Posted on 12/09/2023 6:54:21 PM PST by dynachrome
New medical research suggests that owning a cat could double the risk of developing schizophrenia.
To reach that conclusion, scientists in Australia analyzed 17 studies published over the last 44 years from 11 different countries, including the US and the UK.
“Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors wrote in their analysis, published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
“We found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia,” wrote the research team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.
Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that often runs in families, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Sleet was falling and the ground was frozen. The cat came in, used the cat pan, and then went back out.
No cat doors here, however. That’s how you get possums or bobcats (or bobcats chasing possums) in the house.
p
As long as the cats say you are OK, you don't have anything to worry about.
Or people who like cats are inclined to be schizo. Why blame the cats?
Cats don’t cause it. The women don’t need the cats’ help to get that way. The afflicted women are ALREADY that way.
So, allergies predispose one to schizophrenia? Or maybe it is the allergy meds. Cause dehydration.
False connection. A rooster crows and the sun then rises therefore the crowing rooster CAUSES the sun to rise.
You are not gonna like this article!
There’s a hypothesis out there that feline urine contains a chemical compound that negatively affects the brains of the mice (e.g., confusing them, making them easier prey).
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33380669
Could cat pee also affect human brains?
The study brought up a link between cat ownership and Schizophrenia. The article threw in the bit about toxiplasmosis at the end.
The first big study on toxiplasmosis, which had 10,000 subjects, concluded the only difference beween the crown with toxiplasmosis and the crowd without was that those with were less offended by the odor of cat urine and they were slightly on average less risk averse. No association with schizophrenia.
Another study looked at the incidence of toxiplasmosis among institutionalized schizophrenics. It was no difference in than in the general population.
Now, the new study does not seem to mention toxiplasmosis, but the New York Post likes to attach those things because it gets people worked up.
I would like to see if the cat ownership predated the schizophrenia. It could well be that a typical schizophrenic is lonely, needs someone who will let him talk, and is low maintenance because the schizophrenic may not be reliable. A cat would be an excellent choice for such a person, and may even be therapeutic.
Sure!
Most people who get cats think they’re the superior species.
Cats quickly correct that error.
The result is that the “owner” has great mental disharmony adjusting to the reality of his/her inferior, servant role.
I knew cat scratch fever was bad but that’s really extreme!
I’ve had kitties in my life since I was a little girl.
I currently have a sweet, spoiled Siamese cat.
He’s an indoor cat. And I’m fine.
That’s what the voices in my head say, anyway.
Oh, and I don’t care for boxed wine. 😏
Ever hear of this neat new thing called disposable gloves? I would never dream of cleaning my cats' litter box bare handed. And after doffing the used gloves when I'm done, of course I thoroughly wash my hands.
Witches and scitzos own cats.
🙄
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.