Sarah says, “All I talk about is my cat, please help.”

Congratulations! The first step towards recovery is admitting that you have a problem. You’ve clearly realised that other people might not share the same obsessive interest in your feline companion, so all you need to do is work out how to ensure that kitty isn’t always top of the list when you’re chatting to friends. Remember that talking endlessly about a single topic is something that happens to other people as well – new parents, folk with tremendously exciting jobs, and those who love themselves a bit too much are all prone. If you can’t find a thrilling hobby, engrossing TV show or fascinating book to talk about in order to expand your repertoire, why not try asking the person you’re speaking to about them?

Ask how they are or what they’ve been up to. If they mention cats, they probably won’t mind you mentioning yours. If they don’t, steer clear of responding to stories about their kids with an enthusiastic “that reminds me of the time when my cat did something really hilarious!” Most parents don’t like it when you sound like you’re comparing their children to animals. You could perhaps get creative by referring to your cat by name alone in the hope that people will think you’re talking about a friend or a partner (that only works if your cat has a human name), or by changing its name with each new story so that people think you’re talking about different friends… or cats. If all else fails, you could go a bit Mrs Slocombe and start referring to your cat as “my pussy.” Not only will it liven up the conversation, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made the joke before Lyle does.