Deborah Hodge, a 49-year-old mother from London, organised a wedding ceremony overseen by an ordained friend to show her bond with cat India, Yahoo Life UK reports.

“Although some might think it a stupid idea, I wanted to be able to show physically, by holding the ceremony in front of my friends even though they thought I was bonkers that I am very serious,” she said.

Ms Hodge added: “By marrying India, I need any future landlords to know that we come as a package and we cannot be separated under any circumstances as she is as important to me as the children.”

The marriage is unlikely to be recognised by the English courts.