4 ms·

Yep, cat people hate when you talk about their beloved pets. I've seen friends parents not wash their hands after playing with cats, after I suggest that they s

by dm2 12y ago

Yep, cat people hate when you talk about their beloved pets. I've seen friends parents not wash their hands after playing with cats, after I suggest that they should they think I'm crazy for saying the phrase "brain parasite", even after showing wikipedia articles and suggesting that they look it up themselves. Crazy cat ladies are undoubtedly infected with the parasite. There needs to be more public awareness about this. Change your cat's litter-box daily, wash your hands after touching a cat (kittens specifically), be very cautious of outdoor cats, never handle a cat while pregnant or if you have a compromised immune system. Also wash vegetables and cook meat thoroughly. Even more shocking is the percentage of the human population that is infected, over 30%!

PhasmaFelis 12y ago
In case you're wondering, I downvoted you for (a) getting needlessly personal and (b) more importantly, wildly overstating the very minor role of cats in spreading toxoplasma, relative to unwashed vegetables and undercooked meat. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#Risk_factors_for_human_infection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#Risk_factors_...: "Numerous studies have shown living in a household with a cat is not a significant risk factor for T. gondii infection, though living with several kittens has some significance." It's fine if you don't like cats, but don't try to turn it into a moral crusade. Oh, yeah: the research that suggests a connection between toxoplasma and feelings about cats shows that it makes men like cats more and women like them less. Your "crazy cat lady" thing has no basis in fact.
- upquark 12y ago
  What about this? http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission section: "Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis"
- dm2 12y ago
  "Because T. gondii can sexually reproduce only within cats, they are defined as the definitive host of T. gondii." No cats, no toxoplasma gondii brain parasite. I have nothing against cats, but the phrase "brain parasite" and the fact that 30+% of the worlds human population are infected scares the shit out of me. "As of 2013, at least 38 studies have found a positive correlation between T. gondii antibody titers and schizophrenia." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Schizophrenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Schizophrenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Cat_Lady_Syndrome#Society_and_culture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Cat_Lady_Syndrome#Society...

by dm2 12y ago

PhasmaFelis 12y ago

In case you're wondering, I downvoted you for (a) getting needlessly personal and (b) more importantly, wildly overstating the very minor role of cats in spreading toxoplasma, relative to unwashed vegetables and undercooked meat. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#Risk_factors_for_human_infection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#Risk_factors_...: "Numerous studies have shown living in a household with a cat is not a significant risk factor for T. gondii infection, though living with several kittens has some significance." It's fine if you don't like cats, but don't try to turn it into a moral crusade. Oh, yeah: the research that suggests a connection between toxoplasma and feelings about cats shows that it makes men like cats more and women like them less. Your "crazy cat lady" thing has no basis in fact.

upquark 12y ago
What about this? http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission section: "Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis"
dm2 12y ago
"Because T. gondii can sexually reproduce only within cats, they are defined as the definitive host of T. gondii." No cats, no toxoplasma gondii brain parasite. I have nothing against cats, but the phrase "brain parasite" and the fact that 30+% of the worlds human population are infected scares the shit out of me. "As of 2013, at least 38 studies have found a positive correlation between T. gondii antibody titers and schizophrenia." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Schizophrenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis#Schizophrenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Cat_Lady_Syndrome#Society_and_culture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Cat_Lady_Syndrome#Society...