AITA for Taking Stray Kittens to Shelter Against Partners Wishes?

AITA for taking a litter of kittens to a shelter against my SO's wishes? Emotions run high as I prioritize the health of the kittens over personal attachments.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
11 Mar 2026

AITA for Taking Stray Kittens to Shelter Against Partners Wishes?

Keeping stray kittens is supposed to be the wholesome kind of chaos, until it turns into a full-blown backyard crisis with sick little eyes and a partner who refuses to budge. In this townhouse with a deck, OP and their significant other watched a cat family move in under the stairs, then tried to do everything “the right way.”

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At first they agreed on a plan, feed the mom, wait for the kittens to transition, then bring them to a shelter together. But when two kittens started getting eye infections and one began vomiting, OP felt the timeline was running out. OP begged their SO to let them handle it, and their SO stayed attached to the kittens and wanted to keep them going, even as things worsened.

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So OP made the call, took the kittens to a shelter while their SO was at work, and now it has blown up into a relationship fight.

Original Post

Me and my significant live in a townhouse with a deck in the backyard. Around 3 weeks ago we noticed that there was a litter of cats living under the deck.

We initially agreed to feed the mother and try to get all of the kittens healthy. Then once they naturally moved inside to get their own food we would take them all as a group to the shelter, so they could be cared for properly.

So we followed through with our plans and after 2 weeks they slowly eventually came out. We housed them all in a spare room so they would feel safe.

And gave them lots of blankets and places that were safe to hide. During the process I was frantically calling up vets and shelters asking them what the best thing to do was.

However, 2 of the kittens began to get sick. Both getting an eye infection.

At this point I pleaded with my SO that the situation was out of our situation to handle. But he said that he was too attached and wanted to look after them and make sure they had good foster parents.

As the situation became worse (One of the kittens starting vomiting), I took it upon myself to take the kittens to a shelter (that had a no put down possibility... unless they got really sick) and talked to them on the phone.

They guaranteed they would do everything in their possibility to make sure they went to good owners. TBF, as he wasn't budging I did this once he left for work, as I felt it needed to be done.