KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: Although raising pets carries connotations of compassion for all living beings by taking care of them and sympathizing with them; it is striking and ironic that raising cats and dogs in Kuwaiti homes caused marital problems and intensified disagreements between some couples, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a reliable source.

The source revealed that 40 divorce cases among Kuwaitis in 2023 were due to raising pets at home. It became clear in the details of cases filed in courts that “the attachment of one spouse to pets and his excessive interest in them provoked the ire of the other party, who demanded the right to receive care and attention.”

According to the source, a man filed for divorce because his wife took care of the dog in an excessive manner; such that it takes up most of her time. She provides the dog with four meals, and cleans and treats him; in addition to entertaining him by taking him to the sea, parks, and open-air to take care of his emotional well-being. Case files indicate that the husband told the court: “She is supposed to take care of me, more than the dog that gets her full attention.”

The source pointed out that some disputes and issues reached a dead end due to excessive interest in cats, indicating the phrase, “Oh me, oh cat” caused separation in some cases. The source revealed some husbands and wives refused to give up the hobby of raising pets; stressing that this hobby brings psychological comfort and inner peace, so all attempts at reconciliation between the two parties proved futile.