Is there a disease that makes us love cats? - Jaap de Roode

Is your cat amazing ... or is there a parasite in your brain that exercises mind control? Get the facts on toxoplasmosis.

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Today, about a third of the world’s population is infected with a strange disease called toxoplasmosis — and most of them never even know it. And while the parasite can multiply in practically any host, it can only reproduce sexually in the intestines of cats. Could this disease be the reason so many people love cats and keep them as pets? Jaap de Roode shares what we know about toxoplasmosis.

Lesson by Jaap de Roode, animation by Anton Bogaty.

[intuitiveobservations]

My cat tells me this is just anti-cat propaganda. He also told me to give him more tuna. And to clean his litter box.

[mikeyangel]

The idea that cats are some kind of aliens who host a mind controlling parasite that makes us love them honestly isn't too far fetched

[paullinater]

Toxoplasmosis being linked to schizophrenia, OCD, and bipolar disorder puts the whole "crazy cat lady" stereotype in a whole new light.

[madilamb]

1/3 of the population?? Why isn't this all over the news this is an epidemic. Catpocalypse

[zmeekis]

Me *towards my cat* - "Is this true?!"
Cat *start hyperventilating* - They're on to us!

[melissahenriquez]

As a cat lover, I don’t care. As a hypochondriac, I’m having a panic attack.

[NicoleCoenen]

My cat came into the room while I was watching this and I quickly closed the browser. We exchanged glances and we proceeded to lick his butt.
.... Why did I do that?... did I know, that he knew, that I knew that cats are evil?

sleeping with my eyes open tonight.

[lalakuma]

When I was in high school, I volunteered to clean cat poop at an animal shelter, and a bunch of cats also climbed on me. I'm pretty sure that was when I got exposed to this disease, because I've loved cats since that day.

[stephaniesomer]

My cat is watching this with me. She’s really paying attention to THIS. Weird when I can’t ever get her look at my phone screen to watch cute videos of other kitties and such...she looks concerned and guilty AF.

[booooooooooooooooooooooo]

What the video didn’t mention is that Toxoplasmosis is generally fought off by the immune systems in health adults, without treatment. It is generally believed that once you recover from the disease, immunity of this parasite is achieved for a life time. So no need to panic

[dinilgamage]

I checked the upload date to make sure that this isn't uploaded on April 1

[mangrove]

Yes, and it is called "Cuteus Adorableus."

[bibodude]

Not sure it's because of toxoplasmosis, but my cat always welcome me when I comeback home. We play very often hide and seek. She loves play fetch games and she follows me everywhere like a dog. When her water was broking ( before she gave birth),  I wanted to leave her alone. But she kept follow me very closely and cry very loudly like baby. So I stayed with her and she calmed down and started to give birth. While she was cleaning her babies, I decided to leave her alone again. But to my surprise, she brought one of her babies to me and she kept meowing. I finally went back to the closet where her other babies were and I stayed there with her for at least two hours while she was taking care of her babies. All these stories are true and I don't think I love her because of toxoplasmosis.

[FirstNameLastName-gumu]

Ok listen up ppl.
We love cats cause...
Just look at their damn faces. LOOK AT IT...

[teresajiang]

I tested for Toxoplasma (twice) when pregnant with both my little ones since I have had cats for more than a decade. Both results showed no trace of the parasite or any previous infection of the disease. This would be more likely if the cats were more feral or outdoorsy than for home cats.

[AmberMaryAnne]

watching this while my cat sits next to me

[magndis]

im literally watching this with a cat on my lap💀

[goodcat]

Aren't you *more likely* to get toxoplasma from unwashed, contaminated produce, contaminated meat, from handling contaminated soil and by drinking contaminated water than from cats and cat litter?
Can't you get toxoplasma from dogs too?
Why are cats always singled out when it comes to things like this?

[corvividart]

Now I'm having an existential crisis about cats

[kimberlyperrotis]

I’m definitely infected with cat-love disease, whether toxo or not. My hypothesis is that being with cats raises our oxytocin levels, the chemical that makes us feel love. I feel better just looking at cats. I knew a man who was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, he was quite sick and needed treatment, but he loved cats before that. He was on litter-box duty because his wife was pregnant.