When Love for Animals Tests Love at Home

Kitten found in a hallway

Kitten found in a hallway

Mama cat on the street

Mama cat bringing her kittens to an apartment

A week and a half later, mama and her kittens are safe, together, and thriving with a loving rescue squad

Mom is safe now with a rescue squad. She is in the cage while they have someone go check to make sure she doesn't have any fleas or ticks. If so, then she will be treated. It didn't look like she had ticks or fleas, but they just wanted to make sure.

Last week was a whirlwind of emotions. It all started when I learned about a mama cat who had given birth to two tiny kittens. She carried them up to the third floor of someone’s apartment hallway—a teacher at the school where my sister works. When I heard this, my heart couldn’t rest. I reached out to my doctor, who had expressed interest in adopting cats, but by the time I did, her husband had already taken their kids to an adoption event at Petco.

I felt anxious, almost panicked. These three lives needed to stay together, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them being separated. So, I did what my heart told me to do: I rescued them. I kept them safe in a carrier until a rescue group was able to take them in.

The mama cat was incredibly sweet, as if she understood she was finally safe. She purred, gentle and calm, soaking in the love and kindness she so deeply deserved. For me, this was a moment of purpose and compassion—but at home, things didn’t feel so peaceful.

My husband had been excited to share some big news—he’d just gotten hired at an insurance company! But when he came home and saw the cats, his joy turned to frustration. He’d already told me he didn’t want me rescuing cats again, and my decision put a dent in our marriage that day. There was tension, silence, and hurt on both sides.

Thankfully, we worked through it. We had the help of my sister and our naturopathic doctor to guide us. We talked—really talked—and slowly found our way back to love and understanding. It wasn’t easy, but it reminded me of something important: communication is everything. Even when the conversations are hard, they matter. Because if we don’t talk, we drift apart.

In the end, the cats are safe, my husband and I are reconnecting, and life moves forward. If there’s one takeaway from this experience, it’s this: listen, speak, and keep your heart open—to the one you love and to the lives that need your care.

By Jasmine B Nelson