ailurophobia

American  

[ahy-loor-uh-foh-bee-uh, ey-loor-] / aɪˌlʊər əˈfoʊ bi ə, eɪˌlʊər- /

Also aelurophobia

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of cats.

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Other Word Forms

• ailurophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ailurophobia

First recorded in 1905–10; from Greek aílouro(s) “cat” + -phobia

Explanation

If your neighbor goes pale and rushes away when he sees your pet kitty, he may suffer from ailurophobia, a debilitating fear of cats. Ailurophobia is a fancy word for "irrational fear of cats" that comes from Greek roots ailouros, "cat," and phobos, "fear." This word describes an uncommon mental health condition that often includes anxiety triggered by even the thought of encountering or touching a cat. While the overwhelming feelings of fear or hatred aren't entirely rational, they can be caused by a traumatic event in childhood, like being scratched or bitten by a cat.

Example Sentences

Alfred Hitchcock was afraid of eggs; Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Alexander the Great were all afraid of cats — ailurophobia.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2016

Pop Psychologist Joyce Brothers regards ailurophobia, at least in its literary form, as a harmless put-on.

From Time Magazine Archive

The unaccountable fear of dogs is not so common as ailurophobia, although it is said that De Musset cordially detested them, and Goethe despised them, notwithstanding, forsooth, he kept a tame snake.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)