Gatophobia

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.

Rumor from over Laurel way has it that there is a severe epidemic of gatophobia in that city.[…]Don’t ask to see our dictionary please, Semper’s buried in it.

Has hydrophobiaphobia got you down? Bothered about your tendency towards triskaidekaphobia or gatophobia? If so, don’t worry. Those are just big words for minor phobias, and almost everybody has a minor touch of a phobia or two, according to J. P. Chaplin, a professor of psychology at the University of, Vermont and author of “Dictionary of Psychology,” which was printed this week.

The family cat enters the room and stares at you balefully. At once you are assailed by ailurophobia, galeophobia and gatophobia, all meaning the fear of cats, plus amychophobia, the fear of being clawed.

Some members of the ensemble, apparently victims of gatophobia, leaped about the stage trying to avoid the feline intruder.

According to the book, Napoleon, Mussolini, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, besides being powerful leaders, shared another trait — gatophobia, a fear of cats.

She was utterly devoted to a long line of pampered dogs she notably insisted on giving “people names” (Candy, Patty, Missy, and Millie) and, at nearly 70, overcame her life-long gatophobia to also embrace and adore her grand-cats.