Ailurophobia

[2] Like other specific phobias, the exact cause of ailurophobia is unknown, and potential treatment generally involves therapy.

Other names for ailurophobia include: felinophobia,[5] elurophobia,[5] gatophobia,[4] and cat phobia.

[7] They may experience extreme anxiety and fear when hearing meowing, hissing, or other sounds that the ailurophobe associates with cats.

[8] Though the exact cause of ailurophobia is unknown, ailurophobes often trace their fear back to early childhood.

For example, one ailurophobic patient underwent exposure therapy for her fear by being exposed to fur-like fabric, pictures of cats, a toy cat, and finally a friendly live kitten, which the patient subsequently adopted; as the kitten grew and remained friendly, the patient was able to be less afraid of full-grown cats.