Dad and his "lady friend" wound up dropping off the cat on the way home from picking me up. I was there in the car and naturally upset. Dad thought I was being overly dramatic on purpose, and demanded I "stop it". Then he said "why don't you get a hamster?"

I replied "I can get a hamster?" Thinking he was serious. I really love hamsters and was told I couldn't have them anymore by my mother sometime before she left Dad.

He said "No, a toy hamster." Like he thought he was being funny. That just made me all the more upset. Then he continued joking the rest of the way home with his "lady friend", suggesting I get another bird, but then quickly reminding me of how well it went last time when it traumatically died in my hands, after our dog attacked it. I stopped saying anything to them and left the two of them laughing and joking to each other the rest of the way home.

I texted Mom about my concerns and she reassured me that my brother really loves the cat and will take good care of him, and if he can't she'll take him. She also said to not engage my dad when he thinks he's being funny. It only encourages him.

And he wonders why Mom left him.