Doraphobia is an intense and irrational fear characterized by a strong aversion to animals with fur, such as dogs, cats, foxes, beavers, and rabbits. Individuals with this phobia find fur extremely off-putting, and some might even link it to tales of "the big bad wolf" or other predatory animals with fur. Their fear isn't entirely baseless, as many furry creatures—like bats, raccoons, dogs, and cats—can carry rabies, a severe virus affecting the nervous system. This disease can be passed to humans through bites and, in rare instances, through contact with the animal's blood or tissue, or by inhaling the rabies virus in bat caves. Without prompt rabies vaccinations after exposure, the disease is fatal. The term "doraphobia" derives from the Greek words "dora," meaning hide or skin, and "phobos," meaning fear, translating to a fear of the skin or hide, specifically the fur of an animal.
