Cat ownership in childhood linked to greater risk of later-l

[ScottMentalPod]

Did you own a cat when you were a kid? Do you think you might have been affected by this?

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295012.php

The NAMI questionnaire - conducted around a decade before any data was published on cat ownership and mental illness - revealed that around 50% of individuals who had a cat as a family pet during childhood were diagnosed with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses later in life, compared with 42% who did not have a cat during childhood.

The questionnaire, the researchers say, produced similar results to those of the two previous studies, suggesting that "cat ownership in childhood is significantly more common in families in which the child later becomes seriously mentally ill."

The CDC recommend changing a cat's litter box every day to reduce the risk of T. gondii infection, noting that the parasite does not become infectious until 1-5 days after it has been shed in the animal's feces.

They also recommend feeding cats only canned or dried commercial foods or well-cooked meats; feeding them raw or undercooked meats can increase the presence of T. gondii in a cat's feces.

It is important to note that cat feces are not the only source of T. gondii infection. Humans can contract the parasite through consuming undercooked or contaminated meats and by drinking contaminated water.