how to overcome fear of cats

We’ll even pay your shipping. But why should one be afraid of cats? Around a quarter of Americans have a phobia to a specific animal and for many people, our feline friends just don't seem that friendly! For example, if you are overwhelmed by holding the cat, you may try giving the cat back to the owner. However, if you start with multiple cats, it may become too overwhelming, causing you to quit before it works. Begin to factor into your life, little by little, the things that would usually … References. If a person treated you badly, would you avoid all people forever? They’re effective tools to reduce your fear. Cats also seem to enjoy being gently stroked down their backs with slight pressure being applied when you get to the tailbone. Trying to take on your fear in one day can be a lot to handle. Start by watching it from a distance, then sit near it, then get your friend to hold it while you pet it. Let’s answer the question, What are cats scared of? For a limited time only, get 20% off your first PrettyLitter order. Black cats are not dangerous; in fact, in other parts of the world they are considered lucky! However it's probably a good idea to ask him if the cat is friendly before starting the visits. You are slowly increasing your exposure by starting with a picture of one cat and moving to pictures of multiple cats. If your fear is not very severe, it may take only a few weeks, but never pressure yourself when trying to face a fear. If your veterinarian diagnoses your pet with simple fear, anxiety, or phobia, then prescription medication may be the answer. 5  With small steps, a person can become accustomed to cats. You could also consider starting with making contacts with kittens and moving up to adult cats. Or did something happen to the sufferer as a child which has impacted their whole life? What about you? Free Delivery. A Phobia Of Cats And Kittens This fear is yet another that is more wide ranging than most people imagine, and like all phobias when experienced to the extreme, can have dramatically limiting effects upon a person’s life. Your friend will probably already know whether his pet is a good fit for this activity or not. Remember, your goal should be to get to a one or two on the scale. When this happens, the fear loses its power. That means you shouldn't poke your head under the bed or carry and place it anywhere in the house against its will. And some people are unfortunate enough to suffer from a fear of cats or - slightly more unusual - a fear of cats watching them. A cat will not meow at you if it wants to attack you. ", feeling to just find a cat and do every one of these steps. Enter code “LOVE20” at checkout. A trained therapist can support with exposure therapy. Is it a by-product of generalized anxiety? Fortune telling is when a person assumes they know what the outcome of a situation is going to be without any true evidence to support it. For example, you could replace the thought “This cat is going to scratch me” with a statement like “Many people interact with cats every day and do not get scratched.”. Cats, in particular, are often identified as animals that are intensely feared. A therapist can be helpful at helping you develop a plan to get over your fear. Avoid petting cats on their belly. For example, you may think “This cat is going to scratch me” even though you’ve never had any interaction with that cat before. Focus on replacing the negative thought with a positive statement that helps you emphasize neutral or more positive outcomes. What can I do? Some people may wonder how anyone could possibly be afraid of cats. As I read it, I thought it did, "It helped me understand more about cats. However her fear is REALLY intense. The idea is to be near the animal so that you can get used to being close to the cat outside of the carrier. Cats, of course, aren’t going to hurt us. Remember, the goal is to reach a one or two on the anxiety scale when looking at the collage. However, this instinct can develop into a less rational phobia, where your cat fears something that you know is safe. Tasha is affiliated with the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. While it's not guaranteed they will never scratch or bite, the chances are pretty low. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Stop-Being-Afraid-of-Cats-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Afraid-of-Cats-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Stop-Being-Afraid-of-Cats-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid878034-v4-728px-Stop-Being-Afraid-of-Cats-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"