gatophobia

English

Etymology

From Spanish gato +‎ -phobia.

Noun

gatophobia (uncountable)

1. Synonym of ailurophobia
   • 1941 November 21, Gratis Heave, “Pig-Skin Pidgins”, in McComb Daily Journal‎^[1], volume XXXVIII, number 60, McComb, Miss.:

     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.

   • 1968 October 5, “Hydrophobiaphobia Got Ya? No Sweat, UVM Prof Says”, in Rutland Daily Herald, volume 115, number 240, Rutland, Vt., page 20:

     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.

   • 1971 July 5, Hal Boyle, “‘It is only folklore nature is healthy’”, in Evening Herald, page 10:

     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.

   • 1987 May 22, John Guinn, “Rossini was booed; ‘Barber’ endures”, in Detroit Free Press, volume 157, number 18, page 4B:

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

   • 1989 April 14, “Don’t let your phobia stop you from reading this book”, in Reno Gazette-Journal, page 3D:

     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.

   • 2021 March 19, The Kentucky Enquirer, volume 180, number 344, page 5B:

     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.