Research overview: typologies of the owner-cat relationship

Researchers have proposed classifications of human-cat relationships based on how owners perceive and interact with their cats and how cats respond. This overview surveys survey-based and observational studies that identify relationship types ranging from distant or remote associations to intensely close, companion-style bonds, often shaped by whether the cat is indoor or outdoor, the owner's emotional investment, and mutual responsiveness. It examines instruments developed to measure attachment and relationship quality, the correlates of stronger bonds such as more interaction and indoor living, and how relationship type relates to welfare and care decisions. The survey frames these typologies as tools for understanding variation in cat keeping and for tailoring veterinary and behavioural advice to the realities of different human-cat partnerships.