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Science & Technology

Are house cat feces making people crazy ?

By T.K. Randall
February 11, 2012 · Comment icon 47 comments

Image Credit: Werner100359
Are parasites from cat droppings living in your brain and influencing the way you think and behave ?
This is the startling conclusion by Czech scientist Jaroslav Flegr who believes that the Toxoplasma gondii parasite found in cat feces can live inside the brain and influence everything from our responses to frightening situations to our social behaviours. Flegr even believes that these parasites are responsible for some car accidents. "Toxoplasma might even kill as many people as malaria, or at least a million people a year," he says.
The parasite, which is excreted by cats in their feces, is called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii or Toxo for short) and is the microbe that causes toxoplasmosis—the reason pregnant women are told to avoid cats’ litter boxes.


Source: The Atlantic | Comments (47)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #38 Posted by Sevenof Seven 12 years ago
Leave the cats alone !!! This story is nonsense !!!!
Comment icon #39 Posted by Helen of Annoy 12 years ago
It’s annoying but interesting to see how widespread is distrust towards cats (mushroom, women, redheads, etc.). Rooted in long outdated superstitions, this distrust needs scientific backup today and here it is. Never mind the ****load of other zoonoses you can contract, it’s the evil cats that will drive you insane and puppeteer your brain. Pathetic. Wash your hands, do not snort kitty litter and you won’t get Toxoplasmosis. It’s not the tool of the devil, it’s a freaking parasite, it won’t chase you down the street to bite your ass and zombify you. Grow up, Freudians.
Comment icon #40 Posted by Dougal 12 years ago
It’s annoying but interesting to see how widespread is distrust towards cats (mushroom, women, redheads, etc.). Rooted in long outdated superstitions, this distrust needs scientific backup today and here it is. Never mind the ****load of other zoonoses you can contract, it’s the evil cats that will drive you insane and puppeteer your brain. Pathetic. Wash your hands, do not snort kitty litter and you won’t get Toxoplasmosis. It’s not the tool of the devil, it’s a freaking parasite, it won’t chase you down the street to bite your ass and zombify you. Grow up, Freudians. Yes, how dar... [More]
Comment icon #41 Posted by Zarifa 12 years ago
There are theories linking parasites to cancers also. I doubt that we know enough about these little critters to rule them out.
Comment icon #42 Posted by Helen of Annoy 12 years ago
Yes, how dare people point out what is possible! I mean, don't box bears and you won't get mauled, therefore we can conclude that bears are harmless! It's a study pointing out that this thing exists, and can have an effect on people. Seriously, it's not like anybody is suggesting (not tongue in cheek) that cats are planning a revolution to take over the world. I think you're the only one here making a mountain out of a molehill. I agree with the possible part, the paranoid stuff is annoying me. Reread my posts and you will find that out yourself. Meanwhile, for the umpteenth time and Im not gi... [More]
Comment icon #43 Posted by Dougal 12 years ago
I fail to see how it's illogical or full of crap? The guy says that the parasites may affect behaviour, however it's subtle and you'd need about 50 infected and 50 uninfected to see any statistical differences. I also don't see how something can't be subtle and puppeteer you, puppeteering doesn't have to suddenly change everything about you, it can change small things that people are unlikely to notice, but still something out of character for you. Where exactly do you see the author's "personal mental issues" in this? He quite clearly says that it's not going to turn an introvert woman into a... [More]
Comment icon #44 Posted by Helen of Annoy 12 years ago
I fail to see how it's illogical or full of crap? The guy says that the parasites may affect behaviour, however it's subtle and you'd need about 50 infected and 50 uninfected to see any statistical differences. It’s illogical precisely because it says the possible changes author suspects are there but are not yet proven are subtle (and I agree with that possibility, absolutely) but in the same article the same author is talking about typical male and female Toxo personalities, higher chance for traffic accident, loss of fashion sense, steps into completely another issue (loss of gray matter ... [More]
Comment icon #45 Posted by Anonymous Fellow 12 years ago
In many cases of hoarding of animals or possessions, it is true that they might own cats. But you must think of the cases that don't involve cats or animals. My best friend's brother had a hoarding problem. He doesn't own cats or dogs, and he has been sent to a special hospital for mental problems related to his hoarding. It could be a coincidence that the cats a involved in a case with mental issues as a side-effect. It could be the hoarding that is causing this. Hoarding can be rough on the mental and physical state your body and mind is in. It could lead to claustrophobia or moderate to sev... [More]
Comment icon #46 Posted by Cybele 12 years ago
I suppose it's not as insane as it sounds. Neurocysticercosis (when pork tapeworm eggs end up in the brain), can affect functioning and cause seizures. T. gondii (toxoplasma) has been demonstrated to affect the behavior of infected mice, causing them to seek out cats and be eaten, thus perpetuating the parasite's life cycle.. One would need to look at studies determining the seroprevalence of antibodies in a population, but even then, determining causation would be difficult. It appears to be a fairly common infection in humans, but isn't considered dangerous to humans unless they are immunoco... [More]
Comment icon #47 Posted by Cybele 12 years ago
In many cases of hoarding of animals or possessions, it is true that they might own cats. But you must think of the cases that don't involve cats or animals. My best friend's brother had a hoarding problem. He doesn't own cats or dogs, and he has been sent to a special hospital for mental problems related to his hoarding. It could be a coincidence that the cats a involved in a case with mental issues as a side-effect. It could be the hoarding that is causing this. Hoarding can be rough on the mental and physical state your body and mind is in. It could lead to claustrophobia or moderate to sev... [More]
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