6 ms·

Toxoplasmosis being commonly carried by cats is one of the main reasons I will never own one. I am certain it's not a coincidence that cat scratches are associa

Toxoplasmosis being commonly carried by cats is one of the main reasons I will never own one. I am certain it's not a coincidence that cat scratches are associated with depression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700762/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700762/

Johnjonjoan 6y ago
Interesting. I am not so certain. Scratching tends to happen when you play fight with a cat. I would expect people who could be described as depressed would care less about being scratched by a cat than those that aren't and are therefore more likely to be scratched. Also the conclusion of the study you linked is that toxoplasmosis isn't linked to depression but scratching is. I found this unexpected given the wording of your post. Edit: also when you clip a cat's claws it can't really scratch you. I'd also assume someone who can be described as depressed is less likely to clip or get their cats claws clipped often enough to prevent scratches.
- hhas01 6y ago
  Fairly sure that even thinking of clipping a cat’s claws is the dictionary definition of “scratched all to f#ck”. I’d also suggest that the toxo-inflicted depression will be offset by the many added joys of being personally owned by a furry, purry, and only occasionally—ow, sharp!—bundle of utterly adorable fluff. Which is to say, humans are a bit more complex than ants, thus effects will be a lot less clear-cut.
  - Johnjonjoan 6y ago
    Thanks for the chuckle. I agree with your suggestion.
  - cityroasted 6y ago
    It is much easier to clip my cat's claws than my Chihuahua's. I think it depends on the cat.
  - celrod 6y ago
    Note that the article supports your point: the number of cats at home had a negative effect on depression (p = 0.021). Suggesting that getting a cat is a good idea for someone concerned about depression. Of course, it may be that depressed people are less willing to take on the responsibility of pet ownership.
    - makapuf 6y ago
      Interesting, but the phrasing means that the more cats you have the less subject to depression you are ?
      - blackflame7000 6y ago
        I think you will start to see diminishing returns after 2 cats.
      - celrod 6y ago
        Yes, that is why it is "[s]uggesting getting a cat is a good idea for someone concerned about depression"
Covzire 6y ago
It's also extremely overblown. Even if a cat has toxoplasmosis, it's not contagious unless the cat is very sick itself and even then only through its' feces, which I suppose could get on a cat's claws, but for your normal healthy indoor/outdoor cat it's a non-issue.
- xkcd-sucks 6y ago
  Cat poops, cat buries poop with hind feet, cat gets picked up, cat hears a scary noise and digs back claws into your chest shoulders and head as it climbs over you to escape
  - cutemonster 6y ago
    indeed they do, and many many times over the years, if growing up with one And they're fluffy and cute and a nice friend :-)
    - fartcannon 6y ago
      I mean, there is a sincere possibility that you only like cats because you're infected by a mind control parasite. For real! Isn't that terrifying?
      - dtakuma 6y ago
        Only if you are clinging to the illusion of self :)
  - GoblinSlayer 6y ago
    >cat buries poop with hind feet That would be a dog.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
    [1] https://www.litter-robot.com/ https://www.litter-robot.com/ exists and works for (some of) them. Also, as many can-openers will know, some others will watch you doing your thing, without you being able to stop them, and learn from that to use the loo in comical but clean ways. Comical as in how they crouch on the lid, hind legs spread wide, butt hanging low over the middle, forelegs on the front. Clean as in not hitting the lid. They basically want their shit "gone" without having to mess with it. If they see/watch/understand/learn a possibility to do that, they'll use it. (In my personal experience with the small sample size I have. Though there are many writings from others, describing the same)
LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
Depending on the personality of the cat(s) you're missing so much...
- fredophile 6y ago
  Personally I prefer dogs over cats. I've met cats that I liked but when I sat down and thought about why I liked those particular cats it was because they acted in ways I associate more with a typical dog rather than a typical cat.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
    It's a personal thing. On both sides. Can't argue with that. Just accept, or avoid/ignore.
    - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
      Rereading it now, too late to edit with "On both sides" i meant for both involved parties. No matter who on the human side, no matter which animal. They may all have their common traits, but they are all on a spectrum of those :-) (just to make myself clear...)

Johnjonjoan 6y ago

Interesting. I am not so certain. Scratching tends to happen when you play fight with a cat. I would expect people who could be described as depressed would care less about being scratched by a cat than those that aren't and are therefore more likely to be scratched. Also the conclusion of the study you linked is that toxoplasmosis isn't linked to depression but scratching is. I found this unexpected given the wording of your post. Edit: also when you clip a cat's claws it can't really scratch you. I'd also assume someone who can be described as depressed is less likely to clip or get their cats claws clipped often enough to prevent scratches.

hhas01 6y ago
Fairly sure that even thinking of clipping a cat’s claws is the dictionary definition of “scratched all to f#ck”. I’d also suggest that the toxo-inflicted depression will be offset by the many added joys of being personally owned by a furry, purry, and only occasionally—ow, sharp!—bundle of utterly adorable fluff. Which is to say, humans are a bit more complex than ants, thus effects will be a lot less clear-cut.
- Johnjonjoan 6y ago
  Thanks for the chuckle. I agree with your suggestion.
- cityroasted 6y ago
  It is much easier to clip my cat's claws than my Chihuahua's. I think it depends on the cat.
- celrod 6y ago
  Note that the article supports your point: the number of cats at home had a negative effect on depression (p = 0.021). Suggesting that getting a cat is a good idea for someone concerned about depression. Of course, it may be that depressed people are less willing to take on the responsibility of pet ownership.
  - makapuf 6y ago
    Interesting, but the phrasing means that the more cats you have the less subject to depression you are ?
    - blackflame7000 6y ago
      I think you will start to see diminishing returns after 2 cats.
    - celrod 6y ago
      Yes, that is why it is "[s]uggesting getting a cat is a good idea for someone concerned about depression"

Covzire 6y ago

It's also extremely overblown. Even if a cat has toxoplasmosis, it's not contagious unless the cat is very sick itself and even then only through its' feces, which I suppose could get on a cat's claws, but for your normal healthy indoor/outdoor cat it's a non-issue.

xkcd-sucks 6y ago
Cat poops, cat buries poop with hind feet, cat gets picked up, cat hears a scary noise and digs back claws into your chest shoulders and head as it climbs over you to escape
- cutemonster 6y ago
  indeed they do, and many many times over the years, if growing up with one And they're fluffy and cute and a nice friend :-)
  - fartcannon 6y ago
    I mean, there is a sincere possibility that you only like cats because you're infected by a mind control parasite. For real! Isn't that terrifying?
    - dtakuma 6y ago
      Only if you are clinging to the illusion of self :)
- GoblinSlayer 6y ago
  >cat buries poop with hind feet That would be a dog.
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
  [1] https://www.litter-robot.com/ https://www.litter-robot.com/ exists and works for (some of) them. Also, as many can-openers will know, some others will watch you doing your thing, without you being able to stop them, and learn from that to use the loo in comical but clean ways. Comical as in how they crouch on the lid, hind legs spread wide, butt hanging low over the middle, forelegs on the front. Clean as in not hitting the lid. They basically want their shit "gone" without having to mess with it. If they see/watch/understand/learn a possibility to do that, they'll use it. (In my personal experience with the small sample size I have. Though there are many writings from others, describing the same)

LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago

Depending on the personality of the cat(s) you're missing so much...

fredophile 6y ago
Personally I prefer dogs over cats. I've met cats that I liked but when I sat down and thought about why I liked those particular cats it was because they acted in ways I associate more with a typical dog rather than a typical cat.
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
  It's a personal thing. On both sides. Can't argue with that. Just accept, or avoid/ignore.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
    Rereading it now, too late to edit with "On both sides" i meant for both involved parties. No matter who on the human side, no matter which animal. They may all have their common traits, but they are all on a spectrum of those :-) (just to make myself clear...)