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# The Science of Crazy Cat Ladies
- URL: https://goodoil.news/the-science-of-crazy-cat-ladies/
- Published: 2023-12-17T01:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-12-15T20:56:34.000Z
- Author: Cam Slater
- Tags: Fun Stuff, Health, Science, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-16 22:07

So, is the ‘Crazy Cat Lady’ stereotype based in fact after all? A new review of the scientific literature suggests that it is.

Which comes first, though, the cats or the crazy, is not so clear.

> A new review suggests that having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person’s risk of schizophrenia-related disorders.  
>  
> Australian researchers conducted an analysis of 17 studies published during the last 44 years, from 11 countries including the US and the UK.  
>  
> “We found an association between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders,” writes psychiatrist **John McGrath** and fellow researchers, all from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.

Correlation, of course, is not causation. So it’s not clear whether madwomen collect cats or whether a collection of cats sends her over the edge.

> One suggested causal link is possible exposure to a parasite called *Toxoplasma gondii*, but the evidence for that is far from clear. As is, it must be admitted, any actual link between felines and derangement.  
>  
> *T. gondii* is a mostly harmless parasite that can be transmitted through undercooked meat or contaminated water.  
>  
> A bite from an infected cat or the feces of an infected cat can also transmit *T. gondii*. It’s estimated that around 40 million people in the US may be infected, usually without any symptoms. Meanwhile, researchers keep finding more strange effects that infections may have.  
>  
> Once inside our bodies, *T. gondii* can infiltrate the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters. The parasite has been linked to personality changes, the emergence of psychotic symptoms, and some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia.  
>  
> However, a link doesn’t prove *T. gondii* causes these changes or that the parasite was passed on to a human from a cat.

And, as it happens, the relatively sparse research done so far turns out to be of low quality.

> The research so far has put forth mixed conclusions.  
>  
> Studies have found that being around cats during childhood might make a person more likely to develop schizophrenia; however, not all studies have found an association.  
>  
> Some also link cat exposure to higher scores on scales that measure traits related to schizophrenia – which affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and psychotic-like experiences, but again, other studies don’t show this connection \[…\]  
> 15 of the 17 studies were case-control studies. This kind of research cannot prove cause and effect, and it often does not look at things that might have affected both the exposure and the outcome.  
>  
> A number of the studies that were looked at were of low quality, which is something that the authors also highlight.

If nothing else, the review shows some refreshing epistemic humility: something increasingly rare in science, which insists on being ‘settled’ over rigorous debate.

Still, there are some curious and tantalising findings in the review.

> One study found no significant association between owning a cat before age 13 and later developing schizophrenia, but it did find a significant link when narrowing down cat ownership to a specific period (ages 9 to 12). This inconsistency suggests that the crucial time frame for cat exposure is not clearly defined.  
>  
> A study in the US, which involved 354 psychology students, didn’t find a connection between owning a cat and schizotypy scores. However, those who had received a cat bite had higher scores when compared to those who had not.  
>  
> Another study, that included people with and without mental disorders, discovered a connection between cat bites and higher scores on tests measuring particular psychological experiences. But they suggest other pathogens such as *Pasteurella multocida* may be responsible instead.

There is, though, one thing the authors are (fairly) clear on:

> “In conclusion, our review provides support for an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors write.  
>  
> [Science Alert](https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-link-between-owning-cats-and-schizophrenia-is-real-study-says?ref=goodoil.news)

Face it: the Crazy Cat Lady trope is just too much fun to let go.

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