Ailurophilia

/ˌaɪ.lʊ.roʊˈfɪl.i.ə/ noun

Definition

A love or fondness for cats, especially when used as an adjective to describe someone who likes or is drawn to cats.

Etymology

From Greek 'ailouros' (cat) plus 'philia' (love or affinity for), literally 'love of cats.' Milder in connotation than ailuromania, suggesting preference rather than obsession.

Kelly Says

While ailurophilia sounds clinical, it perfectly captures why billions of people are cat people—it's a linguistic way of saying 'you were drawn to a cat's independence and intelligence'!

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