Why is Cilan scared of Purrloin?

Answer 1

In an episode I forgot the name of, Cilan tells Ash that a Purrloin did something terrible to him once. It could've been that Cilan fell for Purrloin's tricks, Purrloin stole something from him...or much, much worse. And in another episode, Cilan explains to Ash and Iris why he hates Purrloin so much, but though it's not heard by the viewers, that gasp that Ash and Iris reacted with might've been context clues that it was quite shocking. I too want to know what Cilan said, but the suspense and the cliffhanger is super exciting! And even if we don't ever get it, I'm so intrigued by other people's theories!

Answer 2

Knowing Pokémon, it's probably something like a Purrloin stole a special food product, like a type of ice cream or soup, that was said to be one of the most delicious foods ever and was on sale for a limited time and Cilan bought just BARELY before it sold out for good and was absolutely excited to eat and then the Purrloin, looking him dead in the eyes, ate right in front of him as fast as it could before running away leaving Cilan without even a taste of it and by then the product was sold out forever and thus Cilan was ultimately left heartbroken for the meal he wanted so badly to try cause everyone saying how incredible it was was just eaten right in front of him by the Purrlion and he couldn't even buy another one thus resulting in him never being able to eat whatever it was and no way of him experiencing what it was like like how everyone else around him did or something like that. Let's face it, it IS most-likely this.