‘My Big Fat Fabulous Life’: Whitney, Mom Babs Quarrelling Over New Cat?

When Whitney Way Thore decides to surprise her mother Babs with a new cat, she’s the one who ends up getting surprised by her mom’s reaction. Apparently, Babs is not in a place where she can just be happy about receiving another pet, and this might be a problem for Whitney.

In a new exclusive clip from “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” Season 5 shared by TLC on YouTube, Whitney is seen enthusiastically approaching Ashley’s friend Cameron, who has this cat that needs a new place to stay. Upon seeing the feline and learning that it has two thumbs, Whitney is right away sold on the idea of taking the cat to her mother.

“Sweet, docile, curly, thumbs — I cannot wait to get this cat to my mom because her face is gonna be priceless,” Whitney says in the video. Unfortunately for Whitney, Babs is actually not that thrilled to have another pet to take care of. Moreover, Babs is not pleased at the thought that Whitney is running late for the photoshoot they were doing for a neighborhood publication.

When Whitney arrives at her parents’ place, she interrupts the shoot by bringing the new cat to Babs who is still posing for the camera with her husband Glenn and her son Hunter. The expression on Babs’ face then quickly changes from happy to agitated. She’s evidently mad even when Whitney tries to cheer her up with her present.

“There is a cat being thrusted into my face,” Babs says in her camera interview with a serious expression. The clip the jumps back to the photo shoot scene where Babs is seen giving a not-so-good stare at Whitney. This causes Whitney to confront her mom and ask, “You don’t want him?” Babs then retorts with a question, “You brought this for me?” When Whitney says “yes,” Babs turns her head as though she were to let out a sigh of disappointment.

In her sit-down interview, Babs reveals that Whitney’s present is “the ugliest kitten” she has ever seen in her life. Meanwhile, Whitney says in her monologue that she’s actually confused by her mom’s reaction. “OK, I’m confused. My mom is depressed. She’s grieving Tori (deceased pet dog), she misses Harvey, she’s obsessed with Henchi — clearly, she wants a new cat. So I bring her one, and now she’s acting like this.”

Fortunately, before the tension could develop into a full-blown mother-daughter clash, Babs decides to take the new cat under her wing but only for the next 24 hours. This, of course, was only possible after Whitney prods her mother to do so in order for the latter to know if the new cat is worth keeping in her house.

“My Big Fat Fabulous Life” Season 5 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on TLC.