ailourophilia

From ailouro- +‎ -philia.

ailourophilia (uncountable)

1. Alternative spelling of ailurophilia.
   • 1908 September, “Phobias and Philias, Especially Regarding Cats”, in James Peter Warbasse, editor, New York State Journal of Medicine, volume VIII, number 9, New York, N.Y.: Medical Society of the State of New York, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 499, column 2:

     The opposite of the above, or a special fondness for cats (ailourophilia) also occurs. In a recent note from one of our best-known zoologists, he says, “I am extravagantly fond of cats, and a big fellow is now at my elbow.”

   • 1957 December 15, Evelyn Carvallo [pseudonym; Muriel Spark], “Ailourophilia”, in The Observer, number 8,685, London, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 12, column 4:

     CAT books are either sensible or silly. In mitigation of the silly it should be remembered that very few people are balanced about cats. Cats are Archetypes. I myself, if I did not already have a religion, would certainly worship the Cat, as did the ancient Egyptians.

   • 1960 August 10, Ida T. Jones, “Ailourophilia”, in Chicago Daily Tribune, sports final edition, volume CXIX, number 191, Chicago, Ill., →ISSN, →OCLC, part 1, page 20, column 3:

     I love cats! / Who kill the rats / While I’m on a chair / And for that service / Only ask for their share.

   • 1964 December 27, Evelyn Carvallo [pseudonym; Muriel Spark], “Ailourophilia”, in Book Week, New York, N.Y.: New York Herald Tribune, →ISSN, →OCLC; republished in Muriel Spark, “Ailourophilia”, in Penelope Jardine, editor, The Informed Air: Essays, New York, N.Y.: New Directions Books, 2014, →ISBN, part IV (Faith), page 275:

     If i were not a christian i would worship the Cat. The ancient Egyptians did so with much success.

   • 1990, Stanley Middleton, chapter 6, in Changes and Chances, London: Hutchinson, →ISBN, page 53:

     Mr Hillier took down his Who’s Who to enlighten the questioning Mrs Mead. ‘Well, yes. Let’s see. […] Hobbies: reading, ailourophilia – that’s cat-loving – gardening. There you are.’

• Thomas Lathrop Stedman (1922), “ailourophilia, ailurophilia (a-loo-ro-fil′ĭ-ah)”, in A Practical Medical Dictionary […], 7th edition, New York, N.Y.: William Wood and Company, →OCLC, page 26, column 2: “[G. ailouros, cat, + philia, friendship.] Fondness for cats; galeophilia, gatophilia.”