The author’s precocious jellicle cat.
I am the happy roommate of a precocious cat named Olivia. I protect her from harm, I feed her decent cat chow, and I let her sleep next to me at night if she wants to. I am, in other words, a responsible cat owner, and Olivia is a friendly and well-adjusted animal. I would like to think that my care and affection for her is a refletion of my better nature as a human being.
So why is it that people want to tell me that I’m infected with a brain parasite?
Here’s a typical example, from the article “12 Reasons Cats Actually Suck — Scientifically.” [The other 11 are equally awful, but I’ll deal with them some other time.] From the article:
Your brain is home to millions of protozoa, but one in particular, called Toxoplasma gondii, manipulates your behavior to force you to like cats.
This parasite, which lives in 30 to 50 percent of the world’s human brains, can only reproduce in the digestive tracts of cats. And, like many living things, it wants to continue surviving, so it has to continue reproducing. But if it lives in human brains, how can it reproduce? Enter cats.
Scientists studied the behavior of T. gondii in the brain of a rodent, an animal normally petrified by cats, and uncovered extraordinary results.
T. gondii manipulated a rodent’s brain to remove the rodent’s fear of cats, slow the rodent’s reaction time, and made the rodent attracted to the smell of cat piss. Now, the newly-brave, manipulated rat thinks it can befriend its mortal enemy, and it can’t. The rat still gets eaten.
With the claim “Scientifically” in the title, I figure author Alexia La Fana’s evidence should stand up to a little scrutiny, right? Well, considering her stated motivation for writing the article is that “People who love cats and display their love for said cats on social media are really, really annoying,” my hopes aren’t high. But I shall soldier on regardless.
La Fana is right about one thing: According to the CDC “the only known definitive hosts for Toxoplasma gondii are members of family Felidae (domestic cats and their relatives).” So yes, infection originates with cats. It doesn’t stop there, however, and cat-to-human infection is uncommon; instead, most human infections happen through the ingesting of contaminated meat. While T. gondii begins in cats, it is very good at spreading to other host animals, including livestock.
“I’m infected with whaaaaat?”
The claim about brain parasites making me love my cat is rooted in studies that looked at how T. gondii affects the behavior of rats. And it was believed for a long time that infection made rats more docile or less fearful of cats. But in 2007, a more specific study found that what the parasite actually does is reduce the rat’s fear of cat urine odors and possibly even make the rat seek the odor out. In other words, it stops them from running away when they smell a cat nearby. Note that nothing about T. gondii “forces” the rat to “like cats” or “slow[ed] the rat’s reaction time”; infected rats displayed normal fear responses in non-cat-urine situations. It basically suppresses their desire to flee when the cat gets near.
Now the last time I cleaned my cat’s litter box, I can tell you I was anything but attracted to the smell. In fact, the smell of cat urine is one of the worst parts of owning a cat. That’s why my cat’s litterbox is in the basement! So I’m not showing the one effect that we know T. gondii has — attraction to cat urine — and I’m guilty of a thing — affection for my cat — that isn’t actually something that the parasite is known to cause. My experience, in other words, lines up with the evidence of science and contradicts the popular claim.
This also belies a larger claim, that T. gondii is responsible for so-called “crazy cat lady syndrome.” Nevermind for a moment that the “crazy cat lady” is nothing more than an offensive stereotype of older unmarried women; just consider, again, what T. gondii actually does. And what it doesn’t do is cause an obsession with collecting cats.
And besides, if I were infected with T. gondii, cat urine attraction would be the least of my worries. According to the CDC, T. gondii is “considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States.” Once the T. gondii gets out of the cat it spreads into other animals that come on contact with it — mice and birds, for example, which may then come into contact with, say, cow feed (yes, that means they poop on the feed). Humans, especially in North America, are far more likely to pick up T. gondii from an undercooked steak, even if they do live in a house without cats.
“Oh, the stupid … it burns!”
But there’s a larger point here as well, beyond the science: why does a brain parasite need to be invoked to explain a fondness for cats? Humans have an affinity for lots of animals. We invite all manner of furry domesticated creatures into our homes — dogs, cats, hamsters, guinnea pigs, even ferrets — not to mention all the non-furry ones — fish, birds, lizards, snakes, and even spiders. You’re telling me I need a brain parasite to love my cat, but that the guy down the street who likes to nuzzle with the pedipalps of his tarantula is parasite-free? That feels a lot like special pleading to me.
I have no problem agreeing with La Fana that the Internet’s cat fixation can sometimes get annoying; but it’s no more annoying than any other stupid thing the Internet gets fixated on. To single out cats as being different from the norm of pet ownership, just because they annoy her, suggests that cats are somehow unworthy of the same affection one might give to a chihuahua or canary. And that just doesn’t make sense, logically or emotionally.
I think I will be posting at least one new picture of my little parasite host every day this week over at my Twitter feed, just to annoy Alexia La Fana and anyone else out there who thinks I’m being controlled by a brain parasite. If you want to see them, you can follow me @Ariamythe.
This is just another ridiculous pseudo-science idea.I used to have a dog that loved cats, far preferring them to other dogs. So did he have a parasite in his brain?
Exactly.
The text contains a number of serious logical problems.
Looking at other evidence, I find the claims to be possible and plausible, but not proven.
If you start thinking that it’s OK for your cat to eat you, then you probably have a problem. ^-^
Mostly, I wouldn’t worry about it. Worshiping cats…^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Having a pet cat does provide a number of benefits. ^-^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii
“T. gondii has been shown to alter the behavior of infected rodents in ways thought to increase the rodents’ chances of being preyed upon by cats.[9][10][11] Because cats are the only hosts within which T. gondii can sexually reproduce to complete and begin its lifecycle, such behavioral manipulations are thought to be evolutionary adaptations to increase the parasite’s reproductive success,[11] in one of the manifestations the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins attributes to the “extended phenotype”. Although numerous hypotheses exist and are being investigated, the mechanism of T. gondii–induced behavioral changes in rodents remains unknown.[12]
“A number of studies have suggested subtle behavioral or personality changes may occur in infected humans,[13] and infection with the parasite has recently been associated with a number of neurological disorders, particularly schizophrenia.[10] However, evidence for causal relationships remains limited.[10]”
(Maybe it’s hard to tell because human behavior is irrational most of the time anyway. 😉
I agree with the foregoing by AH and JG.
I am more of a living-thing-lover than a cat lover, but as a family our catless years have been fewer than our married decades and were forced on us by circumstance. We know about as much of the negatives as anyone, and we still keep cats, affectionately, admiringly and unsentimentally. Our cats are healthy and so are we, apart from encroaching attacks of anno domini. We have had cats even longer and more consistently than we have had dogs.
Have you noticed how rarely the claim that something is “scientific” is based on any understanding of science, let alone the alleged “science” in question? In hte light of the foregoing I doubt that ALF could so much as understand a scientific proposition if she broke a leg stumbling over it.
But propaganda now; THERE is a really deadly brainworm. Methinks I see the symptoms. ALF may well be beyond treatment.
And beyond sympathy. It is a hollow life with none but humans in a home, and humans uncomprehending of animals at that.
If you raise them together, it’s quite common for them to get along quite well.
Here’s an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_2C4H6UQXo
.
(I was never quite so lucky. My cat was afraid of my hamster. Yea; dumb cat. 😉 )
If brain parasites make me love cats, they are clearly beneficent!
Off the top of my aging brain, there is a parasite that comes from cap poo that affects pregnant women and as well as that, gets into local streams and into the sea and results in the deaths of ottos all around the Pacific rim. Since you are neither of those Alison one must suppose you are not susceptible.
That is also T. gondii. It can be a pretty nasty parasite, which is yet another reason why it’s illogical to assume that every cat owner has it. We’d be statistically sicker.
I suppose you’ve read this Alison.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/science/parasites-practicing-mind-control.html?rref=science&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Science&pgtype=article&_r=0
Sorry about that.
Still doesn’t cause cat love. Besides, that article says best estimates are 11% may have it. The Humane Society estimates nearly half (46%) of American homes have a cat. Assuming that many of those homes have multiple people, we’re talking a much larger segment of the population than 11%. How does the T. gondii theory explain the rest?
Besides, I never said in the article that parasites don’t influence behavior. But this particular parasite does not, according to the evidence, effect people in the specific way cat haters like to claim.
Alison, I am convinced there are three types of people, those who love dominating animals, those who hate animals and those who love being dominated by cats. Dog lovers love dominating their dogs and therefore cats, as a ruling class are greatly resented by these individuals. Dreadfully simplistic responses.
The fact that half American homes have a cat does not mean that everyone in the home loves the cat. I dominate my cat by looking at him with ONE eye. The response is dreadful to behold. BUT, I learned that from the CAT. I do not believe people love their cats, I do believe though, that the people who think they DO love their cats, have succumbed to the evil eye, and that, is a function of the brain.
Wow. So your response is … people who own cats don’t love them? I’m not even sure how to respond to a stunningly subjective and impossible to prove counterargument. Woe be to those poor cat slaves who are forced to keep cats in their homes even though they don’t want them there!
Does it matter that people think they love their cats? Not at all, cats are far more powerful than most think which is why the Egyptians held them in such respect. Be aware and be careful the next time you catch your cat looking at you around a corner with just ONE eye. The proper response is to silently stare back with a hand covering one of your eyes. Have you notice that a dog will watch the TV but a cat will not be taken in by such optical illusion.
Toxoplasmosis is a threat to pregnant women. Ladies, your husband should clean the sandbox while your are pregnant. Wash your hands after petting the cat. Comes to that, wash your hands after petting your husband and other children also.
Toxoplasmosis is a threat to pregnant women…
if they eat cat poop.
Question: “So why is it that people want to tell me that I’m infected with a brain parasite?”
Answer: because cat haters will tell bizarre lies to inspire you to hate them also. It’s pathetic.
Hi Alison,
I am not a cat hater, but one has to wonder what is going on in the extreme case where people seem to not be able to gather enough cats in their homes to satisfy their addiction to these animals. I have known people who have ruined their homes to the point of making them unsaleable because cats spraying on the walls and floors. Its not that they (at least some of them) don’t clean up after their cats, The problem is that cats spray and claw. When you have 15 or more cats in a home it becomes impossible to handle it all. The urine seeps into cracks in floors, furniture, walls, etc. Once in the wood, you might as well tear down the house and start anew.
These homes become impossible for unconditioned people to be in. Children in these homes suffer embarrassment and isolation from friends. Why would any adult live like this? Why would they submit their families to these things?
I admit I was happy to accept the idea that a parasite caused these people to people to become out of control cat collectors, because it seemed plausible and I could not think of another reason someone who is not mentally ill would live this way. Now, I am not so sure. The science is not all in. But it still seems like the best explanation that I know of. If you can think of other reasons why people would become compulsive cat collectors, what are they?
That cats are cute doesn’t really get it. Most people have one or two cats are fine with the amount of cuteness that imparts to their lives. I submit that 20 or 50 cats are not one bit cuter than 2 of them and certainly not worth the price in time, money, stench, and mental anguish imparted on family and friends..
No scientific evidence here, but I think people may collect cats because they feel sorry for them. They can’t stand the idea of them being out in the wild and foraging for their own food.
Inveigle is the word. They inveigle themselves into your consciousness & concern. There is a child-like helplessness that even the most hard- hearted cannot resist interminably.
I don’t want my cat but I put up with him because it pleases others and yes, at times I cannot resist his pleas. I am home alone with this cat to feed and pamper while his mother ? is off touring Europe. How disproportionate! I have suggested putting down this lovely arthritic cat and apologized in advance if he expires while she is away. He may be slightly deaf and less active than he used to be but he’s a survivor and still the terror of the local d0gs, both big and small.
I think you are right Anna. People have good intentions, for sure.. but what drives them to take it to an extreme? I found this link to a list of reasons why people start hoarding animals in general.
http://www.animalhoarding.com/How-Animal-Hoarding-Develops.html
Perhaps many cat hoarders get their reasons from this list. We need a good study of cat hoarders to see how many of them have T. gondii, but I bet you won’t get many volunteers for testing.
What about those wierdos who have dozens of dogs, rodents, reptiles, horses, pigs or even birds that they haven’t a hope of looking after properly?
So they just like other animals a but somebody who has too many cats is under an external influence.
Great bit of thinking there, or is it only you think of some strange cat lady.
Also by that thinking then males are considerably less prone to being infected
Or id it just faulty think and 3rd rate journalism?
Hoarding (anything) is a mental illness (OCD gone bad.) It has little to do with what is being hoarded.
Rob Said: “Great bit of thinking there, or is it only you think of some strange cat lady.”
Who are you talking to and what does that mean?
No one said anything about “cat ladies”? At least not that I see.
I said the scientific jury on whether people with toxoplasmosis where more inclined to keep cats was still out. We may never know because you can’t force people to be tested for something. And I don’t suggest they should be.
I don’t see how the existence of people who hoard other kinds of animals due to OCD or some other mental disorder means that some part of people who hoard cats might not be under the influence of a parasite. The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. It would be odd if ALL cat hoarders were T. gondii carriers. Certainly people who hoard animals are just as likely to hoard cats as any other animal. The question however is ‘Do brain parasites make me love my cat?’ – and they might! Lots of other things might make you love your cat…. but so may T. gondii.
Alison makes a similar error when she says:
“But there’s a larger point here as well, beyond the science: why does a brain parasite need to be invoked to explain a fondness for cats? Humans have an affinity for lots of animals.”
Sure we do. But does that mean we should ignore it if the parasite does affect the degree of fondness or the reasoning impairment that might cause someone to keep more cats than they would have kept if they were not under the influence of the parasite. We can love cats and we can love cats uncontrollably. Two different things.
And even if you proved that all “crazy cat ladies” had these intestinal parasites, that still would not prove that the parasites had any influence on their cat-collecting behavior. It might just show that they’re around cats *a lot*.
Any actual experiment to determine if humans are affected by these intestinal parasites in any way that is in any way similar to its apparent effect on rodents would be highly unethical; it cannot be done. To control for the most important variables, such as exposure to cat poop, you’d have to intentionally infect people at random with the intestinal parasites. No responsible doctor or scientist would do that.
And it’s not a “slam dunk” that what the parasites do to rodent behavior is sure to have similar effects in humans. Many drug tests that prove very effective on rodents simply do not work on humans. The human brain is *much* more complex (and unpredictable!) than a rodent brain.
So we remain “in the dark” about this, and probably will not get any definitive scientific evidence, one way or the other, any time soon.
From an evolutionary perspective, it actually “makes sense,” in that it “tells a good story” that cats and rodents evolved together in a predator-pray relationship — so the advantage to the intestinal parasites of the “cat friendly” behavior in rodents is quite obvious. But cats have “lived with humans” for a very short time. Enough time for us to breed cats to be more human-friendly, but probably not enough time for parasites to transfer. Cat ear mites have not transferred, for example. Nor would the parasites need to evolve to change human behavior towards relatively small cats. Humans “tamed” cats mostly because cats eat rodents and not grain; humans grow, store and eat grain. So it was a good symbiotic relationship between cats and humans — even when humans never got close enough to pet the cats. The cats were relatively human-tolerant to begin with. The humans saw the benefit to themselves of having lots of cats around, to eat the rodents. The humans did not feel threatened by the naturally relatively small breed of wild cats they lived with. (Cats don’t have to be very big to hunt rodents successfully.)
All good points.
It could be that the effect of the parasite is not so narrowly focused. It could be that other mammals might be affected too, not because it makes evolutionary sense, but because we are all so similar to rats physiologically. But for reasons you state better than I, we will probably never find out.
The deal is not that the parasite makes the cats more attractive but that it makes the rodents with the parasites less scared of the cats. It’s the rodent with the behavioral change. Not the cat.
LOL!! YES brain parasites make you love your cat.
Just ask my dog.