ailurophobia

• aelurophobia, ailourophobia, elurophobia

First recorded in 1905. From ailuro- (“cat”) +‎ -phobia (“fear, hatred”), both from Ancient Greek.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌaɪljʊəɹəˈfəʊbɪ.ə/

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• (General American) IPA^(key): /aɪˌlʊɹəˈfoʊbi.ə/, /eɪˌlʊɹəˈfoʊbi.ə/

ailurophobia (usually uncountable, plural ailurophobias)

1. An irrational fear or hatred of cats or other felines.

   Synonyms: felinophobia, gatophobia, (uncommon) galeophobia

   Antonym: ailurophilia

   • 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:

     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.

   • 1920, Carl Can Vechten, The Tiger In The House, pages 62–63:

     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.

• ailurophobe
• ailurophobic

• Ailuroidea