I think you are right - the kid and the cat are too much. In fact the whole Orin quest is just too edgelord for my tastes - the clown quest is stupid, gory and stupidly gory.
But I've managed two ways - Lae'zel in party going into sewers right away Halsin gets abducted.
Lae'zel out of party, Orin-Lae'zel has knife to Yenna's throat I persuade Orin to let Yenna go.
I've never romanced Halsin, have max approval with Lae'zel and I have high charisma and a persuasion proficiency.