Ailurophobia is an irrational fear that arises at the sight of cats and cats (domestic, yard); in severe forms, the phobia also manifests itself at the mention of these animals, from photographs and pictures of cats. You can find other names for fear: gatophobia, elurophobia, galeophobia, aclurophobia.
Fear often coexists with uncontrolled thoughts and images that can worsen the general condition of an ailurophobe. Such obsessions cause a constant presence of internal tension and anticipation of a collision with a potential frightening object (cat).
In most cases, it is not possible to eradicate this fear on your own; support from a psychologist, psychotherapist and a course of psychotherapeutic influence are required. The result of the correction is often the complete elimination of fear and the transformation of attitudes towards cats from negative to neutral.
Factors influencing development
People of different ages and regardless of gender are prone to this pathological condition. It can be aggravated by a person’s existing personality traits, for example, suspiciousness and impressionability. Galeophobia develops in early childhood under the influence of individual circumstances. However, there are cases when the fear of cats developed in adulthood (more about other zoophobias).
Causes of phobia
Among the typical reasons, two main traumatic circumstances can be distinguished. Depending on a person’s age, general emotional coloring and the reaction of others, they can influence the emergence of irrational fear with varying strength.
- Negative experiences with cats. If in early childhood an animal greatly frightened the child with its unexpected appearance, an angry hissing, or during play the cat painfully bit or scratched the child, then fear of cats arises as a defensive reaction. And gradually it is able to change, becoming a pathology.
- Unpleasant emotional and physical consequences from communicating with a cat. Pain caused by cat bites and scratches, a negative reaction from parents, a possible visit to the doctor after contact with yard animals, and the emotional reaction of others to the situation can reinforce in the child’s mind the idea that cats are dangerous. And it becomes the “base” for the growth of irrational fear.
Additional reasons due to which such a phobia can develop are frightening images of cats in fairy tales or films, obsessive ideas that animals can be carriers of dangerous diseases. With severe disgust, fear often manifests itself towards stray cats.
An allergic reaction to an animal in the patient himself “fuels” an irrational fear. And if a child witnesses a strong and noticeable allergy in one of the family members or acquaintances, this can frighten and create a negative image of the animal.
Superstitious people also tend to be afraid of cats. Mystical ideas and signs associated with representatives of the feline family force such people to avoid animals as much as possible. And if any sign is triggered in a person’s life, then horror at the sight of a cat can develop into a full-fledged phobia.
What do scientists think?
The cause event does not necessarily need to be considered in a very simplified form, for example, a cat suddenly jumped out from around the corner, made a terrible guttural sound and thereby frightened a child or adult. It may be related to other facts. The child asked for a kitten, but the parents did not want to have one. So that the baby finally calms down and stops bothering him with his requests, they tell him how scary cats are - they ruin everything, spread germs and in general they are from Satan. Since the child trusted them, he believed in it, was afraid of the villainous cats, and fear became part of the program of his adult life. However, sometimes it is not possible to find the cause even during the most in-depth psychoanalysis. A person remembers a lot of what happened in childhood, but cannot talk about this. Suspicion creeps in - nothing like this ever happened.
This forces us to look for other possible causes of the phobia. According to one hypothesis, a cat can symbolize aggression, evil mystery, and the dark forces of evil. Of course, we are talking about the fact that this symbol refers to the subconscious perception of reality. The subconscious received an image-symbol, and from there came a response in the form of an emotion - fear. All this happens without the participation of the logical apparatus.
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If the fear of cats is a phobia, then by definition it is an irrational fear. But who would want to admit that they are a person who is afraid of some cute furries, but doesn’t know why?
The causes of ailurophobia may be associated with a person’s childhood, when he was frightened by various mystical stories about cats
Symptoms
The symptoms are similar to those of other phobias. They can be divided into psychological bases and physiological manifestations. Depending on the strength of uncontrolled fear and the conditions accompanying it (obsessiveness, neuroses, tendency to depression, and so on), the symptoms may be more or less pronounced.
Physiological signs
At the physiological level, the fear of cats is manifested by the main symptoms characteristic of a panic attack. It is accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, a feeling of shortness of breath and the inability to take a deep breath. When a person sees a cat (live or drawn or photographed), he may feel dizziness, nausea, and chills as if he had a fever, accompanied by increased sweating.
Also, symptoms of fear of cats include chaotic movements and general loss of coordination, trembling and sudden weakness, pre-fainting, and in rare cases, complete fainting is possible. There may be paleness or redness of the skin. Ailurophobe is able to feel close to tears or increasing internal aggression as a form of defense against a potential threat.
Psychological manifestations
A typical manifestation of a phobia is an intensified desire to escape, to hide from a frightening object. Moreover, if the irrational fear is really extremely strong, a person may fall into a state of passion.
For people with aclurophobia, even minimal contact with an animal seems to be a serious challenge. A feeling of progressive anxiety, excitement and restlessness, manically pursuing ideas about the threat posed by cats, force one to avoid meeting animals, avoid yard cats, and refuse to visit friends if there is a pet cat in the house.
While on the street, people with such fear often think fixatedly about the possibility of meeting stray cats. Because of this, a conditioned feeling of paranoia, internal suspiciousness and a state of tension only increase. At such moments, a person experiences extremely severe stress, which can negatively affect the somatic and mental state.
Fear of cats: how to overcome ailurophobia
Among all the pets: hamsters, guinea pigs, parrots, many people have a special passion for cats. Pussies are adored by little toddlers, respectable gentlemen, and elderly ladies. Although, unlike the same dogs, there is essentially no benefit from murkas. On the contrary, they mark corners, leave fur on clothes, meow unceremoniously and scratch painfully. However, despite all these shortcomings, many people have ardent feelings for tailed creatures. How people are “friends” with cats: abnormal feelings
There are contemporaries whose affection for cats is simply off the charts.
Individuals with ailurophilia, a complex psychotic disorder, experience excessive pathological feelings towards these domesticated predators. Lonely elderly people are especially guilty of this perverted passion. It happens that sick individuals keep several dozen purrs in their tiny homes, without being able to provide them with tolerable living conditions. For them, cats are just a means of combating loneliness. There are other people for whom contact with cats is fraught with the development of poor health and the appearance of terrible allergic reactions. Cats, like other warm-blooded creatures, spread allergens, specifically the substance Felis domesticus, produced by the sebaceous glands and contained in saliva. Dead particles from the skin of these animals become the cause of allergies. There are also those people who mercilessly torture and abuse cats. There are many reasons for their cruelty: the presence of a savage soul, and gross flaws in character. Some become sadists because they have serious problems in their family. So they try to escape from their mental torment by unfairly inflicting pain on defenseless creatures. However, there are also those people who do not experience any feelings towards purrs, except for an all-consuming, uncontrollable fear. Pathological intense uncontrollable fear of the cat family in medicine is called ailurophobia. With this type of anxiety-phobic disorder, a person develops a panic attack upon direct and supposed contact with these animals. An illogical, all-encompassing fear grips a person at the sight of images, toys, and figurines of these animals. A subject affected by ailurophobia avoids at all costs visiting places where cats are likely to be found. The fear of these pets does not leave a person for a minute: his thinking is completely engulfed in thoughts about “dangerous and sinister” cats. His nightly rest is filled with nightmares, the plot of which is connected with suffering due to the action of purring and scratching creatures. At the same time, panic horror in the patient is caused not only by homeless stray animals, but also by cute, vaccinated, well-mannered kittens. Why there is a fear of cats
Symptoms of ailurophobia can appear in any subject, regardless of his age, education, or social status.
Moreover, a pathological disorder that manifests itself in mature people can be initiated in early childhood. An abnormal fear of cats originates and strengthens at the unconscious level of the psyche. In this case, the person may not even know why she has a panicky fear of cats. Scientists point to a number of provoking factors that can lay the groundwork for the formation of an irrational fear of cats. Let us describe the most studied versions. According to one hypothesis, obsessive fear of representatives of the cat family is a natural result of a person’s negative experience associated with contacts with these animals. Abnormal fear may be a direct consequence of the fact that a person has suffered serious physical injuries and felt mental trauma from contact with cats. For example, a little toddler, playing with a kitten, was severely scratched and bitten by it. Or the baby was very frightened by the sudden sharp jump of a loudly meowing animal. Without receiving timely psychological support from parents, fear is firmly rooted in the child’s psyche, eventually transforming into ailurophobia. Also, an inexplicable fear of cats can arise for indirect reasons. For example, a baby got a severe stomach ache while watching the kitten play. A connection was established in his psyche: severe pain and a cat. Therefore, a program arose in his subconscious: in order to prevent painful sensations, he must be wary of meeting murkas. Another indirect reason for the onset of ailurophobia is the child’s painful experience of the consequences of his encounter with animals. For example, after a pet scratched a baby, he was severely scolded and punished by his parents, reproaching him for not knowing how to handle animals. Or he was taken to the hospital for treatment of his wounds, where he was forced to endure unpleasant procedures. That is, these are situations where, after one shock, he did not receive consolation, but, on the contrary, was subjected to even greater trials. The psyche is wise. Therefore, in order to protect a person from pain, she makes a warning gesture: she creates strong fear. The culprit in the formation of a fear of cats may also be a person’s rejection of the natural characteristics of this creature. Everyone knows that cats are independent creatures. They are willful, self-sufficient and proud, they do not need the presence of someone else to feel good. At the same time, there are people who urgently need numerous contacts. They perceive a cat’s refusal to communicate as their oppression and humiliation. Unable to find ways to interact with these animals, such persons begin to avoid them. And the appearance of fear acts as an ironclad argument to explain their detachment. The reason for the development of fear of cats can be any human antipathy to everything dirty. Such a person is a guardian of cleanliness and a fighter for sanitation. This subject tirelessly battles germs and parasites every day. And in his understanding, cats are the sources of all infection and the culprits of disorder. They tear curtains and tear up upholstered furniture. They shit in slippers and mark corners. After a sandy toilet, they jump into the owner's bed with dirty paws. They shed fur all over the apartment. They may have fleas, ticks, and worms. Cats are sources of terrible infections for humans. Therefore, to be safe, one must beware and fear them. Very often, the basis for the emergence of ailurophobia is a person’s superstitiousness and panicky fear of mystical phenomena. Such a subject believes in all signs associated with cats and looks for mystical signals when encountering cats. After all, for centuries people have attributed magical abilities to these tailed creatures. Cats were associated with almighty gods, angry witches and evil sorcerers. In many nations, a black cat is the personification of trouble. Such a mysterious and inexplicable fear exists at the genetic level, because our ancestors, who lived in dark, unlit caves, simply could not notice in time and, accordingly, protect themselves from black animals. How does the fear of cats manifest?
In most cases, ailurophobia has a chronic course, and as the disorder develops, the symptoms become more severe and intense.
However, the severity and manifestations of pathological fear in each patient are purely individual. Some individuals suffering from ailurophobia experience a panic attack only when directly confronted with these animals. As soon as they notice a mustachioed creature, they instantly lose control over their thinking and behavior. Their heart begins to beat wildly at the sight of the approaching animal. Fear paralyzes them in place, preventing them from taking a single step. It becomes difficult for them to breathe. Their limbs become cold and their insides begin to tremble. Some patients lose consciousness and faint at the sight of their feline counterparts. Other people with ailurophobia experience panic attack symptoms outside of direct contact with an animal. They are filled with horror when they see images of these animals in magazines, on posters, and in children's books. They go crazy with fear at the sight of funny soft toys and figurines in the shape of cats. It is impossible for them to watch films with striped tailed creatures. It is the anticipation of a terrible meeting that forces such people to take measures to ensure their “safety.” They don't go to visit friends who have pets. They do not attend circus performances in which trained animals take part. They avoid places where stray animals may live. Sick people try to avoid trees where cats can climb. With a severe form of ailurophobia, people do not leave their homes at all, because potentially anywhere they can encounter meowing creatures. How to get rid of the fear of cats
Taking medications for ailurophobia, in most cases, is inappropriate and useless. However, drug treatment with tranquilizers is possible in cases where the symptoms of panic attacks are so intense that they interfere with the person’s full existence. Benzodiazepines are most often used to relieve panic attacks. Taking benzodiazepine tranquilizers is associated with the development of persistent drug dependence, so the course of treatment is limited to two weeks. The main condition for completely eliminating the symptoms of ailurophobia is identifying the cause of the disorder. Only identifying the initial factors that provoked the emergence of fear can eliminate the irrational fear of cats. Very often, a sick person cannot understand and explain what was the instigator for the start of the phobia. Therefore, to overcome fear, the patient often requires the help of an experienced and qualified psychotherapist. Modern psychotherapeutic techniques and, if necessary, the use of hypnosis, are able to establish those facts from the past that caused mental trauma and provoked ailurophobia. During sessions, the therapist helps the patient neutralize the harm from such past situations. Changing the point of view on a past tragedy makes it possible to reduce the importance of this factor, which ensures the elimination of negative aspects of a person’s life scenario. Clearing your personal space of painful memories and past experiences makes it possible to acquire a new positive and functional model of thinking. During psychotherapeutic sessions, a person gets rid of prejudices and imposed attitudes. He acquires reliable knowledge about the structure of human mental activity and learns how his unpleasant symptoms arise. After psychotherapy sessions, a person realizes that cats do not pose any potential threat and are not sworn enemies of humanity.
Treatment of the disease
Ailurophobia requires attention and certain corrective measures. Intervention by a competent specialist will help a person subject to uncontrollable fear to quickly get rid of the discomfort present in his life. And come to the necessary harmony with the world and yourself.
The main approach in the treatment of this phobia is psychotherapy; medication is justified in some cases. It is selected when the pathology is too pronounced, forcing the ailurophobe to constantly be in tension, feeling anxiety and painful thoughts.
Drug therapy
Among medications, preference is usually given to various sedatives. Sedatives and antipsychotics help dull anxiety, stop obsessions and outbursts of panic. Such drugs also allow the patient to improve sleep and get rid of nightmares.
The use of additional medications is justified in cases where Gatophobia coexists with other mental disorders.
What to do?
In this case, the phobia of fear of cats has one positive side. It’s easier to work on yourself than if it were a fear of death or a fear of open space. Having learned to overcome fear, it will be possible to use this experience in more serious cases. First of all, you need to learn to treat the situation with humor. There is no need to overpower yourself and force yourself to pet your four-legged friend or enemy, depending on the situation. Cats are actually easier to love. They are quite cute and curious creatures.
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We can safely recommend this method - feeding the strays. They're not panthers, but they won't waste five bags of food. Put out the food and wait until they swallow it, then do the same a couple more times. Who knows? Maybe after this you will want to warm up one kitten and bring it home.
Psychological help
An individual approach is one of the key working methods. It allows you to understand the true causes of irrational fear and, as a result, eliminate both the consequences and the internal causes themselves.
Hypnotic influence can be used as part of one-on-one work. It helps to “pull” forgotten traumatic circumstances to the surface, as well as replace negative ideas with thoughts with a positive connotation. The cognitive approach and the body-oriented method are also successfully used.
Group classes can be conducted in the format of trainings aimed at working through internal problems and fears.
Here, the key correction options are art therapy, visualization, and the process of teaching new reactions due to the creation of “game” situations. When faced with obvious manifestations of fear of cats, you need to understand that any phobia can be overcome. Don't try to ignore the problem, try to solve it yourself, or feel ashamed of yourself.
Timely seeking psychotherapeutic help will help smooth out existing discomfort, gradually eliminating all unpleasant internal sensations.
Author of the article: Alena Igorevna Lobzova, clinical psychologist, specialist in developmental psychology
What do people come up with?
Then the creation of false complexes of motivations and explanations begins. All the reasons mentioned are very similar to logical ones, but in fact they are not:
- may not just scratch, but also damage the eyes;
- the cat will bite or scratch, and this will cause infection, since there are a lot of microbes on the claws and in the oral cavity;
- A cat can cause an allergy attack. Then sometimes she actually causes it, but it is of a psychosomatic nature;
- Sorcerers use them to cast spells and cause damage.
It is characteristic that the fear of cats is often in the nature of rejection rather than panic. The word “I’m afraid” is often synonymous with “I can’t stand it.”
Of course, this phobia cannot cause serious concern . In the end, you can protect yourself from the source of fear, and you can endure it while visiting. The problem is that very rarely, almost never, such minor neuroses are observed on their own, and the person is completely adequate, healthy and does not complain about anything. If you analyze the situation, you can always find a couple more neuroses, depression or some other negative factors. But they are the real cause of concern.
The phobia should not cause serious concern, because cats for the most part are cute creatures
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.
