aeluro-, aelur-, ailuro-, ailouro-, ailur-, eluro- +
(Greek: cat, cats)
2. An intense enthusiasm for having many cats around; sometimes, even when conditions are not suitable for their existence.
3. An abnormal love of cats.
Usually, this fear is one of being injured or scratched by them. Some people react with shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or feelings of panic just at the sight of a cat; while for others, the fear is induced only if the cat comes very close or touches them. Some individuals get anxious about cats staring at them.
In its most extreme form, this phobia may cause some people to stay home to avoid encountering a cat in the street or of even seeing one when the phobic is in a vehicle.
It is the only species within the genus, Aeluroscalabotes, and the only genus found within the taxonomic subfamily Aeluroscalabotinae. It is commonly called the "Cat Gecko" because of its habit of curling up with its tail around itself when it sleeps, very much like a cat.
2. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a lungworm that causes verminous bronchitis or pneumonia in cats.
This "cat lungworm" is found in branches of the pulmonary artery where eggs are laid and hatch. The larvae break into the alveoli and ascend the air ducts to the mouth where they pass out with sputum or are swallowed and passed with the feces.
The larvae develop in the infective state in various terrestrial mollusks. Heaveily infected cats display coughing, diarrhea, and emaciation.
A black cat crossing one’s path is a bad omen in the U.S. and Germany, although it is considered lucky in Britain. Owning a black cat is also considered to be lucky. It is a widespread belief that killing or mistreating a cat will bring ill fortune. This may arise from ancient religious beliefs as a sacred animal.
2. A fondness for cats or felines in general.
3. A cat fancier.
Cross references of word families that are related directly, or indirectly, to: "cat": cat; feli-, felin-; galeo-; gato-.
