Cat Phobia

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

Yes I think therapy is the way to go

That sounds difficult. Have you had any therapy?