Country star Kellie Pickler was forced to give up her beloved pet before marrying new husband Kyle Jacobs because he's "severely allergic" to cats.

The former "American Idol" star wed her songwriter boyfriend Jacobs on a private island in the Caribbean last January after three years of dating.

But before the big day, Pickler made one heart-wrenching sacrifice for her husband-to-be.

She tells Parade magazine, "I love cats, but my husband's severely allergic to them. I had to find a good home for my cat when we got together. I still get a little teary eyed when I think about Pickles."

However, the young beauty has found new ways to show off her love of felines - she's recently partnered with designer Geren Ford to create a limited-edition sweater in honour of February's Cat Appreciation Month to raise funds for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

She adds, "I'm no Vera Wang, that's for sure, but it's really cute for a cat sweater. I think there's a stereotype for women who love cats. We get called crazy cat ladies, so this is hopefully going to break that!"