If You've Ever Had A Friend Create A Fursona Out Of Your Beloved Pet Then You're Not Alone And These Redditors Have The Advice You Need

by Damjan

23 Nov 2021

Some Reddit posts are so strange they stop you mid-scroll, and this one is a perfect example. A friend made a fursona based on someone else’s cat, and the owner was not amused.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

The situation landed in r/AITA, where a Redditor asked if they were wrong for being upset that their friend turned a beloved pet into a furry identity, complete with a custom costume that reportedly cost thousands. What makes it messier is that the friend does not seem to be sexualizing the cat, but the whole thing still feels deeply personal and a little too weird for comfort.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Reddit had plenty to say, and the reactions got heated fast.

AITA to be mad at my friend for creating a fursona out of my cat?

Two best friends with no qualms about one of them being a furry. After all, being a furry isn't explicitly a sexual kink. It's often all in good fun.

One cat to rule them all.

Shh, it's a SECRET.

"This has got to be a joke and not real life?"

What can you do when all of this money has been spent?

I don't think that's how gatekeeping works.

In a 2014 Vox article, the question about furries and sex was one of the first things addressed because it's a pretty common misconception. Being a furry isn't explicitly a sexual fetish, but "like with any other fan interest (video games, comics, etc.), there are sexual themes present. While sexual activity with other furries (known as "yiffing," after the sound foxes make during sex) is part of the subculture for some, others maintain a non-erotic interest in the subject."

Furry Josh Strom explained to Boing Boing's Lisa Katayama:

"We go to conventions to hang out with friends, maybe buy something like art or badges, go to a discussion panel, or see a show. Swinger parties and fetishes are there, but that's not what the fandom is about.vox."

Would this information ease your mind if your friend made a fursona out of your family pet? Probably not.

This is where the comments really start piling up.

The Redditor received over 400 comments (very quickly, I might add) with none more distinctive than the top response of them all.

All debate aside: Louder on this one, honestly.

A fair and valid point.

Purr-fectly reasonable.

Even if OP's friend isn't into the kinky side, he probably has followers who are.

According to the Vox article:

"A survey at Furry Fiesta 2013 found that 96.3 percent of male respondents and 78.3 percent of female ones reported viewing furry pornography (which, it should be noted, is a broad category and typically quite similar to regular porn, albeit with furry traits added); men reported looking at furry porn 41.5 times per month on average, while women reported looking 10.5 times per month."

This feels like the woman who told her husband a ridiculous story about her cat

Fair enough.

Being a furry is clearly not THE issue here.

Reddit user FrnchsLwyr responded to the question posed with a sincere and articulate answer:

"I am by NO means an expert on furries. I have literally one friend who's a furry. He's told me (and I am not speaking verbatim here) that a "fursona" is something unique to each person in the community, and (at least for him) his fursona is based on an animal that he's always felt spoke to him - the red fox. The fursona itself is a repository for not just his expression of that inward self...but yes, also a lot of his kinks. (NO JUDGMENT FROM ME). I'm not sure what he spent on the suit, but I do know it was pretty expensive, that he saved for a long time for it, and he's been very happy to wear it now that it's here.

So, based on this purely anecdotal evidence, I'm going to say: NAH.

I'm going to assume your friend's interest in being a cat just like the cat you own is rooted in his deep love for your cat because it's a cat and he feels like he's really a cat (fursona-wise, at least). I'm sure he thought you'd be flattered, too. Clearly...he was mistaken in that regard.

He's not an AH though - it's a deeply personal thing to go out and do what he's done. It's not a spur-of-the-moment thing, by any means.

Nor are you an AH. It's totally OK to be really weirded out by this, the suddenness of it, and the potential implications of your furry friend wanting to be your furry friend.

I think, if you love your friend and he loves you, this is something you work through. Good luck"

Although this response to FrnchsLwyr raises a completely fair counterpoint.

Reddit user mazotori made sure to clarify that OP's friend wasn't sexualizing her cat, and she confirmed he's not into the kinky side at all.

But this follow-up response is a real eye-opener.

Reddit user HotDealsInTexas explained why the whole situation is "morally iffy."

"Massive NTA. While there are concerns about potential misuse, such as strangers creating inappropriate fan art of your pet, the legal landscape around intellectual property rights for pets is murky. According to Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, 'The emotional connection we have with our pets can complicate how we view their likeness being used by others.' Pet owners often do not have clear intellectual property rights over their pets' images, as seen in cases like the Keyboard Cat video, where the owner successfully sued for copyright infringement based on specific content rather than the pet's likeness itself." Dr. Ramani Durvasula continues, "If you monetize content featuring your pet, you risk your pet being associated with your friend's character, especially if the name is the same, which could lead to unwanted associations."

"I think that might be why I'm uncomfortable. I've seen people drawing sexual fan art of his other fursona, and he sees it as a huge compliment, but I don't want people doing that with my cat," reflects a concerned pet owner.

And that makes it worse.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a fursona supposed to be a representation of oneself? Dr. Terri Orbuch, a relationship expert, notes, "Creating a character that closely resembles someone else's likeness without permission can cross into uncomfortable territory, especially if it invites unwanted attention." The internet has a tendency to draw explicit content of anything shared widely, and if your friend is aware of this and still proceeds, it raises ethical concerns.

That's creepy as fuck. Even all by itself, but again he's using the same. fucking. name, which could make it very easy for some random creep to find out who you are or find photos of your cat if there are any pictures of her online that are publicly accessible. Jesus, I'd cut someone out of my life so fast for pulling that stunt.

Tell your friend that you're flattered, but he needs to change the character's name at a minimum, and if it's not too late to alter the design slightly so that it's not identifiable as your cat, and never disclose the source of the inspiration to anyone else for all the reasons above.

Modern problems with no modern solutions.

Unironically HILARIOUS. A real knee-slapper, y'all.

Do you think this would be a peaceful way to exit the earthly realm?

"Your cat is now a celebrity :)))"

Reddit user and furry ImpossibleJedi4 said:

"As a furry, I say NAH. You are in the right here. He 100% should have asked, and it was rude not to.

Do I think he's an asshole? No. Rude and impulsive? Yeah, a bit. He didn't think it through and probably just didn't see a problem with it because it makes sense TO HIM.

I think you need to have a calm discussion with him. Lay out your thoughts; you don't want internet strangers sexualizing a character based on your real-life pet. Ask him to change the name, maybe change up the design (add a wig! Add wings! Other accessories! There are a ton of fun extras to add to a fursuit). Maybe not post it online until he does so, and not at all if he doesn't.

If he doesn't respond to your concerns in a respectful way? Then yeah, he's the AH. But no one is an AH yet here.

Personally, I wouldn't be bothered by a SFW costume of my cat that someone I know owns. Hell, I think my little gremlin would be fun to get a suit of! But I'd definitely have a convo about how I want the suit to be seen. I know other people out there have suits designed off their pets! And as a SFW furry, I think they're great! But you are absolutely valid in your concerns.

I hope everything ends up alright, OP! Tell your cat a random stranger says hi lol"

Scales Tipped.

"As a furry..."

Well, yes.

In all honesty? Same.

Another very fair point has been raised.

A lot of furries were commenting on this thread, which is a good thing.

It would be repugnant not to include this response.

"Like with any community..."

For reasons.

Well, that's more than enough of that. OP was deemed NOT the asshole in this situation, and the discussion was equal parts lively and insightful, and at times it was also hilarious.

Now, put yourself in this Anon's shoes. What would you do if your friend made a fursona out of one of your pets?

Not just a fursona, but a custom costume that cost 6 grand? It can't possibly be the sort of thing many folks have experienced, so we're stuck in the hypothetical (and with no update, we don't even get to see the suit.)

That friendship got weird fast.

Ready for a darker version of “my friend crossed the line,” see the buddy who shot airsoft guns point-blank at a dog.

Share this article: