Ailurophobia or fear of cats: causes and treatment

The cat is one of the first animals that was domesticated by humans in ancient times. Graceful and fluffy on the one hand, but at the same time mysterious and independent, these animals have been living next to humans for several thousand years, responding to his care with warmth and love.

“Whoever has a cat need not be afraid of loneliness”

Daniel Defoe.

However, nature has endowed this outwardly pretty animal with fangs and sharp claws. The skills of a predator, the ability to attack and aggressively defend, can instill fear in a person, which over time turns into a persistent phobic disorder. A strong and uncontrollable fear of cats is called ailurophobia (from ancient Greek αἴλουρος - cat + phobia - fear), and it is one of the rare human phobias. According to some reports, about 0.2% of the world's population suffers from it to one degree or another. The name of the phobia was given by the ancient Greek goddess Eiluros, who, according to legend, turned into a cat at night. This fear is considered one of the varieties of zoophobia (fear of animals).

History has shown that ailurophobia is a fear that appeared a long time ago. Such world-famous personalities as Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler suffered from it.

Ailurophobia can occur and develop at any age: both in young children and adults, even in older people. Children, impressionable people, perfectionists and hypochondriacs are most susceptible to this fear . But it happens that a trauma experienced in childhood can transform into a phobia in adulthood, i.e. be delayed.

The symptoms of ailurophobia are very similar to those of other phobias. They can be divided into psychological and somatic.

Causes

The fear of cats, or the name “ailurophobia,” is quite rare. Nevertheless, this is a common phobia among the modern population, occurring mainly in childhood. Experts agreed and identified a number of reasons contributing to the development of a violation of a person’s psychological state.

These include:

Aggressiveness of the animal

The fear of cats appears due to the fact that the animal is able to fight back the offender. A striking example is the fact when a child takes a cat by the tail. Of course, the animal will not like this much and will give change. This way the baby will get unpleasant pain and scratches. There have been cases when a cat caused very significant harm to a child. However, according to psychologists, all it takes for a phobia to arise is a small scratch.

Parental warnings

Ailurophobia is a fear that can be imposed by parents. Many mothers are so worried about their child that they see mortal danger in everything. From an early age, a child is taught that cats are an irreparable evil. Often parents themselves, without knowing it, suffer from a phobia of fear of cats, having heard stories about how an animal scratched a child’s face or infected it with all kinds of viruses.

Impression after watching the film

In some films, cats are shown as vicious and aggressive animals capable of causing irreparable harm to human health and crippling him. If a child watches such videos, he or she increases the risk of developing ailurophobia in all its manifestations. Some impressionable children developed this phobia even after watching a banal children's cartoon about cats.

Excessive superstition

As soon as a black cat crosses the road, some cross themselves, others grab a button and spit over their left shoulder. Of course, after such a reaction, the child develops a fear of this animal.

Mysterious behavior

In some beliefs, a cat is considered a mystical animal, which is a particular cause for concern for impressionable individuals.

Large breeds

For some people, the fear of cats manifests itself in animals - large predators and is subconsciously transferred to small breeds.

Fear of diseases

Ailurophobia is a fear that arises from the fear of contracting toxoplasmosis. The disease is transmitted through scratches. It poses the main danger to pregnant women, as it causes a serious mutation in the fetus.

Allergy

Ailurophobia or fear of cats also occurs if a person suffers from allergic reactions. Indeed, for the purposes of self-preservation and to avoid unpleasant symptoms, allergy sufferers try to reduce contact with this animal to a minimum.

Increased emotional sensitivity

A phobia of cats can develop in a person who may not have even met this animal in person, but has heard many scary stories.

Fear of unpleasant consequences

Ailurophobe, knowing that an animal is capable of scratching him, begins to fear him, thereby generating unreasonable fear in his psyche.

Parting with your beloved pet

This very unusual reason can provoke the development of ailorophobia, especially if such a tragic moment occurred in childhood.

Basically, the problem of fear of cats is far-fetched and is a psychosomatic disorder that can lead to serious consequences. In order not to make your life worse and to recognize the disease in time, you need to clearly know the clinical picture of ailurophobia.

Symptoms of the disease

Before thinking about how to get rid of the disease, it is necessary to accurately understand the symptoms of this phobia. They are completely different for different people. The psychologist must highlight what specific behavior is observed in you when you see cats in order to prescribe the correct therapy.

The main symptoms of phobia when seeing a cat:

• the person’s health begins to deteriorate;
• the skin begins to turn pale;
• the heartbeat begins to increase noticeably;
• increased sweating occurs;
• your head starts to hurt or even feel dizzy;
• the upper and lower limbs begin to tremble.

In particularly severe cases of the disease, the following symptoms are observed:

• fainting, which can last from a few seconds to several hours;
• heart attack.

In general, all patients begin to experience panic fear. They start to get noticeably nervous. A person, at the sight of a cat, is ready to run anywhere, just to meet his fear head-on.

Symptoms of the disease

Due to the fact that people suffering from ailurophobia seek help extremely rarely and in advanced forms, it is possible to protect yourself from such an unpleasant situation. Most often, a person suffering from this phobia experiences dramatic changes in their behavior.

• Deterioration in general health. Ailurophobia is a fear that causes an increase or decrease in blood pressure, causing the skin on the sufferer's face to turn red or pale. At the same time, with a change in the color of the skin, an increased heart rate begins, breathing becomes more frequent and sweating increases.
• Fear of going outside. People suffering from this disorder are terrified to go outside. This is due to the fact that there are thousands of stray cats in open space, ready to approach a person at any moment. Psychologists have observed that cats tend to approach precisely those who are most afraid of it.
• Fear of visiting certain places. Ailurophobes avoid places where the risk of a collision with a cat is maximized. For example, they do not go to the market, and buy food exclusively in supermarkets.
• Reluctance to visit certain friends. Ailurophobia is a fear that can even destroy friendships. A person with a phobia of cats will never cross the threshold of his best friend’s home if there is even a small kitten there.
• Toys. A true ailurophobe is afraid of even toy cats. One type of such product can provoke a panic attack and a feeling of rejection.

In addition to the above symptoms, a person suffering from ailorophobia may also experience:

• Severe headache;
• Dizziness;
• Suffocation;
• Trembling of limbs;
• Sharp chest pain;
• Darkening in the eyes;
• Loss of balance;
• Increased urge to urinate;
• Hot flashes or severe chills.

The rarest types of fear of animals

As with any anxiety disorder, ailurophobia is characterized by the presence of typical signs of a phobia, namely:

• deterioration in general health;
• pale or red skin;
• rapid pulse;
• increased sweating;
• migraines and dizziness;
• tremor;
• fainting conditions;
• arrhythmia, heart attacks;
• panic attacks;
• escape attempts;
• inappropriate behavioral reactions (aggression, tearfulness, conflict, irritability).

How does ailurophobia occur?

Fear of cats, or galeophobia as it is called, develops not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. Even if a person has loved cats since childhood, this does not mean that in later life he will not develop such an unpleasant phobia, especially if psychological trauma has previously been inflicted.

Ailurophobia most often occurs in three forms:

• When an animal approaches, a person experiences unpleasant sensations, resulting in severe fear.
• Attacks of severe uncontrollable panic occur, even if the animal is simply in the field of view of the sufferer.
• Constant and obsessive thoughts that there is an animal everywhere that is preparing to attack the sufferer. The patient constantly looks around and is in a nervous and hysterical state.

Absolutely any irritant associated with the presence of cats can provoke such reactions. Most often, ailurophobia is frightened by:

• Direct physical contact with the animal;
• Directly directed gaze of a cat;
• Abdominal movement directed towards a person;
• Touching the body or seeing cat hair;
• Live or audio recorded meowing and purring of an animal;
• Opportunity to meet a cat in the dark.

In addition, if you ask the patient directly the reason why he is so afraid of cats, the answer you will hear is:

• The ability of an animal to scratch or bite, thereby causing irreparable injury to it;
• Infect with worms or other infections;
• Abnormal fear. The person does not know why he is afraid, but he is unable to control the phobia.

Consequences of cat phobia

Phobia fear of cats is highly treatable. But the prognosis depends on the stage of development of the phobia:

1. A person experiences fear when approaching a cat.
2. A person experiences fear as soon as an animal comes into view.
3. Fear seizes at the mere mention of an animal, a person is in constant anticipation. It seems to him that the animal is about to jump out from somewhere and cause harm. This is a stage close to hysteria and delirium.

Vegetative symptoms also worsen. The physical consequences of a phobia include gastrointestinal diseases, heart disease, breathing problems, etc. From a psychological point of view, consequences include disorientation and desocialization.

How to get rid of ailurophobia

Despite the apparent simplicity of this disease, ailurophobia can cause significant harm to a person not only in relationships with people close to him, but also lead to nervous exhaustion. Therefore, recognizing the presence of a problem, in order to avoid negative consequences, you must urgently begin to deal with it yourself or with the help of a specialist.

Self-treatment of ailurophobia

Ailurophobia is a fear that society does not take seriously. In order to become a full-fledged member of society, it is very important to overcome your fear of cats. Otherwise, a person with such a phobia will definitely not be considered adequate.

A way out of this situation can be found by following this action plan:

1. Awareness of the problem itself. Only by accepting the fact of the presence of the disease can one begin to search for ways to cure it. You shouldn’t hide from everyone and be completely alone. This will not lead to anything good, but will only worsen your mental state.
2. Return of reality. With every panic attack, you need to remember that cats are small predators and they are absolutely neutral towards humans. Their interest is solely in the home, and not in its owner.
3. Get a kitten. Psychologists call this method “knocking out wedges with wedges” and in some cases it is effective. If you are not allergic, you can purchase or adopt a pet from the street. In addition, it has been repeatedly proven that cats are able to calm and bring positive emotions to their owners.
4. See only the positive aspects. Cats on a subconscious level feel their owner’s sore spots, so very often they like to kiss them. In addition, cats are excellent nannies and are able to lull a child and even an adult to sleep with their purring.
5. Watching an extremely positive video. It is better to avoid watching films and stories that show how wild animals attack humans. Today you can find many works showing cats from a completely different side, unfamiliar to the ailurophobe.
6. Get pictures of cats. People with a true phobia are afraid even of a photograph of a cat. Therefore, ideally, various posters depicting such a harmless animal will help overcome fear.

If you cannot overcome ailurophobia on your own, you should definitely seek help from an experienced psychologist.

Treatment of ailurophobia by a psychologist

Fear of cats in ailurophobia is the main cause of severe psycho-emotional disorders, which can only be stopped with the help of a specialist. Most often, he can offer the following treatment methods:

• Cognitive - behavioral method of treatment. This method helps sufferers identify the cause of their phobias thanks to well-posed questions from a psychologist. As a result, a person understands that cats do not pose any danger to him and all his fears are simply far-fetched.
• Hypnosis. Used in complex therapy with the above method. The specialist frees consciousness at a subconscious level, after which, in further therapy, he thinks through how best to help his client.
• Drug treatment. Under the supervision of a doctor, medications are often prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of ailurophobia. Most often these are sedatives, antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics.
• Phytotherapy. It is considered a non-standard, but very effective method in reducing symptoms and treating this disease. The essence of herbal medicine is to take drugs exclusively of plant origin. It is not recommended to carry out such treatment on your own.

Some interesting facts about ailurophobia

History has shown that ailurophobia is a fear that has been around for a long time. Such famous personalities as suffered from it:

• Mussolini;
• Napoleon Bonaparte;
• Adolf Gitler;
• Genghis Khan;
• Julius Caesar;
• Alexander the Great.

Despite their fame, these people did not hide their fear of such a cute animal. Therefore, there is no need to be ashamed of your phobias. They need to be recognized and, if necessary, seek help from specialists. After all, this is the first step on the path to recovery.

Topic: Mental health, Overcoming fears