Is it really that unusual to dislike animals ?

[Whyisthatweird]

I’ve been told so many times now that it’s either not normal or a sign that something is wrong and one person even said it made them feel so uncomfortable to be around me when realising what an aversion I have to animals ??!! Surely I’m not alone ??

I don’t hate animals - I’m just either phobic about them or I can’t stand them for multiple sensory reasons (smell, dirt, germs etc) and therefore totally avoid them ! I don’t make a fuss about it it’s just when anyone realises they act like it’s a sign of being some kind of psychopath ! A colleague recently got a puppy and I couldn’t be in the same room. I can see why others find them cute and accept that but I feel nauseous around animals and she was trying to follow me around saying ‘what’s wrong with you ?’ It got really uncomfortable.

Am I the only one ? I feel like some kind of freak !

I've met two people who weren't phobic, they just didn't like animals in any shape or form. One was a young woman and she was not very likeable and the other was a chap he was extremely sinister.

If you have a phobia, that's different.

Yes it's very strange tbh

It’s very unusual for it to be this extreme. It’s something I would want to explore further, personally and try to improve. What do you do on a walk if a robin lands nearby or when you go to someone’s house who has a pet? It must be exhausting for you and people around you.

And not everything is a ‘diagnostic condition’ that’s concerning. Diagnostic conditions are essentially a set of symptoms that happen to occur in multiple people in a similar way. For example, not everyone who’s experienced trauma will fit the diagnosis of CPTSD or PTSD, but it doesn’t mean their responses are less severe. Children, for example, often can’t be diagnosed and don’t fit the symptom guidance, but may still be having an extreme life-affecting response to their traumatic experiences.

There is definitely a jokey thing that people say about not trusting people who don't like animals. It's actually not a very nice thing to say. Of course it's OK to not like animals.

My DH doesn't like dogs and it's quite unpleasant sometimes how people respond to that.

Having said that, your dislike does sound more like a phobia. It's very unusual not to even be able to be in the same room as a puppy, so it sounds severe. It might be something you want to address with a therapist just for your own comfort, because animals are obviously something you will come across regularly in your life, so it might help if you can feel a little more comfortable with them.

But as for the comments from other people - just try to ignore them.

My DH just owns it tbh and it perfectly happy being the person who doesn't like dogs, he just laughs it off. It's fine.

@Whyisthatweird

I don't think your feelings around animals and germs and mess dirt is that unausaul at all,
I think it's quite common,

I think what's extremely quirky very unausaul is that you feel a need when someone brought their puppy into workplace to want be in the next room
animals also makes you feel anxious and nauseous,
Is there anybody else in your family the same or similar to you too,
in regards of your feelings around animals?

🤔
It maybe a past life thing ,
that's being brought over a hangover from previous existence?,

I am very passionate about nature and all creatures and the benefits of being amongst nature,
After all even though at times we as humans have dysfunctional relantship with nature,

we forget we are simply just part of nature cycle,
not above, higher ubove to manipulate interfere with nature to its detrimental and our own,

we come into existence being just like wildlife does through the act of nature

This is exactly the kind of thing that is really unpleasant to say and makes people feel a bit shit about something they can't help.

It's perfectly possible to be a lovely person and just not really like animals.

You have likely met more than 2 people in your life who don't really like them, but these 2 lived up to your stereotype so you remember them.

I like animals myself. But I know a fair few people who don't like animals who are very nice, normal, lovely people.

Yes, perhaps you were mauled by a rabid hamster in a past life.

I agree with @fritaskeeter insightful post ubove,
I do think too it could well be a phobia thing,

@Whyisthatweird

What you consirder exploring finding out if that's the case its a phobia
to address this issue then?

Cause in our pet centric western culture it's obviously going to be tricky difficult to avoid animals in life ...

I’m very wary of people who don’t like animals.

@Slanketblanket

L.o.l 😂

" you may have been mauled by a rabid hamster in a past life" comment..

Someone might dislike dogs because they have been bitten or scared by one in the past.

They might dislike animals because they grew up on a farm and it was a bad experience for some reason.

They might dislike animals because their family had a million pets and neglected them as children.

There are a million reasons why people like or dislike certain things, which you would not know on meeting them.

Don't you think that's a bit unpleasant of you to make an assumption that there is something wrong or bad about a person, simply because of something they dislike?

I am exactly the same.

And I also find people can be quite nasty about it.

It actually seems more socially acceptable to say you don't like children.

I think there's a huge difference between not liking animals and being like the OP and vomiting at the idea of Noah's Ark 😬

That doesn’t happen anymore but as a child I couldn’t control it. So it’s definitely better than it was or maybe there was just more exposure to animals when I was a child ? It seemed to really stop for a while and lately it’s more of an issue again

I don't like being near animals. It's not so much the unpredictability. It is the smell and germs. I am sort of interested in seeing them in the wild but I really don't want to share a house with them.

I've met two people who weren't phobic, they just didn't like animals in any shape or form. One was a young woman and she was not very likeable and the other was a chap he was extremely sinister

I think animals have a 6th sense. Especially the ones we share our living space with. So yes, they will pick up on how honest another human being is.

I think OP has a phobia, and has nutured this phobia for a long time.

I'd go and get some therapy for it.
We share this planet with lots of animals, we need them for our eco systems.
However, nobody needs to like other people's pets.

Animals cannot tell if a person is honest or not. Don’t be ridiculous.

What happened in the chicken house and why did you have go there regularly? Why did your parents force you in when it was obvious you didn't want to? It's plainly a trigger from childhood distress which has extended to all animals. Not being able to be in the same room as a puppy (which presumably doesn't smell of poo or chicken shit) is quite extreme. Have you unpacked your childhood? It might help. Other people's reaction you can't do anything about.

Do you not have these issues with humans? far more noisy, scratchy and smelly than most of my animals.

Arrogant, naive and short sighted IMO.

That at least is completely normal. Almost everyone dislikes flying ant day to some degree and lots of people absolutely loathe it. (My DS enjoys it but he has an unnatural fondness for all invertebrates).

You do sound neurodivergent to me. It sounds more like a sensory issue where animals are concerned. I have ND, absolutely adore animals but I completely agree with you on flying ant day. I hate insects and the thought of them flying in my hair makes me want to boak too haha.

Animals can smell illness in people and are used to detect things like cancer, diabetes, low/high blood sugar etc. so it wouldn't surprise me if they could smell other things like fear or adrenaline etc. too.

For the poster saying that it is not relevant that humans are animals, surely it is relevant. The many things OP doesn’t like about animals applies to humans too eg germs, smell.

Humans love animals because they have empathy. So it is unusual. Because most people have high empathy. We are a species who likes to nurture. They remind us of human babies. But even those who dislike human babies tend to love animals instead!