I wonder if there is something that happened in your childhood?
I think the cat represents innocence and you are trying to protect that innocence, but because something already happened you're unable to affect it.
I think the dark room represents being unaware, not knowing or understanding. So, if something happened during your childhood you wouldn't have understood it or was unaware that it wasn't right and now that you are an adult it has come back and you feel this need to protect your little child.