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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. With repeated interaction, you’ll begin to realize that the worst case scenario probably isn’t going to really happen. Tasha Rube is a Licensed Social Worker based in Kansas City, Kansas. That means you shouldn't poke your head under the bed or carry and place it anywhere in the house against its will. It’s probably not just the cat itself that is causing the fear, but more likely what you think will happen in the presence of the cat. Or has a member of your family? You are slowly increasing your exposure by starting with a picture of one cat and moving to pictures of multiple cats. In the following, we will look at some possible reasons for the emergence of such a condition. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @prettylittercats. However it's probably a good idea to ask him if the cat is friendly before starting the visits. Try looking at videos of cute cats and people interacting with them online to remind yourself that most cats are harmless. Delivered straight to your front door, every month. This way you can lessen the anxiety without reinforcing the fear. When a cat meows, it usually means it wants food, water, or attention. Make sure your cat has access to other scratching mediums such as a scratching post. Do not allow yourself to get extremely overwhelmed during this process. If you feel overwhelmed and decide to discontinue, try asking your friend to put the cat back in the carrier or ask him if he could move away a little. Fear is a natural biological response. Trying to take on your fear in one day can be a lot to handle. Try to figure out what is triggering the fear specifically. Like any other phobia, the fear of cats cannot be solved without first discovering the root of the fear. Start playing with quiet cats, caressing them. Source: pexels.com While some people with this phobia may only experience trouble seeing real cats, others may have difficulty if they see anything that reminds them of cats or even if they see the word or hear the sounds that they make. Or maybe the person with the fear of cats associates cats with a bad time in their life; a nasty break up, or a home invasion. Exposure therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for phobias. So, if you have a phobia of cats, you are not alone. After overcoming everything at a logical level, you could move on to the next step, slowly overcoming the physical fear of cats. Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm PT, The Best Plants That Are Safe for Cats to Eat, Try These Solutions to Common Cat Problems Affecting Your Kitty. References. A trained therapist can support with exposure therapy. Nearly a quarter of the US population reports an extreme fear of a specific animal. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A cat that has a fear of unfamiliar people, for example, should not be exposed to new houseguests. "When I found this article on wikiHow, I didn't expect much of it, but I was wrong. How to Overcome Your Fear of Cats Watching You You For Animal. Just like people, not all cats are the same. Something either type of therapist may want to know is when the fear of cats started. Being able to read a cat’s body language is important to determine his current mood. After a few days of doing this, the anxiety that you experience should lessen. This might be especially good if your friends who care for cats are out of town. Overcome fear of cats. J J Seymour is a writer with Self Help Recordings. Let’s answer the question, What are cats scared of? Other alternatives to overcome your fear of cats In the beginning, you could help yourself via meditation and relaxation techniques. Thanks! The brain is telling the body that the cat is scary, even though rationally, we know it’s not true. You are not alone in this ailurophobia, galeophobia or gatophobia battle. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0 Exposure therapy doesn’t mean locking yourself in a room with a hundred cats! How do I stop a cat from entering my house? 5 With small steps, a person can become accustomed to cats. If he persists in scratching you, stop interacting with him after the scratch and leave him alone. A cat will not meow at you if it wants to attack you. Never forget: you are the stronger side! Know in advance exactly what you’re going to be doing prior to each visit with a cat. Remember, you do not have to touch the animal at this point. Since you want to end with success, try moving back to the last step that did not cause you anxiety. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. However, continue to set aside 10-15 minutes specifically for this activity. This can be nerve-wracking when you start, but the more you expose yourself to cats, the more your fear will fade. Identify. When this happens, the fear loses its power. For example, you may think “My friend’s cat scratched me two years ago therefore all cats are vicious.”. However, many people report an extreme and even irrational fear of the feline. Learn about topics such as How to Overcome a Fear of Dogs, How to Stop Being Afraid of Cats, How to Overcome a Fear of Rats, and more with our helpful step-by-step instructions with photos and videos. Try to do this whenever a negative thought pops up. Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-V) does not identify a specific name for a phobia of cats, it does recognize that individuals can experience a “Specific Phobia” which can include a fear of cats. It means gradually desensitizing yourself to the presence of cats. Encouraging timid cats to break their cycle of fear takes time. This treatment is similar to acupuncture without a needle. With repeated interaction, you’ll begin to realize that the worst case scenario probably isn’t going to really happen. Make sure to select a friend who has a friendly cat. What Are Cats Scared Of? An irrational fear never seems irrational to the person experiencing it, and the fear of cats is no different from the fear of spiders or a fear of heights. Therefore, it’s important to start with something that you can handle. Some people may wonder how anyone could possibly be afraid of cats. Reading about cats might also help you with overcoming your fear. Have you ever been afraid of our furry felines? It’s very unlikely you will go through your entire life avoiding everyone who owns a cat. She received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Missouri in 2014. For example, they would first practice looking at pictures of cats, then watching videos and movies with cats, touching cat-like material, playing with a toy cat, and finally holding the real thing. make sense, and I convinced my sister, who is afraid of cats, to let me try it. FEAR OF CATS: (ailurophobia, elurophobia, felinophobia, galeophobia, gatophobia, and fear of cats) 1: fear of cats: a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of cats, despite conscious understanding by the phobic individual and reassurance by others that there is no danger.2: fear of cats: an extreme unwarranted fear and/or physical aversion to cats. Create a schedule and stick to it. For example, you may think “This cat is going to scratch me” even though you’ve never had any interaction with that cat before. When you’re just starting to make physical contact with cats, try to avoid contact with cats in between the controlled interactions at your friend’s home. Now I am very afraid to be around him. As I read it, I thought it did, "It helped me understand more about cats. After reading this article, I had the, "Good detailed steps to conquer fear of cats. Another method used to overcome the fear of cats is energy psychology treatment. Kittens will probably feel less threatening. Just try to put it out of your mind. Try keeping your door closed and not letting it slip past you. Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Helping cats overcome their fears: diagnosis and treatment The first thing you should do is to rule out health conditions that may be causing your cat’s behavior. You may also be able to throw a treat or a bit of lunch meat out the door to coax the cat back out. Get rid of the fear of cats However her fear is REALLY intense. Going to a pet store when you don’t have access to cats otherwise is a good alternative. They can be really dangerous. % of people told us that this article helped them. Focus on replacing the negative thought with a positive statement that helps you emphasize neutral or more positive outcomes. When cats are scared, most will flee from anything that could pose a potential threat, or find a hidey-hole until it’s gone, and reassess it from a distance rather than stay and face their fear. Use code NEW for 15% off. See what's different about our line of health food products. Or did something happen to the sufferer as a child which has impacted their whole life? Also, prove you are responsible enough to look after a cat by doing things like looking after others' cats or helping with cat-related tasks whenever you can. 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