Many historical leaders, including Hitler and Napoleon, were afraid of cats due to their brutal personalities. The cause of ailurophobia is unknown, but phobias are generally caused by bad experiences. Animal phobias may develop between ages 5-9, and ophidiophobia may be an evolutionary survival tactic.
Historical figures who were afraid of cats, a condition known as ailurophobia, include many ruling leaders or dictators. It has been reported that Adolf Hitler, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Benito Mussolini not only disliked cats, they feared them. The theory behind why these historical figures were thought to be afraid of cats is the idea that sensitive, introspective types tend to be attracted to cats, and brutal personalities are repelled by cats. However, it is not known what causes a phobia of cats. Psychiatrists generally believe that phobias are caused by bad experiences.
Read more about animal phobias:
Cats don’t like to be stared at, so people who have ailurophobia are more likely to be attracted to cats, because the animal feels more comfortable.
Fears of specific types of animals are thought to develop between the ages of 5 and 9, in most cases.
Some scientists believe that ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes, developed from an evolutionary survival tactic because many snakes are venomous or deadly.
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