Newlywed couple in Bhopal seek divorce over rivalry between their pets

It seems bizarre as a reason to break a marriage, but in Rajasthan’s Bhopal court it was heard that it is not the cordial relationship between man and woman alone that sustains a healthy marriage, but their pets also need to coexist in harmony.

A young couple who tied the knot in December 2024 has approached the court seeking divorce after less than a year of marriage, and the unusual reason behind their separation is the constant conflict between their pet dog and cat which has turned their home into a battleground.

The husband is an IT professional working from home in Bhopal and the wife, who is originally from Uttar Pradesh, is employed in the city, and although they initially bonded over their shared love of animals, what once united them has now become the very source of discord.

The wife has expressed deep anxiety over her cat’s safety, and she has alleged that the husband’s dog frequently disturbs and even attacks it, leaving the pet distressed and unwilling to eat at times.

The husband, however, has argued that before marriage both had agreed she would not bring her pets along, but she later introduced her cat into the household, and he has claimed that the cat not only disturbs the dog but also causes trouble around the aquarium. He has maintained that the cat has displayed aggression towards the dog on several occasions, and the conflict has only grown more serious.

Court-mandated counselling sessions have been held repeatedly, and both families have tried to mediate, but neither spouse is prepared to part with their pet, and reconciliation efforts have failed.