Why is the bond so strong and what goes wrong when cats become over-dependent or under-attached?
Vicky Halls – a report from FAB Conference 2000 We all know someone who we think is slightly ‘over-the-top’ in the way they behave towards their cat (not counting ourselves of course!) but it is usually harmless fun that gives pleasure to both the cat and the owner. However, occasionally these relationships can cause problems, particularly when either the cat or the human or both become ‘over-attached’. Over-attachment could be defined as ‘having an emotional bond with a pet that is so intense that it is detrimental to the physical and psychological wellbeing of either the human or the animal’. These are mainly ‘behind closed doors relationships’ that many of us will never fully appreciate or understand. Veterinary practices may see the aftermath of over-attachment problems when the animal dies or is euthanased and the owner is unable to cope. Some people exhibit extreme emotion and tend not to progress through the stages of grieving in the usual way which leads to acceptance of the lo
