My coworker/friend gave me an old automatic litter box in the beginning of October 2025 because she got a new one and I had never tried one because I wasn’t sure if my cats would use it. Well my cats hated it, as I thought might happen. I told her they didn’t like it and said I’d bring it to work or her place to give it back.
Well she was always busy or I was busy and then she got fired and it stayed in my trunk until March. In march my friend was here visiting from out of state and she has cats and was interested in trying it out.
I texted my old coworker/friend and asked if she was ok with that and that I could see if my friend could pay for it if that was something she wanted. She texted back and said of course my other friend could take it it’s no problem. So I gave it to her and that was that. She did not say anything about payment or how much she would want for it.
Now it’s April, a month after she said to give it to my other friend and she texted me saying that the price is 170$ for it but no pressure or rush in paying her.
Am I the asshole to not want to pay that?
The friend that took it can’t afford that and I can’t afford that. Plus when I looked up the litter box online it isn’t sold anymore and the new version is only 139$.
I feel like had she told me that price from the beginning my other friend wouldn’t have taken it and I would’ve just kept it in my trunk until I saw her.
I haven’t responded to her text yet and I’m just wondering if I should just try and pay her because I brought up payment to begin with but she didn’t say anything until a month after. I had that litter box in my trunk for almost 6 months. If I am being the asshole let me know and I’ll figure out what to do. So AITAH for not wanting to pay 170$ for an old automatic litter box? Was told by a friend to post in a few different places if it isn’t allowed I apologize.
EDIT: I texted her being honest, that I had incorrectly assumed she didn’t want payment and offered an amount I’m able to pay. For the record I don’t think she’s an AH either I feel like most of you said it was just a communication issue unfortunately. And to the people saying to give it back I would but as I said the friend who took it is out of state unfortunately. It would be over 13 hours one way to drive there to get it, and the price of gas it would cost more to do that and I along with a lot of the world just don’t have those funds right now. No reply yet and I don’t actually know how to do an update so this might be all I can tell everyone! Thank you for everyone’s replies and for being kind. I truly appreciate all the responses!