ailurophobia
nounUK /ˌaɪljʊəɹəˈfəʊbɪ.ə/ · US /aɪˌlʊɹəˈfoʊbi.ə/
Etymology First recorded in 1905. From ailuro- (“cat”) + -phobia (“fear, hatred”), both from Ancient Greek.
1
Usually An irrational fear or hatred of cats or other felines.
- Ailourophobia†, (Katiphobia, or Gatophobia,) is a typical monomania. The fear of cats in certain monopsychoneurotic and psychopathic persons dates back to the beginning of the life of the feline.1906, Charles H. Hughes, “Psychoencephalonasthenia or Cerebrasthenia Simplex, and Psychoencephalonasthenia or Cerebrasthenia Insaniens”, in The Alienist and Neurologist, volume 27, St. Louis, Mo.: Henry L. Hughes, page 166:
- Whatever the cause there are many recorded instances of persons suffering from ailurophobia exhibiting symptoms of distress in rooms which apparently contained no cats; later cats would be discovered, hidden behind curtains or in closets.1920, Carl Can Vechten, The Tiger In The House, pages 62–63:
- Related terms
- ailurophobe, ailurophobic, Ailuroidea