What Is Gatophobia?
Some fear only male cats, which they perceive as being more threatening than females.
In Ancient Egypt, cats were worshiped as deities.
Marlena Krzywicka ( Szymanska) / FOAP / Getty Images
It was believed that they were under the special protection of Bast, goddess of fertility and the moon.
Deceased cats were often mummified and buried in the great cemeteries.
Killing a cat, intentionally or accidentally, was often a capital offense.
Cats were often seen as witches' servants, little nocturnal messengers capable of doing the witch’s bidding.
Some believed cats were the witch who had shape-shifted into the form of a feline.
Today, the fear of cats as harbingers of evil is typically rooted in areligion-based phobia.
When it is triggered, a variety of reactions is possible.
Others may have a panic attack.
It may seem like a simple approach but can be quite difficult to do on your own.
One common therapy is gradual exposure to cats.With small steps, a person can become accustomed to cats.
Throughout this process, relaxation and visualization techniques are often used.
They also help reframe the person’s mindset and methodically rationalize their fear.
In some cases,hypnotherapymay also be useful.
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