"Mind Controlling Parasite", Really? CNN and Fox Promote Panic in Cat Owners!

by Whitney M. 

My cat, "Biggs", attempting to use
mind control to get my husband to
do the laundry 

I recently received a panicked text from my husband after he read an article on Facebook put out by Fox6Now.com and originally CNN Wire Service  titled “Mind-controlling’ parasite that lives on cats may have infected 60 million people”.  After reading this article he was genuinely concerned about our mental health, seeing as we have three cats.  The reporter wrote about a “mind controlling parasite that can’t live without a cat, how it manipulates personality – and possibly suicide numbers.”

The article states that the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, “has been shown to cause personality changes, correlating with mental health diseases like schizophrenia, autism and Alzheimer’s disease.” While the links between Toxoplasmosis and mental health disease are still being researched, I believe this article is inflammatory, misleading, and detrimental to cats.  While it’s true that cats can be a source of Toxoplasma infection, people are more likely to be infected by eating undercooked contaminated meat or gardening. 

Here is what we do know about Toxoplasmosis according to the Centers for Disease Control:

• Cats become infected by eating other infected animals, such as rodents and birds.
• Oocysts are shed in the stools for up to three weeks after infection which can then contaminate the litterbox of indoor cats.  Soil and water can also be a source of contamination for outdoor cats.
• Usually a cat will only shed oocysts after the first infection of Toxoplasma; a cat that has already had an infection will not continue to shed unless it is immunocompromised.
• It takes 24-48 hours for oocysts outside of the cat to grow into a form where they are infective to people.  This means that scooping your cats’ poop every day is a great way of reducing risk of infection.
• Cats themselves are not a source for oocysts; their feces are. 
• The CDC estimates that more than 60 million people may have been infected with the parasite, but of those, very few become sick.  A healthy immune system usually prevents the parasite from causing illness.

Basically you have little to worry about.  Though your cat may think he controls your mind, there is absolutely no scientific research that supports that he will do it through a mind-controlling, suicide-inducing parasite.  The best way to prevent Toxoplasma infection via felines is by cleaning the litterbox every day (hint hint, Husband of mine…), washing your hands, and wearing gloves while gardening.  If you have any questions or feel like your cat is getting inside your head, please feel free to call our office or check our website and search toxoplasma in our pet medical library.