‘I brought my cat to a wedding and now my boyfriend’s pals won’t speak to me’

The stress of organising a wedding can leave many couples at breaking point.

From guest list arguments, to rows over what to serve your picky uncle, it’s rare that the run-up to the big day runs smoothly.

But one couple had the shock of a lifetime after a woman turned up with a cat, because it was her emotional support animal 

Now, that guest has asked whether she was wrong to bring her moggie along to the big day.

While some were divided, many were shocked to learn that the couple didn’t know she was specifically bringing a cat until she arrived.

Instead, her boyfriend has just said she wanted to bring her ‘support animal.’

Emotional support animals are commonly used to help calm the nerves of people with anxiety.

They differ to professionally trained service animals which are regulated by law.

A year on from the big day, the woman has told how some of the wedding guests don’t want to socialise with her, as they didn’t think she should have brought the moggie along.

She explains: “So last year I went to a wedding with my boyfriend and brought my emotional support animal (approved by medical professionals) with me because I can get very bad panic attacks at crowded events like weddings.

“I didn’t know the bride or groom really well since they were my bf’s school friends, but he did ask beforehand on my behalf if I could bring my support animal, and they said yes.

“Anyways, so my animal is just my cat of 8 years. She’s a big Maine coon and a real sweetie, so I had her in a leash (for cats) and a small soft crate.

“But since I started feeling “off” the minute we got there, she was out of her crate and in my lap the entire time.

“So the wedding goes fine except for two small instances.

“During the ceremony, my cat at one point wanted to groom herself and made light “tinkling” sounds because of the leash she had on and her fidgeting.

“Some people looked in our direction in annoyance but I quickly unzipped her so the noise would stop.

“Second, during the dinner and dancing, I had her on a leash and at one point she disappeared beneath the table.

“When I finally checked on her I realized she had scratched a little bit of the table legs and some of the overhanging cloth.

“I immediately told my bf and we both made a mental note to tell the bride/groom afterwards and compensate them.

“Long story short, I didn’t think much of it for a while until this year.

“My bf and I are temporarily back in his hometown for a while and he wanted to hang with these friends again.

“All of them hemmed and hawed until they told him they didn’t want to see me, aka “the crazy cat lady who brought an untrained cat to someone else’s wedding.”

“I found that so hurtful and untrue but even more so because no one said anything to me after all this time.”

Following her post on Reddit, one person asked if the couple knew that she was specifically bringing a cat.

She replied: “My boyfriend told them I would be bringing my support animal but didn’t clarify the type because we didn’t think we needed to.

“We assumed they understood what support animals are and that they are not trained service animals like seeing eye dogs.

“We specifically did not say the word “service” just support, which includes animals like emotional support animals and therapy animals.”

One person replied: “You deliberately use the word “licensed” and by doing so you give the impression your animal is a trained animal.

“It is not. It’s not even close to being a service animal. You don’t bring cats to a wedding.”

Another commented: “Damage was done to property, it was not a full service animal, it seems there were some training issues, lots of people are allergic to cats and dont really expect one at a wedding.

“If even ONE guest there had a reaction to your cat, their misery would probably outweigh the benefit you got from a cat being there.”

A third commented: “You mention zero training for your cat. Your cat is untrained.

“Your cat scratched up a table cloth and table leg. It also sounds like there were other issues with the cat that you left out.

“ESAs are undoubtedly helpful, but they’re not service animals, and you cannot expect people to want your untrained pet scratching stuff up in their houses.”