By Admin 
Cat Ownership Mental Health: Nowadays, humans have started loving animals more than humans. But now wait a bit. If you are a cat parent, it is important to be alert. After analysis of 17 studies, the result has come out that keeping a cat can double the risk of mental diseases like schizophrenia.
Scientists at Australia’s Queensland Center for Mental Health Research have found a strong link between cat contact and psychotic illnesses. Let us tell you what came out of the research.
What came out in the study
Psychiatrist John McGrath and his team have worked in 11 countries, including America and Britain, in the last 40 years. They reviewed 17 studies regarding this. This meta-analysis published in Schizophrenia Bulletin found that people who had contact with cats were almost twice as likely to develop mental health issues later on. The researcher found the same pattern even after removing the influence of other factors.
probable cause
The most discussed reason to explain this relationship is Toxoplasma gondii. A parasite commonly found in cats. It can reach the body through cat fecal matter, bite, or even through undercooked meat and dirty water. Once inside, it can reach the brain and affect neurotransmitters, which can trigger personality changes, psychotic symptoms or mental illnesses. However, scientists are also making it clear that mere finding of relationship does not prove causation.
Study limitations and complications
As big as doubling the risk may sound, the picture is not that simple. 15 out of 17 studies were case-control. That is, already sick and healthy people were compared, and not followed for a long time. Such a design does not prove cause-effect. The quality of many studies was also not very good and their results were not uniform. Some studies even refuted this claim. For example, a study conducted on college students in the United States did not find any clear relationship between cat ownership and schizotypy scores. In another study, people who were bitten by a cat showed more psychotic-like symptoms. But the researcher believed that other bacteria might have played a role in this.
Something different in this research
Not all research supports this relationship. For example, a 2017 study from University College London followed 5,000 people from birth to 18 years and found no strong link between cat exposure and later psychotic symptoms. In this study, factors like socio-economic status were also controlled, due to which the cat-schizophrenia theory seems even weaker.
What should cat owners understand?
The latest meta-analysis does not prove that cat ownership causes schizophrenia. This just points to a possible risk factor. Researchers themselves are saying that larger and better designed studies are needed to understand this relationship. If you have a cat in your house, there is no need to panic. Just a few simple habits can be adopted, such as keeping the litter box clean, washing hands after handling cat feces and keeping the pet healthy.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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