Researchers at The Park Center for Mental Health, Australia, have added to the growing body of evidence that cat ownership is a major risk factor for schizophrenia and quantified the risk at more than double.
It should be noted that most people with toxoplasmosis didn’t get it from their pet cat, but from food: undercooked meat, or unwashed fruit or veg can both harbor eggs.
Individual cats only shed eggs for a few weeks before they’re immune to the parasite. And those shed eggs take at least 24 hours to become infectious, so it’s even less likely to get it from your cat if you clean the litter box daily.
It should be noted that most people with toxoplasmosis didn’t get it from their pet cat, but from food: undercooked meat, or unwashed fruit or veg can both harbor eggs.
Individual cats only shed eggs for a few weeks before they’re immune to the parasite. And those shed eggs take at least 24 hours to become infectious, so it’s even less likely to get it from your cat if you clean the litter box daily.