Scientists Say Having A Cat Can Cause Mental Illness… And The Proof Is Terrifying

Some people absolutely love cats, and think they’re the best thing ever. I’m not one of them, but I won’t judge you if you are; companionship is a very real need, and for many people, cats serve that purpose well, in addition to being a regular source of entertainment.

Unfortunately your cat may also be causing you mental health issues.

No, really.

Many cats carry a parasite known as T. gondii, and when secreted in cat’s waste, it can actually affect the brains of other animals.

Take mice, for instance. It’s in their best interest to avoid cats, and normally they’re pretty good at it, including using their keen sense of smell to avoid cat urine, which helps them avoid places where cats have been.

Once mice are infected with the T. gondii parasite, however, that changes; mice actually begin to be drawn toward the scent of cats as a result of the parasite. As you can imagine, that usually doesn’t end well for the mice.

That also works in the parasite’s favor, as cats are the only host where the parasites can reproduce. As a result, if the cat in question wasn’t infected with the T. gondii parasite, it will be after eating the infected mouse, which helps the parasite spread.

But it gets far more interesting when humans are involved as well.

T. gondii can’t reproduce in a human host; it can only do that in cats. It can, however, cause toxoplasmosis, which is not easily detected, and can even potentially lead to the development of mental illness or other mental health issues.

As noted by researchers who have published their work in the journal Schizophrenia Research, scientists found that there is a link between individuals exposed to cats beginning at a young age and the development of mental illness or other mental health issues later in life, leading some to suspect the T. gondii parasite may be to blame.

Even crazier? This is the third study to arrive at this conclusion.

Your cat may be, in fact, driving you crazy. Literally.

Brings a whole new meaning to the idea of a crazy cat lady, doesn’t it?

Source : boredomtherapy.com/cat-makes-you-crazy