Indian couple files for divorce because their pets didn’t get along

BHOPAL: A newly married couple in Bhopal has filed for divorce less than a year into their marriage, citing persistent conflict between their pets, a dog and a cat, as the primary reason for their split.

According to an article published by Oddity Central, ironically, the couple had initially bonded over a shared love of animals. Their relationship blossomed into marriage in December 2024. However, shortly after moving in together, tensions flared. Not between the couple themselves, but between their pets.

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The wife claims her husband’s dog repeatedly harassed and even attacked her cat. The husband, on the other hand, argues that he had made it clear before the wedding that she should not bring her pets into their shared home. He also accused the cat of disturbing the household by constantly hovering over their fish tank, adding to the discord.

Efforts to mediate the conflict included multiple counseling sessions and intervention by relatives, but neither partner was willing to compromise on their loyalty to their respective animals. The woman reportedly refused to part with her cat, while the husband remained firmly on the side of his dog.

After months of unresolved tension, the couple filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences fueled by the ongoing pet feud.

“People seek companionship in pets, sometimes placing them above human relationships,” said family counselor Shail Awasthi. “When both partners refuse to adjust, marriages like these collapse. It reflects a growing trend of people taking relationships lightly, believing that pets can substitute for human bonds.”

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Bhopal family court officials described the case as highly unusual, but not entirely surprising. “This situation highlights the increasing emotional dependence on animals,” one official noted. “As social isolation grows, people are forming deeper attachments to pets, sometimes at the expense of human relationships.”