It is common to hear expressions such as "hyperattachment" or "pathological dependency" when we talk about dogs, but many are surprised to discover that cats can also generate a relationship of excessive dependency towards their guardians. These felines have always been considered independent, distant and even surly animals, but nothing could be further from the truth! They also establish strong emotional bonds with their caregivers and, in some cases, can develop some types of attachment that lead to problems. of hyperdependence and in difficulties to relate in a he althy way.
If you think your furry is behaving too dependently on you or on another family member and you don't know how to act, in this article on our site we explain the difference between dependence and attachment, we tell you how a dependent cat behaves and we give you some tips to help your cat gain autonomy, Do not miss it!
What is a dependent cat?
Although the intense genetic selection to which feline breeds have been subjected over the years has a certain weight on the character of the specimens, the truth is that each cat has its own personality and has unique behavioral tendencies that set it apart from other members of its species. This means that any feline can develop dependency problems towards other individuals if the right circumstances occur, since, as occurs with dogs or with humans, cats also establish different forms of attachment depending on the type of relationship they have with their guardians.
As we will see later, if the animal's caretakers behave with it in an unpredictable way, overprotect it and isolate it from the environment or do not properly cover its needs (especially during the puppy stage), the cat can developing an insecure attachment, being anxious, hypervigilant or preoccupied during social interactions and having a really hard time when physically separated from their attachment figures. In these cases, it is very likely that the animal has a problem of emotional dependence
Symptoms of a dependent cat
Below, we show you some symptoms that could make you suspect that your cat is very dependent. Keep in mind that not all the symptoms have to appear at the same time or with the same intensity, as they depend on the type of relationship that exists between you and your cat. Thus, hyperattachment in cats can develop in the following ways:
- Shows signs of anxiety whenever he is left alone at home or has no direct access to you, for example, meows with despair, stops eating, vomits, gasps and saliva, repeats movements in a stereotyped way, self-harms, urinates or defecates outside of his litter box, destroys objects, or is unable to sleep.
- He constantly follows you around the house (he even wakes up if you move to follow you) and is not able to relax in a room if you are not in it.
- Has ambiguous behaviors when he is next to you, for example, he avoids you touching him but at the same time he does not leave your side.
- After some time apart, he receives you very upset and with great emotion or, for the On the contrary, he appears distant, stressed and even aggressive, as if he is upset with you.
- Never plays alone or with individuals other than yourself, does not explore his surroundings and is very suspicious of anything that does not known.
Despite this, it is important to know that, in order to determine that a cat really has a dependency problem, many other aspects that go beyond its observable behavior must also be assessed, such as its genetic inheritance, your previous experiences or even your physical he alth.
Is my cat very dependent or very attached?
The creation of attachment is natural and biologically important, not only in humans, but also in cats and many other animals. Now then, the specific type of attachment that is established between the individual and its caregivers will be decisivefor the emotional development of the feline, so not all of them are
A study published in 2019 at Oregon State University[1] stated that the bonds cats establish with their Human caregivers are similar to those that babies establish with their parents, so we can talk about the same types of attachment in both cases. Although there are more categories and subcategories, in general terms we usually talk about two main types of attachment:
- Secure attachment: a he althy bond is established between the caretaker and the cat, where the former cares about covering all the cat's needs Second, it gives him affection, confidence and security. The securely attached cat has no difficulties socializing, feels calm in the company of his guardian and actively seeks support from him when he is afraid or needs help. The animal may want to spend a lot of time with its guardian, but also is able to remain relaxed when away from him and enjoys having its own space to rest, explore or play.
- Insecure Attachment: The insecurely attached cat tends to Under a lot of stressin social interactions and is suspicious of strangers. Depending on the relationship between the cat and the guardian, some felines avoid physical contact with their caregiver altogether, while others seek him out constantly and develop a lot of anxiety when they are separated from him or her.
If you notice that your cat spends a lot of time with you and demands your attention frequently, but is also able to remain calm alone, interact with other individuals in a he althy way and explore its environment independently, your cat is likely to be very attached to you, but not pathologically dependent.
Why is my cat so dependent?
There are many factors that influence a cat to be very dependent or to develop hyper-attachment. The way you behave with the cat once you adopt it will determine, to a large extent, the type of attachment that the animal will develop towards you, although there are other factors that may also be involved. First of all, you must bear in mind that it is not the same to incorporate an adult animal or a puppy into the family and that there are differences between those cats that have been raised in favorable conditions with their mother and siblings and those that have been abandoned or, for example, have suffered some kind of mistreatment. Similarly, some breeds, such as the sphynx, show a greater tendency to emotional dependency, while others are more independent.
The life experiences that the feline has had in its past, before arriving at your home, influence its behavior and its way of managing emotions, so it is possible that animals that have been rescued or that were not properly cared for suffer a lot of stress and develop dependency problems towards their new family.
On the other hand, if you raise your cat from a puppy and therefore control its environment from an early age, you should make sure you know what a cat's needs are during the different stages of development. their development (both physically and psychologically) and adequately cover them. Some common behaviors like overprotecting the kitten, ignoring her calls for attention,isolate him or not provide enough social or environmental stimulation can lead to behavioral changes in adulthood, especially related to with phobias, insecurities and an excess of emotional dependency.
What to do with a very dependent cat?
When there is a behavioral problem, the first step should always be Rule out the possibility that the cat suffers from any ailment or physical pathology, because some diseases are manifested through an alteration in the behavior of the animal that, suddenly, can be more affectionate, demanding or "attached" than usual. A review with your veterinarian will be enough to assess the physical he alth of your furry.
After this, and as we have mentioned in the second section of this article, emotional dependence can only be correctly diagnosed by evaluating a series of factors that go beyond the symptoms that the tutor observes in day to dayWho can best carry out this research work is a feline ethologist, a professional who will assess your specific case and advise you during the behavioral modification process. So, if you are looking for the solution for a dependent cat, you should know that there is no single formula, but rather it depends on each case.
Also, if you suspect that your furry is too dependent, here are some tips to help him gain some autonomy and confidence in itself:
- Enrich their environment: Interactive and stuffable toys, jumping platforms or climbing towers can keep your cat entertained while they stimulate him physically and mentally and cover some of his basic needs as a species, so they are a great ally when it comes to encouraging him to play and distract himself without paying attention to you.
- Let him explore: Even if you fear that something might happen to your cat, you should avoid overprotecting and isolating him. Cats are very curious animals by nature and it is important that you encourage your furry to explore his environment independently, in this way he will gain confidence and self-assurance. To avoid any accident, you can place guards on windows and patios or put a harness on your furry to prevent it from escaping if you offer it access to the outside.
- Don't ignore him: Many people try to reduce dependency on their cats by ignoring them and avoiding physical contact with them, but doing this it is possible that the animal develops more and more anxiety. It is important that you create a he althy relationship with your furry, that you play with him and give him affection so that he knows that he can count on you when he needs it while you teach him, with great patience, that he cannot always get what he wants.
- Avoid any type of punishment: Never yell or scold your cat if he shows symptoms of anxiety or dependence on you. He thinks that this problem causes him great emotional discomfort that he is not able to control on his own, so the last thing he needs is to be punished for expressing himself. Try to understand your furry friend and, if you consider it necessary, contact a professional.
- Use products to reduce stress: Some products such as feline pheromones or catnip can have an anxiolytic effect on cats and help them cope with moments of stress, always accompanied by some behavioral modification guidelines. Specific drugs for the treatment of these cases should only be administered under the prescription of your veterinarian or ethologist.
Again, we insist on the importance of consulting a feline ethologist in cases of hyperattachment in cats to establish an adequate plan.
