Research overview: stability of cat attachment styles over time

A key question raised by findings of secure and insecure attachment in cats is whether those styles are stable traits or transient states. This overview surveys evidence on the consistency of feline attachment classifications across repeated testing and over development, including retests weeks or months apart and comparisons across life stages. Some work reports that attachment categories remain fairly stable, suggesting an enduring characteristic of the individual relationship, while other findings highlight sensitivity to context and procedure. The survey discusses how stability bears on whether attachment in cats is analogous to the trait-like patterns documented in human infants and dogs, and what it implies for interventions, rehoming and the durability of bonds formed between cats and their caregivers.