Cat's out of the bag—there is a real scientific connection between owning a cat and developing schizophrenia, OCD, and other mental illnesses
By Rachael Schultz
Corbis Images
Your feline friend may make home a happier place, but her presence may also be taking a toll on your mind. Owning a cat can significantly increase your risk of developing a mental illness like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or even addiction later in life thanks to a dangerous bacteria hiding in their litter box, according to two recent studies. (Need help? 8 Alternative Mental Health Therapies, Explained.)
It sounds crazy, but this isn't just a smear campaign by dog owners. T. gondii, a dangerous parasite that can live in the soil, water, or kitty litter for years, is present in the poop of cute, cuddly cats (as well as feral felines). And touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with infected feline feces can infect you, leading to toxoplasmosis, an illness that infects 60 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Read these 6 Ways to Clean Your Place Like a Germ Expert.)
A Dutch research team looked at 50 published studies and found that a T. gondii infection is associated with several psychiatric disorders, most often schizophrenia. They found this link not just soon after exposure, but also years later, particularly among young people who were exposed to T. gondii as kids. In fact, infected children are almost two times as likely to develop schizophrenia and are slightly more prone to other mental health issues, the study reports in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. In addition to psychiatric disorders, T. gondii infections can also cause miscarriage, blindness, fetal development disorders among unborn babies, and death (in extreme cases), according to the CDC.
By Rachael Schultz
Corbis Images
Your feline friend may make home a happier place, but her presence may also be taking a toll on your mind. Owning a cat can significantly increase your risk of developing a mental illness like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or even addiction later in life thanks to a dangerous bacteria hiding in their litter box, according to two recent studies. (Need help? 8 Alternative Mental Health Therapies, Explained.)
It sounds crazy, but this isn't just a smear campaign by dog owners. T. gondii, a dangerous parasite that can live in the soil, water, or kitty litter for years, is present in the poop of cute, cuddly cats (as well as feral felines). And touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with infected feline feces can infect you, leading to toxoplasmosis, an illness that infects 60 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Read these 6 Ways to Clean Your Place Like a Germ Expert.)
A Dutch research team looked at 50 published studies and found that a T. gondii infection is associated with several psychiatric disorders, most often schizophrenia. They found this link not just soon after exposure, but also years later, particularly among young people who were exposed to T. gondii as kids. In fact, infected children are almost two times as likely to develop schizophrenia and are slightly more prone to other mental health issues, the study reports in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. In addition to psychiatric disorders, T. gondii infections can also cause miscarriage, blindness, fetal development disorders among unborn babies, and death (in extreme cases), according to the CDC.
