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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsScientists suspect link between cat feces, female suicide
Women infected with a parasite spread by cat feces run a higher risk of attempting suicide, suggests a study of more than 45,000 women in Denmark published in a scientific journal this week.
"We can't say with certainty that T. gondii caused the women to try to kill themselves," said Teodor Postolache of the University of Maryland medical school, senior author of the study in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
"But we did find a predictive association between the infection and suicide attempts later in life that warrants additional studies. We plan to continue our research into this possible connection."
...
"The study found that women infected with T. gondii were one-and-a-half times more likely to attempt suicide compared to those who were not infected, and the risk seemed to rise with increasing levels of the T. gondii antibodies," a summary of the findings said.
http://www.france24.com/en/20120704-scientists-suspect-link-between-cat-feces-female-suicide
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)Which could it be?
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)have good control parameters for validation.
Booster
(10,021 posts)they will have swallowed 8 spiders in their sleep. Now, just how in the Hell did they conduct this study? I call BS.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)all of the coffee studies. One day one study says it's going to shorten your life, all sorts of bad stuff, then another says it's good for you. It's all over the map.
As one poster was saying someplace in this thread, most of them are based on fear, and some profit from that fear.
Booster
(10,021 posts)their results to the gov, but I think the guy in the spider study just made shit up cause he knew they couldn't dispute it. Not a bad gig.
pansypoo53219
(21,005 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,482 posts)coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)if you don't' I've read in quite some time
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)I must have missed that or perhaps you're looking at another article about this issue.
If so, could you please provide a link. Thanks.
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)But reclusive women do hoard cats. That is a fact.
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)Oh, what is it reclusive men hoard? Money? Power? Fame? Women? Dogs? Horses? Bullshit? Please provide links for those pieces of "common knowledge" as well. Thanks.
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)Of course you made no judgement. It's as plain as day in the link you provided.
Again, what is it that reclusive men hoard? Any more anecdata?
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)It is not cats though.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)addicted to codeine and other painkillers, was extremely frail, wore tissue boxes as shoes, and stored his urine in jars.
http://94.236.123.156:8082/biographies/howard-hughes.html
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)Why is it that "common knowledge" tells us about "crazy cat ladies" but not about reclusive, "crazy", men?
Have you ever thought of that, banned? Have you ever wondered why some things are "common knowledge" and other things aren't? "A woman over 40 is more likely to be killed by terrorists than married" was another piece of "common knowledge". Any ideas why that is so?
No. I doubt you have examined our lexicon of "common knowledge". Please feel free to do so since I'm sure FarCenter doesn't mind his thread being threadjacked. At least, not based on his non-response to this piece of "women are crazy" baiting OP, so far.
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)But the subject was cats and women.
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)I disagree. I think it is cars. But, that is nothing but a biased opinion to which I fully confess. Red cars, sports cars, 5-speed cars, cars with elevators. But, as noted, I am biased.
The subject was cats and women and you changed it to cats and "crazy cat ladies"; or...you tried to.
get the red out
(13,468 posts)seems generally misogynist in nature.
I was thinking, when reading this, that I can think of many men who are cat owners and wondering why no studies had been done that included men? I am a female and a dog owner, I also got married at around age 40.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)This one found about 2/3rds: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2005/07/whats_the_deal_with_cat_ladies.html
This one didn't give stats but said it is mostly found in women: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23612118/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/t/animal-hoarding-crazy-cat-lady-explained/
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Officers said they were called to search the home of Delores Metcalf in the 3700 block of North Bales after neighbors reported seeing Metcalf bring more animals there.
"It's disgusting for someone to live like that and do that to the poor animals. There's just no sense in that," said neighbor Tammy Linan.
"I know she's a hoarder. To live with animals and eat in there and sleep in there, when you have roaches and animals, it's disgusting," said neighbor Marzella Blackmon. "I'd like to see her move and put her into some kind of home where they can take care of people like that."
In August, police found nearly 150 cats in Metcalf's home. About a third of those animals were dead.
Kansas City Animal Control officers said during Tuesday's raid, they recovered 10 adult cats and six kittens from the attic. They said they also found a dead cat in the freezer.
Metcalf was not at the home during Tuesday's raid. She is currently awaiting trial on animal abuse charges from last summer's incident.
--more--
http://www.kmbc.com/More-Cats-Found-In-Accused-Hoarder-s-Home/-/11664900/12258342/-/1qg2gv/-/index.html
snooper2
(30,151 posts)crunch60
(1,412 posts)not gender specific to my knowledge.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)Of course there is a positive correlation of cat ownership and reclusivity. (All those words are used to mean precisely what they mean. No more. No less.)
Gman
(24,780 posts)Are reclusive cat women. Highly unlikely.
They were talking about women who commit suicide not the general public. Women live longer and seem to like cats better than men.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)My two aren't going anywhere. And the only time I feel suicidal is when I hear about Romney's latest "clueless rich guy" gaffe.
NNN0LHI
(67,190 posts)Him and I are pretty close. He purrs me to sleep every night sleeping on my pillow.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)me when he was a few weeks old when he found me when he was lost.
ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)You have beautiful animals. Is the dog a Keyshawn (sp??)?
My cat purrs me to sleep as well, better than a sleeping pill.
NNN0LHI
(67,190 posts)Frosty the Keeshond pronounced kayz-hond, really was a beautiful and good dog. Unfortunately he passed away about 2 years ago.
We still have his sister though but she is beginning to slow down now. Here she is:
The cats name is Marius and is older than Frosty would be now and is still going strong.
Thanks again and take care.
Don
Turbineguy
(37,386 posts)Let's sent Rush Limbaugh some estrogen disguised as Viagra and give him a pet kitty-cat.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)even when I was pregnant or nursing. Nothing. Me or my kids. However, all my cats over the years were INDOOR cats and I fed them healthy diets, and scooped/changed their pans regularly.
"Science" can take a hike as far as I am concerned. EVERYTHING is bad for you because they want to scare you so you spend your MONEY on every ailment they say you are going to get.Take RUN to a doctor with the slightest "problem". There is a pill that you cure you. Make me think of that old Stones song, "Mother's Little Helper." The USA Today.
Ask people who are 90+ years old how many times they have been to doctors, or followed their "advice".
raccoon
(31,130 posts)japple
(9,847 posts)didn't even bother to read the "article" because it had fear all over it.
If you are not having medical issues, there is no reason to see a doctor. If you see a doctor, they will find something wrong with you, put you on prescription drugs and keep you coming back for lab work, checkups, tinkering with your medications, etc. Then you will spend the rest of your life wondering "what is wrong with me?"
I am not going to get rid of my 4 cats and 1 dog either. I got rid of my satellite dish and that's the best thing I've ever done.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)that's a very ignorant statement.
japple
(9,847 posts)HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)It will tell you when something is VERY WRONG. Trust in nature and natural healing. We don't need to run to a doctor for every little ache and pain. I am 63 years old. By what medical science says, I should have been dead a very long time ago, if I listened to everything they say.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)about enough to make one a hypochondriac, you hear of things you wouldn't even dream about in your worst nightmare.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)any symptoms.
Same here! Thanks for your post
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)or did you forget how you are connected to it?
Logical
(22,457 posts)dies that mean smoking is safe also? Wow.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)died of something entirely unrelated to tobacco use.
I'm going to start handing out cigarettes instead of candy on Halloween.
Suck it science! Anecdotes trump data.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)...It's quite possible that the stereotypical "crazy cat lady" has tendencies for depression.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,926 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)and arise out of consumption of incompletely cooked meat.
But the media conveniently overlooks this readily available fact time and time again.
japple
(9,847 posts)and there have never been any pets in their household. The friend thinks that her daughter might have contracted it when she was at a friend's house where there were inside pets (one dog). I told her it was just as likely that her daughter got it from being in contact with wild birds, birdshit on a park bench, etc., but she seemed skeptical.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)shed infective oocysts.
Didn't get it from wild birds or their poop. They have nothing to do with Toxo.
Cat poop in the garden outside is a common source, but like I said, incompletely cooked meat is more likely than anything.
For the record, I am a veterinarian, have a cat practice, have a special interest in zoonotic diseases (Toxo is the biggie in cats), and also have a degree in microbiology. I will hunt for a link and edit this post. But this topic is one that is not just professional interest - I have a duty to know this stuff.
ETA: Here's CDC's page on the epidemiology of Toxo.
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/epi.html
I don't have a link for the article that showed how there was no statistical link between cats and humans with positive Toxo titers, but I know this has been researched well and published and it's common knowledge in the zoonosis community. Maybe I saw it at Worms & Germs blog.
japple
(9,847 posts)along to my friend.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1206779
Do you know an estimate of what percent of cats host T gondii?
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)is a secondary host of Toxo (rats, mice, some birds) or been fed incompletely cooked meat.
I always assume cats COULD harbor it when advising clients how to avoid picking it up. But it's good to remember that cats generally only shed Toxo when first infected, maybe for a couple of weeks. Then they "have" it, but don't spread it.
ETA: My suburban indoor cat patients are pretty unlikely to "have" Toxo, and extraordinarily unlikely to be shedding it at any given time.
raccoon
(31,130 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)Dog shit? Human shit? Bird shit?
I'd rather clean my cats litter box than scoop up my dogs poo any day of the week.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)As the late Carlin said, "The only thing that smells worse than cat food is cat food that's been through a cat's digestive tract."
DBoon
(22,414 posts)dogs are a whole level of gross beyond cats
A good dog fart will have the local hazmat team at your door in minutes.
And did you know dogs love eating cat poop?
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)than my cat's. But my little sweet kitty boy doesn't do it that often. My kids, on the other, every chance they get when they're around me. They think it's so funny when I react. I have a very sensitive nose.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)DBoon
(22,414 posts)using a fart-o-meter and testing dogs vs. cats
snooper2
(30,151 posts)LOL
Of course my wife's cat has some nasty "gotta leave the room" bowel movements
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)The washer and dryer are economy models we got at Montgomery Ward in '87 and even after all of those diapers they are both STILL running fine. And the cat box has always been near the laundry area so there have been some, ahem, "choice" moments as far as smell is concerned.
obamanut2012
(26,165 posts):right:
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)CCL's beware.
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)Especially by those whose knowledge is common and superficial.
But, hey, it's just a joke.
Imagine what would happen if female physiology was the 'norm'?
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Thanks for your awesomeness.
Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)I'm glad I could help you make fun of "crazy" women.
Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.
More crazy women for you.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)You are awesome.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)they also tend to be crazy.
Here we have a link between insanity in women and cats.
Surely you can see the humor there.
Consider instead a medical study that found an actual correlation between below average genital size in males and above average car size.
People would get a good laugh out of it. Why? Because they hate men? Because men have no value?
Or because it kinda confirms what has been "conventional wisdom" for decades?
Taverner
(55,476 posts)RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)But I'm a male and not sure how this is relevant. Figured I'd say it anyway. :p
Gold Metal Flake
(13,805 posts)lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)subthread.
Too much effort, jeff?
Or maybe, the female physiology should be the "norm" rather than the male?
Naaaaaawwwwwwwwww. We ALL know, the male is the default of "normal", right, jeff?
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Cerridwen
(13,260 posts)should never be given more time than their status within the Party allows them.
Thank you, so much, for saying so.
What is it the reclusive males hoard and deem important to the party?
BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)Headline:
"Mans Beer Cans Prevent Firefighters From Saving House"
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)and here are two papers looking at the difference in what they hoard and why:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2578847/
http://www.helpstartshere.org/mind-and-spirit/obsessions-and-compulsions/obsessions-and-compulsions-current-trends-compulsive-hoarding-qa.html
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)Trying to figure out what the T.gondii is trying to accomplish by killing women...
My hypothesis is: since it is likely the women who are cleaning out the cat box and discarding the poop down the toilet, then the T.gondii benefits when that woman dies and nobody is around to clean up the cat poop, which is how the T.gondii continues to spread. Evil little buggers.
NeverEnuff
(147 posts)Intelligent design?
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)The T.gondii doesn't actually *know* what it is doing. It does it because it works and that furthers its proliferation.
But you knew that.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)My husband is very attached to our cats, has changed their litter, and has CRIED his eyes out when they died over the past 40 years. Oh, no. A MAN doing that over a CAT??????
Hmm. Only women are crazy about cats/animals, not big, strong, SANE men! Yeah, right.
LiberalLoner
(9,762 posts)Are crazy for kitties. We have two and they get along pretty well. I don't think I could love them any more if they were my real children.
I don't think that makes me a crazy cat lady though; I think that just makes me a very perceptive person who is able to realize just how wonderful cats are.
Mark Twain was a big fan of kitties too.
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)The cats are part of the family. My own kids used to call the cats their furry brother and sister. That is BAD? I don't think so. Growing up with animals in the household show children how to relate to the animal kingdom and treat them with love and respect.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)B) apparently this was found to affect women, not men.
People are trying to turn this in to a gender war when it's clearly not.
If it makes you feel better prostate cancer still primarily (exclusively) affects big strong men.
/also men are disproportionately represented among those with mental disorders. Would it be sexist to point this out?
tjwash
(8,219 posts)Also in America...the NOS has done extensive research and declared that "No evidence of aquatic humanoids (mermaids) has ever been found"
Scientists in Switzerland have just isolated the Higgs Bosun.
America - providing scare tactics and fodder for future drug company profits, and disproving the existence of mythical creatures.
Rest of the world - Working with with the fundamental building blocks of reality.
/weary sigh
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)The study could be done in Denmark because they have had complete electronic health and death records for some time.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Toxo info sheet for laypersons (PDF): http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/M4%20Toxoplasma%20-%20Owners.pdf
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)Fire Walk With Me
(38,893 posts)Cat litter...
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)climatologists and ecologists have theirs. Not much we vets can do about global warming other than live our lives like we care about it and try to inform others.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)Or are men just less likely to have cats in general?
Duer 157099
(17,742 posts)My guess is that more women are screened for the pathogen because of issues with pregnancy, and so a correlation could be found. If the same number of men were screened, perhaps they would see the same thing.
That's just a guess though.
4th law of robotics
(6,801 posts)a lot of medical studies like this are skewed because we honestly don't know since there is a huge discrepancy in seeking treatment between men and women.
OneTenthofOnePercent
(6,268 posts)Quite possible though... likely, infact.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)You know, the ones you can SMELL a mile away......
just1voice
(1,362 posts)Plus, the graphics will be hilarious!
crunch60
(1,412 posts)are given to conduct these ludicrous studies. Watch out ladies, the T. gondi is coming to get ya now!