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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Travel with a cat phobia

83 replies

frenella · 08/08/2023 06:26

I suffer from severe ailurophobia and after several disastrous holidays many years ago to Spain and Cyprus and the like, I resigned myself to holidaying pretty much entirely in the UK, the US and Canada.
My friends want to go to a carribbean all-inclusive and I'd LOVE to go too. But all the reviews for every island and resort mention the cats around the pool and restaurants. Is there anywhere warm and exotic that doesn't have lots of cats!?

OP posts:
Nevermay · 08/08/2023 06:31

What have you done to work on getting over your phobia? That seems like the best course of action, especially as cats, unlike dogs, are not actually dangerous

TakeMe2Insanity · 08/08/2023 06:36

Avoid Istanbul. I think cats aren’t allowed to roam in Singapore.

Original poster
frenella · 08/08/2023 06:41

Nevermay · 08/08/2023 06:31

What have you done to work on getting over your phobia? That seems like the best course of action, especially as cats, unlike dogs, are not actually dangerous

I have had 2 courses of hypnotherapy several years apart that just didn't work. I would dearly like to get it sorted because it is a phobia that very few people sympathize with and it does affect my day to day life.

OP posts:
Twilightstarbright · 08/08/2023 06:45

Thailand generally has lots of dogs wandering around but rarely cats.

MotherofWhippets81 · 08/08/2023 06:48

Malta?

Similar to UK there are pet cats but I've never noticed any strays really. Last time I went I stayed in a hotel instead of with family and not a cat in sight in or around the complex.

BrekkieLunchDinner · 08/08/2023 06:50

Barbados. I didn't see any.

Piggywaspushed · 08/08/2023 06:51

Cruise?

xyz111 · 08/08/2023 06:56

I'm in Portugal at the moment and haven't seen any. This must be awful Op. how do you manage at home? There's cats everywhere on my housing estate.

Campervangirl · 08/08/2023 06:58

I have no great advice but avoid the Greek islands.
The cat situation on most of the islands is horrific even if you love cats and I do.
They sell books called The cats of Greece with pretty pictures but the reality is the poor things are flea ridden & half starved except for when the tourists feed them.
They are constantly round your feet in restaurants.
Seems such a shame to let your phobia stunt your travel plans.
I would try therapy again and maybe exposure therapy although I realise that would be stressful.
Cats don't like you to look them in the eye, it's threatening to them but if you're afraid of them and avoid eye contact it tends to encourage them.
I feel for you but I'd strongly suggest you take action to try to overcome your phobia, good luck

Original poster
frenella · 08/08/2023 07:03

xyz111 · 08/08/2023 06:56

I'm in Portugal at the moment and haven't seen any. This must be awful Op. how do you manage at home? There's cats everywhere on my housing estate.

It's utterly shit. I don't see a ton of cats around my town on the street but every time I get invited to someone new's house I have to ask the question. It is embarrassing. Maybe this group holiday will be the thing that pushes me to do another hypnotherapy course. I'd pretty much given up on getting it cured.

OP posts:
Original poster
frenella · 08/08/2023 07:04

BrekkieLunchDinner · 08/08/2023 06:50

Barbados. I didn't see any.

Oooh. I'm going to look into Barbados, thank you!!

OP posts:
PackettInn · 08/08/2023 07:30

None in the Maldives but appreciate that's a once in a lifetime thing for most (well us, anyway)

CurlewKate · 08/08/2023 07:41

It must be so difficult. I spend quite a lot of time in Malta, though and there have always been plenty of cats in any of the costal villages. I don't know about the resorts though...

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 08/08/2023 07:48

xyz111 · 08/08/2023 06:56

I'm in Portugal at the moment and haven't seen any. This must be awful Op. how do you manage at home? There's cats everywhere on my housing estate.

I saw quite a few in Portugal. Not as many as in Greece, but they’re there.

I live them and always feed them, but I could see it would be stressful if you had a phobia.

stonkytonk11 · 08/08/2023 17:37

No advice re travel but you should try and start some exposure therapy. Easy enough to plan yourself although you may need a friend for moral support. Have a look online for help creating a step by step plan 👍

7Worfs · 08/08/2023 17:43

Cuba perhaps?
We had a peacock, a falcon, a small grass snake and lots of insects on the grounds, but I don’t remember any cats.

CountryStore · 08/08/2023 17:46

I managed to massively improve a phobia by gradual exposure therapy. I started off by looking at pictures of the thing, just for seconds at first, then gradually building up. I still don't like them now, but I can tolerate them.

TheFlis12345 · 08/08/2023 17:54

xyz111 · 08/08/2023 06:56

I'm in Portugal at the moment and haven't seen any. This must be awful Op. how do you manage at home? There's cats everywhere on my housing estate.

I agree, lots of dogs in the coastal area we stayed but don’t recall seeing any cats.

catsnhats11 · 08/08/2023 17:57

MotherofWhippets81 · 08/08/2023 06:48

Malta?

Similar to UK there are pet cats but I've never noticed any strays really. Last time I went I stayed in a hotel instead of with family and not a cat in sight in or around the complex.

Malta is really lovely but there are lots of cats there, they even have those little cat houses/feeding stations dotted about for stray cats that the locals look after.

Harebrain · 09/08/2023 07:13

I was just about to post the same as @catsnhats11 There are lots and lots of stray cats in and around the resorts in Malta. All are fed and cared for by the locals. It was lovely if you are a cat lover (which I am) but would be no good for the Op.

Hobbesmanc · 09/08/2023 07:18

7Worfs · 08/08/2023 17:43

Cuba perhaps?
We had a peacock, a falcon, a small grass snake and lots of insects on the grounds, but I don’t remember any cats.

Hum our hotel had a feeding zone for all the strays to keep them contained. There were lots

gogomoto · 09/08/2023 07:23

Didn't see any around our hotel in Ibiza, whereas the year before we were overrun in fuerterentura. Didn't see any in Sri Lanka but lots of very friendly dogs

TiredandLate · 09/08/2023 07:29

I didn't see any cats recently in Barcelona. Would you do a cruise? Only saw one support dog on board.

Dollmeup · 09/08/2023 07:41

A cruise is a great idea! You wouldn't have to get off the ship on port days if you were worried.

Sw33tdreams · 09/08/2023 21:12

Didn’t see many when I was in amadores in Gran Canaria. I always read reviews of hotels and if it mentions lots of cats being around I dismiss it.

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