If there were a technical term for the condition in which a person is irrationally and intensely afraid of inadvertently eating cat food, what would that term be?
-
1Do we really need such a large picture to illustrate a well-known expression? I also think that image does a disservice to the question, if anyone was served a similar pet's dish I think it would be perfectly rational to be disgusted, and want to avoid eating it. – Mari-Lou A Sep 17 '14 at 5:18
-
@Mari-LouA I am confused. Oh, wait, you mean "cat food" is a well-known. I thought you meant "eating cat food" is a well-known expression. I wondered what it meant! Americans constantly surprise me (two people separated by a common language etc). Of course, you will now tell me neither ted strauss nor you are American. :( – almagest Sep 17 '14 at 5:32
-
1Oddly enough, "eating cat food" is as well-known expression, and refers to poverty among senior citizens (mostly metaphorical, but by extension from a literal practice). In that case, the technical term to use might be more closely aligned with financial insecurity than with the substance itself. – bye Sep 17 '14 at 15:31
-
1@Mari-LouA the reason behind the large picture is to illustrate the sense of dread and compulsive imagery associated with phobic tendencies. But I will gladly remove it if your comment receives 3 upvotes. Incidentally, what makes you think I am American? Is it my name, my avatar, or my question about cat food? – ted.strauss Sep 17 '14 at 20:38
-
1Apologies, you are from Montreal, Canada, it says so on your profile. As for my comment, perhaps you ought to reflect why your question hasn't been voted up. :) – Mari-Lou A Sep 17 '14 at 21:32
Fancyfeastophobia (obviously).
-
2
Well, from The Phobia List, we get...
Cats- Aclurophobia, Ailurophobia, Elurophobia, Felinophobia, Galeophobia, or Gatophobia.
Food- Cibophobia
Eating or swallowing- Phagophobia
so, I'd wager it's something like...Felicibophagophobia?
-
2felici- would be happiness, and it's Latin, while phobia is greek; and there is, as you noted, already a greek word for fear of cats: ailurophobia. Maybe ailurocibophagophobia? – anongoodnurse Sep 17 '14 at 5:56
-
-
1Right, but that would be putting a latin prefix among the Greek. The Greek already has a word for cat-fear. – anongoodnurse Sep 17 '14 at 7:55
-
Oh, I did not notice the Greek/Latin word origins. I just thought felicibo flowed better than ailurocibo. Perhaps medica is correct. – StorymasterQ Sep 17 '14 at 14:37
