If you have the extreme or irrational fear of cats, then you are not alone. In the United States alone, nearly 22.2% of individuals are known to fear animals of different kinds. The fear of cats is known by many several names. A common one is Ailurophobia , which has its origins in Greek ( ailouros (cats) and phobos (dread or fear)). Another name for this phobia is Gatophobia (which is etymologically Spanish Gato for cats). It is also called Galeophobia (again Greek for cats-galemacr).
Animal phobias are common and many individuals tend to fear more than one animal. For people with Ailurophobia, their fear or dread of cats can greatly impact their daily lives and activities.
Causes of Gatophobia or fears of cats phobia
There are a number of possible explanations for fear of cats:
- A common trigger for Ailurophobia is watching fearful reactions of other people to cats. A child might develop this fear by watching his parent or caregiver (or even cartoon characters in a TV show) behave fearfully towards cats.
- Women are known to acquire Gatophobia by watching TV shows or movies where typically women characters exhibit or display fear by jumping on the chair or running away to avoid cats. This notion is further enhanced by the fact that a male character is shown to protect her from the animal.
- Cats are predatory by nature. Often they have been associated with witchcraft, folklore, evil. Even domesticated cats might snarl, hiss or scratch. Having observed such cat behavior as a child (or even as an adult) directly or indirectly leads to this phobia.
- Killing or harming cats in many cultures, especially amongst ancient Egyptians where cats were revered and mummified or preserved, is considered a punishable Act. Such religious sentiments can also lead to fear of cats especially in minds of people already going through crisis or are, by nature, high strung or overly anxious.
Symptoms of Ailurophobia or the fear of cats
People with Ailurophobia display panic attacks upon confrontation with a cat. Avoidance of cats is another symptom of this phobia. In general, individuals might display following behavior:
- “Fight or flight response” upon seeing a cat, typically running away or trying to defend oneself.
- At least four of following symptoms may be present: (i) pounding heart, (ii) trembling or shaking, (iii) chest pain, (iv) nausea, (v) dizziness or lightheadedness,(vi) numbness or tingling sensations, (vii) thoughts of death, (viii) feeling like choking.
- As far as avoidance in Gatophobia is concerned; the individual will try to do anything to avoid a cat even if it entails putting oneself at risk. Crossing the street quickly, jumping out of the cats’ ways are a few examples. One might avoid nature shows or TV channels where they might see a cat. They will also turn down invitations to friends’ homes where there is a pet cat.
- Other avoidance reactions in Ailurophobia may be subtle: carrying cat food snacks to throw at the cat or shutting one’s eyes during a movie scene or carrying a pepper spray or having a family member scope out the neighborhood to ensure there are no cats around.
Overcoming the fear of cats phobia
The great news for most animal phobias including the fear of cats is that these are easily treatable. Most mild cases of Ailurophobia can be overcome with a few therapy sessions.
- Prolonged exposure to cats gradually is important to overcome Gatophobia. This may be done in steps: (i) seeing the cat from far, (ii) looking at its pictures, (iii) saying its name and so on. These limited forms of exposure are highly instrumental in eroding the fear of cats.
- For gradual desensitization to be effective, it is important that the phobic stays in the situation and practices it many times. Doing so can be beneficial in reducing the use of strategies of avoidance of cats such as carrying safety cues, and other overprotective behaviors.
- It is important to enlist the help of friends or family members when undergoing exposure therapy. Trained therapist can also help achieve positive results.
- One must also re-learn to think differently about cats. There are many methods of doing so: one must identify anxious thoughts, beliefs and predictions and replace all these with more realistic ones. These strategies can be used along with exposure therapy to overcome the fear of cats.
If you suffer from Gatophobia or Ailurophobia; you are not alone. However, you must take steps to identify and understand the nature of your fear of cats so that you can prepare yourself to confront and overcome your phobia once and for all.
Michelle Bright says
What is the fear of Large Cats, like Cougars? I am afraid of them when I hike or walk in the woods. I know a couple of instances of attacks in my state and one large animal that stalked the family’s four small kids and dog. Yikes!
Tel-Aviv's feral cats says
Also, maybe a person has been scratched in early childhood. Small children love pulling cats tails, and don’t understand the danger of handling feral kittens in front of the mother.
Or maybe it’s the fear of pain. Friendly house cats sometimes invite themselves to humans’ laps, and they don’t always fold their nails, what I refer to as ‘bad lap manners.’ And they may knead. That hurts a bit, and it may make some people anxious.
Mostly it’s the lack of knowledge about cats behavior that can make a person anxious. People who understand cats know they only attack humans if they’re cornered, or if you touch their kittens. As long as you don’t do any of these things, you won’t be attacked.
I have a neighbor who screams blue murder whenever she sees my cats in the yard, and my cats run away whenever they see a person. She bangs on my shutters and yells she’ll call the police!
Alya Ahmed Alabdouli says
Why do I have the feeling that I’m scared of cats whenever they come near?
Madyson VanArk says
I have a few questions.
1) Whenever I get on a boat, I get a panic attack, and I get horrible anxiety. Is this a phobia?
2) I have a relative that jumps on tables to avoid seeing cats. Does she have a phobia?
3) I have had a terrible experience with spiders. I woke up one night -in the middle of it- and there was the biggest, hairiest spider I had ever seen. Now I sometimes want to avoid going into the trail in the woods behind my house in case I see a spider. Is this a starting phobia?
This information can really help my relative and me. We may be able to overcome both of our phobias.
annastone24 says
Great post, my son used to be terrified of cats and it used to trouble him a lot. Thankfully, we all slowly helped him deal with it!
Jannah Vincent says
I dont know if I have Cat Phobia.
I used to have a cat, she died. so after about, 5 years, i encounter a cat while visiting my Great Grandmother, and how it meowed, its pupils…. they just creeped me out. i could feel my heart pounding really loudly in my chest. i acted happy around my Great Grandmother, i mean, she just lost her husband of old age, all she has is her cat, so I was trying to act polite, and ignored my fear, letting it crawl onto me and i pet it, sure it was soft, im still terrified of cats, (except black furred ones, i have no idea why, but they seem more misunderstood, and i have more experience with them, i loose the fear with Black-furred cats) Also, my littlest sister was messing with the cat way too much, she hugged its head, and it scratched her face, that makes me TERRIFIED of cats. im horrified that if i mess up with a cat, itll turn on me.
Jannah Vincent says
this is still just with House Cats. wild cats are okay with me.
Maryam says
I have cat phobia and i am going to travel to my friend’s house in sydney . She has 2 cats! Help me overcome my phobia in 2 month please.
Rosealyn says
I’m terribly afraid of house cats. I cannot tolerate listening to their purrs, their features or their appearance. They are to me like demons. I don’t think any amount of therapy could make me tolerate them. They freak me out. However, big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, cheetahs etc. I love. How ironic is that? Yet tiny house cats frightens me.
Jannah Vincent says
omg, me and you are SO alike :D! they freak me out alot! how they brush up against stuff is so freaky! they seem to try to get onto ur good side and then strike! its creepy!
Shic says
I feel the exact same way, I don’t think I could ever get over the fear.
Donna says
Its clear for me that i have fear of cats, this started when i was in grade school and now I’m almost done in my college. Still, im scared of cats, specially those baby cats the once that i hate the most and i think this would be forever.
Yasar Mirza says
Hello ! My friend is suffering from ailurophobia or fear of cats.
It started from childhood. She dont want to face the cats species. She has all the symptoms which show the fear of cats. Can you please help me end this problem.
Thanks.
Annie q says
I have a massive dog and my auntie has a cat so whenever I go stay I am really really scared it is a black cat I think I have cat phobia. I start shaking when a cat is near ! What shall I do?
noor says
I want to have a cat but am really afraid of touching her. I’m suffering from cat phobia.