Lala was used to being the center of attention. She had always been Mom’s darling, the one who received endless hugs, belly rubs, and kisses on the forehead. Every morning, Mom would wake up and greet her with a cheerful, “Good morning, my sweet girl!” followed by a long cuddle session before breakfast. To Lala, life felt perfect.
But everything changed the day Mom brought home a tiny stray kitten.
The kitten was small, fragile, and trembling when Mom first held it in her arms. Its fur was matted, and its tiny meow sounded more like a squeak than a voice. Mom’s heart immediately melted. She carefully wrapped the kitten in a soft blanket and whispered, “Don’t worry, little one. You’re safe now. I’ll take care of you.”
Lala, sitting by the door, tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. She had been excited when Mom left earlier in the day, hoping she would return with treats or maybe a new toy. Instead, Mom came back with… this. A bundle of fur that squeaked and demanded attention.
From that moment, Lala noticed something strange: Mom’s hands, once always free to scratch her ears, were now constantly holding the kitten. Mom’s voice, once calling out, “Lala, come here!” was now whispering sweetly, “Kitty, it’s okay, baby.”
Lala’s tail twitched. She didn’t like this one bit.
The First Signs of Jealousy
The following morning, Mom prepared a small bowl of warm milk for the kitten. She placed it on the floor gently, making sure the kitten could drink without spilling. Lala watched from the side, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open.
“Mom never warms my water like that,” she thought indignantly. “I just get it straight from the tap! And now she’s even blowing on the milk to cool it down? For this little furball?”
When the kitten clumsily lapped at the milk, Mom clapped her hands softly, smiling as though the kitten had just performed a miracle. Lala rolled her eyes, her face scrunching up into what could only be described as the most jealous expression ever seen. She huffed loudly, hoping Mom would notice her dramatic display.
And Mom did notice. “Oh, Lala, don’t be jealous. You’re still my big girl,” she said, reaching out to pat her head. But the moment was short—Mom’s hand quickly returned to stroking the kitten’s soft back.
Lala’s ears drooped. She had Mom’s love… but now she had to share it.
Competing for Attention
In the days that followed, Lala tried different tricks to win Mom back. When Mom sat on the couch with the kitten curled up in her lap, Lala would leap onto the couch too, squeezing herself right next to Mom’s side. She would press her head into Mom’s hand, silently insisting, “Pet me too!”
Sometimes it worked, and Mom would laugh and pet both of them at once. But other times, Mom would softly push Lala aside and say, “Careful, Lala. The kitten is still so small and delicate.”
That hurt Lala the most. For the first time in her life, she felt replaced.
She even tried bringing her toy ball to Mom, dropping it at her feet with hopeful eyes. Usually, Mom would throw it right away, and they would play a game of fetch. But now Mom just smiled apologetically and said, “Not now, Lala. The kitten needs me.”
Lala sulked in the corner, her eyes never leaving Mom and the kitten. Her jealous expression grew so obvious that anyone who walked into the room would have instantly known what she was feeling.
An Unexpected Change
One afternoon, as the sunlight streamed through the window, Mom placed the kitten in a small basket with a soft towel. She stepped into the kitchen to prepare some food.
The kitten let out a tiny, pitiful meow. It sounded lonely.
Lala looked over from her spot on the rug. At first, she felt that same prick of jealousy. “Why should I care if it’s lonely? Mom always comes running to comfort it.”
But then, something stirred inside her. She remembered the first time Mom held her as a pup—how safe and warm she felt in those arms. Maybe the kitten was feeling the same way now.
Cautiously, Lala walked over to the basket. She peered inside and saw the little creature trembling slightly. For a moment, Lala hesitated. Then, with surprising gentleness, she lay down next to the basket and rested her head close enough that the kitten could feel her warmth.
The kitten sniffed her, then nestled against her fur. Slowly, its trembling stopped, and it closed its eyes, falling asleep.
When Mom returned, she froze at the sight. Her heart swelled as she whispered, “Oh, Lala… you’re such a good girl.”
For the first time in days, Mom’s hands were all over Lala—stroking her, hugging her, showering her with kisses. The kitten was still cared for, but now Lala was praised as well.
Her jealous expression melted into one of quiet pride.
Learning to Share
From then on, things began to change. Lala realized that Mom’s love wasn’t limited—it could stretch wide enough to hold them both. Yes, the kitten needed more care, but that didn’t mean Lala was forgotten.
Whenever Mom fed the kitten, she also gave Lala her favorite snack. When Mom cuddled the kitten, she would call Lala over to join. Slowly, Lala stopped sulking and instead started to feel protective of her new little sibling.
One evening, as Mom sat on the floor playing with the kitten, Lala walked over and dropped her toy ball at Mom’s feet. Before Mom could even respond, the kitten batted at the ball with its tiny paw. Lala’s eyes widened. At first, she felt that spark of jealousy again—but then, when she saw the kitten chasing the ball clumsily, she couldn’t help but wag her tail.
Soon, the two were playing together, and Mom laughed so hard tears came to her eyes.
A New Kind of Family
Lala still had moments of jealousy—like when the kitten was cradled in Mom’s arms for long stretches of time. But instead of sulking, she would sit close by, reminding herself that Mom’s love hadn’t disappeared.
In fact, Lala learned something important: love grows when it’s shared.
The kitten became her little companion, and together they filled the house with energy, play, and warmth. Mom adored them both and often said, “I’m the luckiest to have you two.”
And though Lala once wore the most jealous expression whenever she saw Mom taking special care of the kitten, she now wore a different look—one of acceptance, pride, and even joy.
Because deep down, she realized that being a big sister wasn’t about competing for attention. It was about sharing it, protecting it, and finding new ways to love.
And that was something Lala could definitely do.
