An Explanation of the Parasites That Exist in Cat Poop That May Cause Mental Illness

Can Cats Make You Crazy” by Wired explains what the parasite toxoplasma gondii is, where it can be found and what it can do to a developing human brain.

There’s this theory that exposure to this bacterium a young age can lead to mental illness. Surveys show that people with schizophrenia were exposed to cats as adolescents 10% more often than those without schizophrenia. Although that ten percent difference is kinda significant, it’s not conclusive. But it raises an interesting question – is a bacterial infection partly responsible for causing mental illness?

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.