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 think your aversion is extreme.

However, I have no great love of animals and certainly don't want them in my house.

Am I the only person who doesn’t know what flying ant day is?

@Theresstilltonighttocome how do you cope with your saliva in your mouth?

Petting a dog releases the same hormone, oxytocin, which is released when a mother bonds with her baby, the feel good hormone. I’m guessing that’s why many people love dogs and why there are therapy dogs. I’m assuming that doesn’t happen if you have a phobia of them

There’s a world of difference between a trained animal being able to detect specific physiological signals and someone’s mutt being able to tell who’s a wrong un.

I don’t think it’s unusual not to be interested. I really like dogs but they are undeniably licky and jumpy and to a degree smelly.

Obviously the phobia about germs is not so typical, and not being able to be in the same room as a puppy because you feel sick is pretty unusual.

Just say to people that you aren’t a big animal person, rather than going into details, then they won’t be interested.

Phobias are by their very nature abnormal. Aversion to animals to the extent you describe is abnormal. Humans live in a world that’s populated by other living beings as well as other humans. Humans are only a small part of life on Earth and co-exist with other animals.

I understand that some people are not keen on pets and don’t want to be around dogs or cats, and I think things have gone way too far with people expecting to be able to bring their dog to work, restaurants and other people’s homes. But the extreme reactions you describe are surely affecting your life very negatively. Insects are wildlife, part of the ecosystem, life on Earth would grind to a halt without them. Being petrified of them is irrational and surely means you life your life with excessive levels of fear.

I actually really like animals but dislike domestic pets
A lot of pet owners are the opposite. Say they like animals when they actually mean they like their pets.
Otherwise they wouldn't have cats roaming outside or dogs off lead in parks and woods to frighten snd disturb wildlife.

It sounds like animals are a sensory overwhelm for you OP and I would wonder if you were ND too. Unusual fears are common with autism.

I'm afraid I find it very odd OP. Sorry! I'm potty about animals and always have been. I just find them so beautiful and fascinating, and very easy to love - both wild and domestic.

I think it's unusual to dislike all animals.
I mean, I'm pretty neutral about some, hate spiders, but lots of others are cute, even if I wouldn't want to hold them or have them as pets myself.

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

@spriots I'm a huge animal lover who doesn't particularly like children (I don't dislike them, just not particularly fussed either), and I agree with you.

Having said that, animals are sort of objectified and commodified in our society in a way children (thankfully!) aren't. Animals are all around us. Certain animals become trendy in the zeitgeist (it seemed to be flamingos for a while, currently narwhals seem to be a big thing), and you can buy all sorts (notebooks, bedding, socks, mugs) displayed cutesy illustrations of said animals. A little fuzzy green owl is the mascot for the duolingo app (what do owls have to do with learning a language?). Capitalism profits from our love of animals and arguably pushes a deeper affection for them.

Therefore, perhaps one of the reasons people struggle so hard to accept a dislike of animals is because THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. It goes beyond a simple personal choice not to have pets, it's an exclamation that you don't like this very significant thing that seems to permeate our culture.

I'm not saying disliking animals is right or wrong. I understand why some people don't. I've known people who have feigned allergies just so others will accept them not wanting to play with their dog or stroke their cat, and I think it's ridiculous they have to do that.

As for OP, it does sound like rather an extreme aversion to animals, but unless it's causing a problem in your day to day life then it isn't really a problem. Your sensory issues may well be a trait of ND, in which case therapy (as some have suggested) wouldn't really help.

I don't love animals, I try and tolerate other people's pets but can't be doing with stroking them, etc. I just ignore them and don't comment negatively about them.

I'm happy watching squirrels run around the garden, birds on our bird feeders and the odd hedgehog we get roaming around but that's it. I suppose I like wildlife (from afar) but definitely not pets - dogs/cats in particular.

OP, you do sound very extreme. The Noah's Ark example is something I've never come across! 😮

No you’re not. Glad you asked first :-)

I do remember when living in Texas, there was a time of year when a lot of insects would float about in twos, copulating. I think they were love bugs ?

Edited to show love bugs

It’s fine because I can’t see it and don’t really think about it. It’s if for some reason I need to spit that is the problem, but that doesn’t really come up in day to day life.

I think there are a few things here

yes it may be worth looking into some therapy to help you overcome your phobias

I am intrinsically untrusting of people that don’t like animals. This is manly because the few people I do know like this I don’t like for other reasons. Therefore I unfairly conflate not liking animals with other traits I dislike

But then there’s a whole raft of dog owners that almost fetishise their pets and anthropomorphise them and that gives me the rage when they can’t shut up about them

It’s like most things though - if a group of people you’re with all love something you don’t, you don’t wade in and tell them all how shit it is. You smile and nod and make a mental note 😂

No not normal.

without animals we wouldn’t exist, we are all part of an eco system.
and not healthy either.
to hate all animals is to shun nature, and no, I couldn’t be friends with someone like that.

You are allowed to not like any animals.

Just like others are allowed to not like people who don't like animals.

What is nuts is expecting others to accept your unusual not liking animals when you won't accept a puppy now and again.

im guessing you’re a vegan, but with that in mind, without animals I.e. insects there would be no fruit or vegetables.

I think that sensory aspects are a huge part of this.

I have a stronger sense of smell than most people I think. For me it's linked to migraine. I don't have an issue with animals but can't bear strong artificial scents like perfumes and food flavourings. Ketchup makes me heave!

If you seek therapy, OP, then "sensory integration occupational therapy" might be worth looking at.

She didn’t say she hates nature, or wants animals to be destroyed or any other ridiculous thing being implied.

She just doesn’t like them in her space. That doesn’t affect other people so why would anyone care?

My parents regularly warned me not to associate with anyone who dislikes animals. That they're not to be trusted

It doesn’t have to want them destroyed. She hates animals, ergo she hates nature.

I don't think it's that unusual. I am the same. I don't actively dislike animals or want to harm them (except those awful XL bullies) but I don't have any interest in them beyond watching the odd David Attenborough documentary. I have no interest in watching "funny" cat videos, or seeing pictures of your rabbit, or interacting in any way with your dog when out for a walk. I think people who talk about furbabies and do things like buying their pets valentine's cards are completely unhinged, and very much dislike the current trend of taking dogs everywhere like restaurants and department stores.

Right ok. Because animals are the whole of ‘nature’.

Depends on the animal. I love cats, but spiders creep me out. Probably wouldn't want to meet a tiger face to face either.