It’s a type of paraphilia, which is experiencing sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations, behaviors, or fantasies that fall outside societal norms. There are hundreds of different paraphilias that have been recorded and eight different paraphilias listed in the DSM-5-TR, e.g., exhibitionism, voyeurism, and fetishism.1 Plushophilia can be considered a fetish.
There aren’t any statistics available on exactly how many people have a sexual interest in stuffed animals, but Friedman says that “while plushophilia may not be a particularly common sexual interest, paraphilias that focus on a particular inanimate object can be quite common.” Based on studies, there are more people with assorted paraphilias than we typically think.2
Ahead, we’ll examine signs of plushophilia, the causes of it, and how this interest might impact your romantic and sexual relationships.
Signs of Plushophilia
The following are some common signs that an adult person is a plushophile:
- An obsession with stuffed animals or toys
- A sexual attraction to stuffed animals or toys
- Feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and arousal when being physically close to stuffed animals or toys
- Modifying stuffed animals or toys by creating holes to make it possible to engage with them sexually
- Sexual engagement with stuffed animals or toys
What Causes Plushophilia?
As of yet, we don’t have all the answers to why we develop our sexual tastes and appetites.
Friedman says that “one common theory is that people have experiences with these objects during sexual development as children, and so those items become associated with sexual feelings and arousal.”
Additionally, our stuffed animals and toys can be significant objects of comfort when we’re young. Because of that, we may transfer feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and arousal onto them as adults.
By providing us with warmth and comfort in our childhood, we may view stuffed toys as objects of nostalgia and a way to connect to childhood innocence and experiences as adults. Stuffed toys can also be a soothing mechanism for children, and may continue to function in that capacity in emotional and sexual ways as adults.
As many people seek feelings of closeness in their sex life, the feelings around stuffed animals can morph into sexual ones.
Are Furries Plushophiles?
Furries and plushophiles are not the same thing. There may be some crossover or overlap between the two, but they are separate interests. There are two main reasons for this.
For one thing, Friedman tells us that “furries are people who enjoy role-playing as stuffed animals.” Plushophilia involves attraction to stuffed toys, not the act of role-playing as one.
In addition, Friedman says that sexuality may or may not be an innate part of a furry’s play. On the other hand, plushophilia indicates a sexual interest in stuffed animals.
Plushophilia Is More Common Than You Think
Plushophiles may experience stigma from others, but that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the practice. Between 65% and 86% of American own sex toys3 and stuffed animals can be viewed as sex toys based on how they are used.
Friedman says there is nothing inherently wrong or pathological with being a plushophile, explaining that “if your interest is engaged with responsibly and consensually, whatever brings you pleasure is a beautiful part of you to be accepted and celebrated!”
Why Plushophiles Feel Shame
She notes that many people with paraphilias don’t feel distressed because of their sexual interests alone. Instead, their distress is due to “cultural shame, stigma, and rejection by partners.”
Just Because You Don’t Understand It Doesn’t Make It ‘Wrong’
You may not understand how someone could have a sexual attraction to a stuffed toy, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad due to your lack of understanding.
We all have countless different tastes, and many people find what others enjoy to be unpleasant for themselves.
Instead of judging, criticizing, or condemning someone for having different interests than your own, you can practice keeping your opinions to yourself and allowing others to experience joy and pleasure in ways that are not doing harm to anyone else.
It can be helpful to remember the phrase “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum,” which means don’t spoil someone else’s happiness and enjoyment just because you don’t like it.
Open communication, support and acceptance, and healthy consent and negotiation skills are all needed to navigate a relationship where one party has a kink that is not shared by the other.
Can Plushophilia Become Unhealthy?
Even though plushophilia itself isn’t unhealthy as an interest, it can become unhealthy. For instance, if your interest in stuffed animals or toys prevents you from going about your daily activities or living life to its fullest, then that could be considered unhealthy.
Or, if it becomes an obsession and you find yourself less interested in habits and practices that you used to be interested in, then that might be deemed unhealthy.
Plushophilia should be treated like any other interest that a person may have. If you’re able to incorporate it into your life in a way that doesn’t interfere with everything else you do, it’s perfectly healthy.
Does Liking Stuffed Animals Mean That I’m a Plushophile?
Many adults still like stuffed animals. Enjoying them does not make you a plushophile. People of all ages sleep with stuffed animals, and doing that for comfort’s sake does not mean anything more.
The difference is a sexual one: plushophiles have a sexual attraction to stuffed toys. If you sleep with a stuffed animal for comfort, keep one on your bed because it reminds you of happy childhood memories, or have a collection of stuffed toys for their monetary value, you are not a plushophile. However, if you engage in sexual activity with them, then you are likely a plushophile.
How Being a Plushophile Can Affect Your Sex Life and Romantic Relationships
Any fetish can impact your relationships, especially depending on how understanding (or not understanding) your partner is.
Friedman says that acceptance is an important part of any relationship, and also notes that “for some people, plushophilia is one part of a varied sex life. For others, it is the only way they can become fully aroused.”
How important your plushophilia is to your sex and romantic life may make it a bigger, or less big, deal to your relationships in life.
If both you are your partner(s) are plushophiles, then it may not be an issue at all. However, if one of you is and the other one isn’t, it could potentially cause strife.
To avoid this, Friedman recommends that “open communication, support and acceptance, and healthy consent and negotiation skills are all needed to navigate a relationship where one party has a kink that is not shared by the other.” She tells Verywell Mind that “it is quite common and very possible to navigate the difference effectively.”
What This Means For You
If you have concerns about your partner’s interest in stuffed animals or toys, you’ll be best served by talking to them about it. Be sure to do so openly, with curiosity and without judgment.
And if you have an interest in stuffed toys but fear how your partner may respond, you may want to first speak to a sex or relationship therapist, either alone or with your partner, to help you suss out your feelings.