Do I love my cat too much?

Question

I love my little girl cat, Ebony, who is just over a year old, so much that sometimes I worry about it! If anything happened to her it would kill me and yet I know that in all likelihood I will outlive her and will therefore have to go through a terrible bereavement one day. Is it normal to be this attached?!

Thanks so much to all of you who gave really lovely and kind replies (even those who didn't gave me a laugh anyway!).. So sorry for all of you who have lost your dear cats or other pets. I know how hard it must be. Thanks for all your advice. I really mustn't be so negative, and should just cherish the time I have with her, and hopefully it will be a long time. It's so hard to choose a best answer because so many of you were so kind and helpful so I just wanted to thank you all even though I can't vote more than one best answer! Thanks and take care of yourselves and your babies!

Answer 1

Yes, it is normal. I have gone through the bereavement process with a couple of my cats and there is no doubt it is terrible, however the joy a cat can give you while they are alive far outweights the heartache. I have 4 cats and they are all my babies and they know I'm their mum. Just appreciate and make the most of your cat and don't worry about the inevitable. Your cat is only one and she no doubt has a long and happy life ahead of her.

Answer 2

Yes it's normal!
I had that several times and it hurts when they die.
One of my cat's was 19,5 years old when she died of old age.
What I learnt was that black/white cats are the strongest and also the Main coon cats can get an old age.
Someone I knew here In Belgium had a cat that over lived her the owner, the cat was 28 years Persian (one of the oldest ever here in Belgium).After the lady died, the cat had to sleep in.

A cat's life is only for a while normally for about 8-14 years, so enjoy as much as you can.Ebony has still a long way, best of luck with her!

Answer 3

It is normal to be this attached and it is okay to be this attached. My four cats are my whole reason for being! I've had cats all of my life. Don't worry, it will be sad, but it won't kill you when little Ebony's long and wonderful life finally comes to a peaceful rest. You will survive - you have to - after Ebony is gone there are other little kitties who need good homes and love like yours.

Answer 4

Well i'm exactly the same with my cat, rubharb but he is 15, and he isn't exactly a picture of health, i worry about him constantly i treat him like a baby. I literally get up at about 5.30 every morning so i can spend more time with him! Im moving house on saturday and ive got to leave him behind with my parents as it will do him more harm than good if he came with me, so its going to tear me apart and if anything happened to him whilst i'm gone i will feel so guilty. He is my best friend. So no youre not the only one at least yours has plenty of years left inher. Cherish it!

Answer 5

There's a lot of us out there. I used to worry about my cat's death so much I swore I was never going to get over it when she died. But, when the time came, I grieved for many days (still get a lump in my throat sometimes) and moved on. Even the most attached of us can get past it. You're okay!

Answer 6

it is a problem to love something too much if you could not bear to loose it, as it makes us over -protected, worried and stressed -and your kit might pick up on those feelings. Just chill, I love my cat but they way I look at it is this: Cats are independant little souls and she goes out doors each day around the garden. If she goes too far, all the neighbours know her and she is protected as she's neutered, chipped and vaccinated. That is all I can do

Answer 7

Yes that's normal, my bf is 36 and I am 24,
(I have 87 year old grandparents on one side and a grandma who lived to be 97, on the otherside) (grandpa died when I was 6 (cancer).

I try not to think about it.
Cats don't live as long as ppl, if you learn to except that now, you'll be better off later.

Answer 8

You can never love a cat to much. I was the same way with my cat, she was my baby, I got her when she was only 3 weeks old and she was soo sick and I had to bottle feed her and put drops in her eyes and give her meds. She was my baby. We moved and then moved back to our home town, and I had to have her outside in the daytime and she ran away. I sat on my back porch crying for her and calling her name. It has been 5 months now and I still look for her everyday. I understand how you feel about your cat. I wish you all the best with her. I pray that she lives a long, happy and healthy life with you. Best wishes!

Answer 9

As a pet owner, you do worry about your animals but try not to think about them going before you do. Enjoy the time you have with them and worry about them dying when it happens. We all die and we will all have to watch someone we love die before us. I had a cat that got ran over 2 years ago and I cryed for days but I now look back at all the photos of him and think of all the memories and that makes me happy. I may have lost my cat but I have not lost my memories.

Answer 10

I think you are totally normal, especially as your cat is so young.

Try not to focus on the ineviatbale downside of you outliving your pet. You will have many, many years of fun with her & I'm sure will be able to get over her eventual demise which sounds years & years off ....

My hubby still misses his dog, deceased 6 years ago but had him for 15 years but yet he loves our 'new' (now 5 years old- we got them at 6months ...) cats unconditionlly, doesn't mean he has forgotten his dog buddy but he has just just moved on ....