats as very young kittens.
I'm totally okay with counting them as part of the family as stated in my first comment. I had cats myself from 9 to 23. Thinking of getting cats again in the future. It's strictly the parent label that irks me the wrong way.
Is there a right way to be irked?
Why does that specific label bother you? What defines "acceptable" parenthood to you?
They have "real kids" so they're special now.