Cat Phobia

That sounds difficult. Have you had any therapy?

Yes I think therapy is the way to go

I detest cats……I find them sly, manipulative, mean and sometimes vicious. I have a phobia for snakes too, just writing this is giving me the heeby jeebies.

But those who like cats, have cats, thinks cats are cute and lovely and funny etc will no doubt feel that I am being judgmental.

I have NO desire to have a cat, touch a cat, even be nice to a cat…….this isn’t a phobia like with the snakes…….i simply detest cats!

I feel the way you do about cats about quite a lot of people, Astitchintime. 😁

My niece was terrified of cats for years after she saw one really claw my sister’s hand. (To be fair the cat was being chased by their Dachshund at the time). Within the last couple of years she underwent therapy to help cure her phobia and now, although wary, she can actually be in the same room as one without panicking.
I would be lost without my two cats. They have been wonderful companions, especially since my husband died.
Each to their own.

I'm a bit cat phobic too, don't mind them being in the same room but can't bear it if they come near me or attempt to jump on my lap. We have two dogs and a cat but the cat doesn't come to me at all only to my husband. The cat also sleeps outside in the barn as I hate the thought of him jumping on me in the night. Irrational I know but that's what phobias are.
I explain to people when I visit if they have cats and usually they are understanding.

Is difficult to just shake off a phobia, I have a phobia of spiders and daddy long legs that other people find either silly or highly amusing, but I literally come out in a cold sweat, my mouth goes dry, and I will scream as I exit the room. Have thought about therapy but haven’t yet gone down that route because I dread that it will involve holding spiders. With cats is harder because so many people have cats as pets, but please don’t feel bad about saying to someone if visiting their house that you have a real phobia of cats, and I imagine most people will happily usher their pet elsewhere in order for you to be comfortable.

Astichintime, I realise you have accurately described my daughter’s ex partner. Didn’t realise you knew him.

Not all cats are sly, manipulative and mean! We had a lovely ginger cat who was so sweet natured. One day he was alone in the kitchen with a roast chicken on the worktop. I found him standing (on the floor) below the chicken sniffing deeply but he never touched the chicken. Such a good boy. He didn't kill birds either.

Perhaps you could say you have an allergy to cats even though you haven’t. People seem to relate to that more than a phobia and will try to keep the cat out of your way.

If cats are sly, manipulative and mean they are usually reflecting their owner and the treatment they receive.

Why live in dread?

When you're invited to someone's home, just ask if they have cats. If the answer is yes, you regretfully decline.

butterandjam

Why live in dread?

When you're invited to someone's home, just ask if they have cats. If the answer is yes, you regretfully decline.

Why decline? Why not explain the problem first?

If I invited someone to my home and hey were cat phobic I'd make sure the cats were out of the way while that person was there.

OTOH, if they were allergic to cats I'd have to withdraw the invite, because is no way I could make the place safe for them.

25Avalon

Perhaps you could say you have an allergy to cats even though you haven’t. People seem to relate to that more than a phobia and will try to keep the cat out of your way.

A phobia is as involuntary as an allergy, and like allergies, nothing to be ashamed of.

No need to tell a lie to cover it up.

I'm not good with cats, they're not good with me. We keep a respectful distance.
I think it's because they're quick, unbiddable, unpredictable and often one step ahead, sort of sly. I never know when they might pounce.

We're on our 9th rescue cat, a psychopath. I'm very wary and I keep him away from visitors, and young grandchildren too. He seems to prefer men.

It won't be easy to shake off your phobia, but you could try therapy if you really want to crack it.

I don't understand the irrational logic behind some of these posts.
Saying I have a phobia of cats therefore all cats are manipulative mean and vicious is very odd.
If you have a phobia of cats, spiders, snakes ,mice or any other creature it is your problem not the fault of the creature concerned. If it is affecting your life in any detrimental way you need help.

ROMILO

I don't understand the irrational logic behind some of these posts.
Saying I have a phobia of cats therefore all cats are manipulative mean and vicious is very odd.
If you have a phobia of cats, spiders, snakes ,mice or any other creature it is your problem not the fault of the creature concerned. If it is affecting your life in any detrimental way you need help.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

When I had cats I always shut them in another room when I had visitors, unless I knew they were real cat lovers.

Sly, manipulative and so on? Any cat I’ve ever had has been cuddly, affectionate and lovable.

I am unreasonably scared of wasps, but it’s not an irrational phobia. I’m scared of being stung.

I have always had a phobia of snakes and can't usually even look at pictures of them. Only once have I had a real problem. - when the last section of an aquarium turned out to have snakes instead of fish! Once or twice I've come across them when out walking and coped. I couldn't stay in the same room as one though. But I've managed with few problems for 74 years so I'm not about to seek treatment for my phobia and in fact I don't want to as the cure is worse than the phobia!

So I sympathise Melandme with your cat phobia and think it thoughtless of people to expect you to cope. I wonder if, when necessary, telling people that you are allergic to them would get you more understanding. You could say that you can manage as long as they're not in the same room.

Romilo it's irrational therefore not logical, I agree that it is my problem and not that of the feline population.

so I'm not about to seek treatment for my phobia and in fact I don't want to as the cure is worse than the phobia!

So basically you are scared to confront your fears.
I have someone who has come to my house regularly for 25 years and claims she is allergic to cats. Untrue; she is scared. Every visit the cats had to be shut upstairs, which was not easy as the only way out was down the stairs, through the sitting room and into the kitchen and catflap, and they were very house trained. I had to resort to taking a cat litter tray upstairs, which they treated with contempt. They never managed to soil anywhere, but would push against the door so I had to then go upstairs and carry them out, so they didn't go near her.
Then the schoolfriend with a phobia of spiders; driving them to school when she let out an ear-splitting scream and I did a perfect emergency stop; the car behind managed to avoid me, just. She thought she had seen a spider. I said if she ever did it again I could not drive her to school, and she never saw another one in my presence.

eazybee

If cats are sly, manipulative and mean they are usually reflecting their owner and the treatment they receive.

Absolutely easybee. I understand if someone has a phobia of any kind, desensitisation therapy can help. But to say someone detests and would not even be nice to a cat worries me :-( I would be interested to hear what the origin of these feelings are, either passed on by parents or something happening in childhood (sometimes without a memory of this). My DiL does not like dogs, due to her mother being afraid of them! I'm not a massive dog lover, but would always be kind to them. You can probably guess I am a 'cat woman'!

Don't go to Cyprus !!! We've just come back and the cats are everywhere. The "Cats of Cyprus" are " a thing" as they say these days.
I'm a bit allergic so I can't keep them but they're beautiful and independent creatures and I do like them.
Phobias are funny things. Forty years ago I worked with a lovely girl who had a phobia of pigeons , particularly the " ones with the big fact necks".
She did see a psychotherapist about it and I think things improved a little.
Myself I have only the usual phobias viz spiders and some other creepy-crawlies.
Final word re cats , with all the perversity for which they are justly famous they head for my lap like heat -seeking missiles , ignoring other devoted fans who are not allergic to them.
I manage my visits to people with cats. Clearly it's my problem , not theirs. And certainly not the cats.