+Malamute Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Can Cats Make You Go Crazy? New Research Reveals Parasite May Be Linked To Mental Illness! Without a doubt, cats make beloved pets(meals) but recent studies link these furry felines to mental illness. Recent epidemiologic studies show cats are capable of carrying parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which can modify behavior and neurotransmitter function in animals. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite can be passed on to humans. In fact, Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates over 60 million people in the United States may have it. The chance of most people developing the symptoms of T. gondii infection are thin, however those with weakened immune symptoms could develop an illness called toxoplasmosis, which eventually could lead to blindness, a flu-like illness, fetal development disorders, miscarriages and in some extreme cases, it can even lead to death. But that's not all, according to a recently published research, the cat-carried parasite is also associated with mental illness, Time noted. E. Fuller Torrey of the Stanley Medical Research Institute along with Dr. Robert H. Yolken of Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has been studying a probable link between the parasite and mental illness like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The new research that was published in Schizophrenia Research, investigates whether cat ownership in childhood is comparatively more common in families in which the child later becomes gravely mentally ill. In a statement, the authors of the study said, "Cat ownership in childhood has now been reported in three studies to be significantly more common in families in which the child is later diagnosed with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness." Tech Times noted that the results of the SMRI research support the findings of another study that was featured in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. According to this earlier paper individuals infected with the T. gondii parasite are twice as much vulnerable to develop schizophrenia. Whether there is any geographic link between the ubiquity of toxoplasmosis and the prevalence of schizophrenia is still unknown. France reportedly has a high prevalence of Toxoplasma-infected persons and it was also reported that France has first-admission rates for schizophrenia approximately 50 percent higher as compared to those in England. Dr. Yolken reviewed military medical records and it was found that soldiers who developed schizophrenia were two times as likely as other soldiers to show signs of Toxoplasma infection in blood samples. Avoiding Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Torrey simply recommends keeping pet cats indoors and also keeping their sandbox covered when not in use in order to prevent the spread of the T. gondii parasite. The CDC also encourages cat owners to clean their pet's litterbox every day to prohibit the T. gondii from becoming infectious. Moreover, cat owners should also avoid from feeding their cats with undercooked or raw meat. As far as cleaning the litterbox is concerned, pregnant women should avoid it, or at least wear a pair of disposable gloves when handling it. After cleaning the litterbox, they should fully wash their hands with soap and water. Brought to you by Dogs for a Better World! Woof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trichcycler Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) last time I posted of the Toxi cats spread I was laughed at. Mostly by the crazy cat women entertaining a half dozen of them. Its interesting that the Toxiplasma actually insists the infected come into contact with other cats......read on....like a hijacked dna strand.... observe those "crazy ladies with a dozen cats in their home" from yesteryear, or current times...if you doubt the toxi Edited June 9, 2015 by grassmatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suneday11 Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I always knew my cat was trying to kill me! The sob let's the rabbits eat my parsley. Why do rabbits love parsley so much??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaquetoo Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 My grandma would tell any one that listened that if you have a cat your gonna get lukemia! Bawahahahaha! I have never had a cat myself, im a dog person or just a dog lol! its true though granny told every one that had a cat about the lukemia thing, she used to say every one she knew with a cat got lukemia I dated a lady who had a long rat like thingy ummm it stunk bad, I smelled, it stinks! a ferret! I met a few lady's I realy wanted to get to know, and they told me they had ferrets and I ran lmao! There stinky lil critters! Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) My grandma would tell any one that listened that if you have a cat your gonna get lukemia! Bawahahahaha! I have never had a cat myself, im a dog person or just a dog lol! its true though granny told every one that had a cat about the lukemia thing, she used to say every one she knew with a cat got lukemia I dated a lady who had a long rat like thingy ummm it stunk bad, I smelled, it stinks! a ferret! I met a few lady's I realy wanted to get to know, and they told me they had ferrets and I ran lmao! There stinky lil critters! Peace http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/ric/4578667276.html Edited June 9, 2015 by Highlander blackhorse and phaquetoo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imiubu Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Oh! Good one Highlander Phaq; I wasn't quite sure where you were going with "a lady who had a long rat like thingy ummm it stunk bad, I smelled, it stinks!" Perhaps it's just my twisted mind thinking twistedly. Cats are just creepy to me. I've never had one as a pet nor do I plan to ever, nope not never. Cat Scratch Fever (disease) is for real too not just a Ted Nugent song, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Have they actually proved cause and effect? Maybe crazy people just tend to have cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suneday11 Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) ive had dogs my whole life. I ended up with my first cat because it wound up at a pottery studio i did ceramics at. It's D day was a Friday(the studio couldnt keep it because the studio cat was a dick) and when it rolled around and the little gentleman was still there, she became mine. My second came from a pet store simply because a real creeper was about to adopt it. I swooped in a saved the bugger from a surely sketchy life. Ignacius P. has since gone to a better place and Cat Stevens runs the show irrespective of the 100lb dog. Saving those cats gave me great satisfaction. The dog is an idiot but she keeps the scumbags away. Edited June 9, 2015 by suneday11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 My two cats serve a purpose. They keep the rodents away. I keep my cats in the house most of the time so they can't lurk under the bird feeders, but I do let them out for supervised outdoor visitation from time to time. I live on 10 acres, next to another 10-acre parcel and another 10 across the street, with a 40-acre farm next door. Needless to say, it is prime mouse/mole/shrew territory. I credit my cats with the fact that I have never seen the slightest shred of evidence of mice in or near my house. I provide them with a litter box, which I can let go for 2-3 weeks without changing it, a big bowl of food, and an auto-waterer. I could leave them alone for a month, and they'd be fine, and when I got home they'd probably look at me in a way as to question, "why are you back so soon?" Cats are easy. Dogs, on the other hand, are like MMJ plants. They require constant attention but they give big rewards. suneday11 and medmanmike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregS Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 I knew it. abe supercro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaquetoo Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 Oh! Good one Highlander Phaq; I wasn't quite sure where you were going with "a lady who had a long rat like thingy ummm it stunk bad, I smelled, it stinks!" Perhaps it's just my twisted mind thinking twistedly. Cats are just creepy to me. I've never had one as a pet nor do I plan to ever, nope not never. Cat Scratch Fever (disease) is for real too not just a Ted Nugent song, lol. the ummm was because I couldnt remember the name of the long rat like thingy lol, you know the ferret thingy lol! get your mind out of the gutter lady bawahahahaha! Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.