Owning a Cat Could Double Your Risk of Schizophrenia, Research Suggests

Science Alert ^ | 16 Nov 2025 | Rebecca Dyer

[fwdude]

Having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person's risk of schizophrenia-related conditions, according to an analysis of 17 studies.

Psychiatrist John McGrath and colleagues at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research in Australia looked at papers published over the last 44 years in 11 countries, including the US and the UK.

Their 2023 study found "a significant positive association between broadly defined cat ownership and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders."

[Dr. Franklin]

Correlation is not necessarily causation.

No, but correlation is correlation. Having a cat may not cause someone to become a schizophrenic, but schizophrenic do own cats.

[9YearLurker]

True, but how many are there? Mostly younger men, which would be the opposite of the cat-lady stereotype.