Phobia of cats can be overcome

Cats are among the most common animals loved by many, but there are some who are afraid of them.

Ailurophobia or phobia of cats refers to an individual's fear of cats, usually connected to a previous bad experience, causing them to be afraid of being near the animal.

According to the vice-president of Cat Advocates and Troupers Society (CATS) Sein Abdul, ailurophobia can be overcome by approaching cats and touching them in the right places.

"We can overcome this phobia of cats by knowing the types of cats and knowing how to pet them correctly.

"Cats have certain 'soft spots' on their bodies, we can try to approach them by stroking their heads or their throats," he told Bernama here Thursday.

He said that way, cats would react positively if they feel safe, and will want to be stroked more.

According to Sein, in order to overcome ailurophobia, a person must understand the habitat of the pet and its body language.

"One thing that we must understand is that not all cats are loving and not all are aggressive, so we must understand the cat's body language. If its ears are drawn back, the cat is probably not comfortable.

"If it is not touched correctly, the cat will feel unsafe and will struggle to be released, which is why many people have been scratched by cats and developed a phobia," he added.

Sein, who is also the ambassador for The Cat Fanciers' Association registered in America, has been keeping cats since he was 16 years old, leading to him to start the CATS club among his friends.

CATS is a registered association set up last August to foster understanding and friendship among cat lovers as well increase awareness of cat habitats and information.

A one-day mini animal carnival organised by Bernama Kids 1Malaysia Club (BK1MC) was held yesterday to expose club members especially children and youths to the animals found locally, including on proper care.