Hi everyone
For the past six years, I haven't really had a life. Ever since my cat Ponyo came into it. The thing is, she loves going out, she’s already gone missing twice, and she generally spends a lot of time roaming outdoors.
The problem is that I think I’m suffering from some kind of 'transference'. My mum passed away in 2025 and she absolutely loved cats. I didn’t. But now, I start panicking if she’s been out for more than four hours; I can’t sleep if she doesn’t come home at night, and I’ve even gone out searching for her in the dead of night. My life has become a living hell. I don’t dare go out with friends anymore; I’m constantly counting the hours and checking up on her. No one understands this anxiety. I’ve tried seeing a psychologist, but it didn’t help. Now I’m going to see a psychiatrist. It’s affecting my family, and my wife has warned me that I’m at risk of losing everything. It’s almost unbearable.
Thank you for any thoughts or advice you can offer.
