Australian Study Links Cat Ownership to Increased Risk of Schizophrenia-Related Disorders
An Australian study has revealed a potential link between cat ownership and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia-related disorders. Researchers analyzed 17 studies conducted over 44 years across 11 countries, suggesting that living with a feline could double the risk of such disorders. This groundbreaking analysis, published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin in December 2023, points to Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite often associated with cats, as a potential factor. Dr. John McGrath and his team at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research found that individuals exposed to cats were approximately twice as likely to develop schizophrenia-related disorders. While an American study involving psychology students did not find a direct link between cat ownership and schizotypy scores, it did note that individuals bitten by a cat had higher scores on some psychological scales. Other pathogens, such as Pasteurella multocida found in cat saliva, are also being considered as contributing facto... 
