ailurophobia

Also ae·lu·ro·pho·bi·a

[ahy-loor-uh-foh-bee-uh, ey-loor-]

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of cats.

Other Word Forms

• ailurophobic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ailurophobia¹

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

Example Sentences

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

Read more on New York Times

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.

Read more on Project Gutenberg