https://www.sciencealert.com/cat-ownership-linked-to-increased-risk-of-schizophrenia-study-suggests

"Having a cat as a pet is linked to higher odds of schizophrenia-related conditions, according to a 2023 review of existing research.That does not mean your cat is secretly impacting your health.The findings show an association, not cause and effect, and better studies are needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn, the team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research in Australia emphasizes.

The idea that cat ownership may be linked to schizophrenia risk dates back to a 1995 hypothesis that it could involve an infection passed from animals to humans.Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite associated with cats, has been suggested as one possible explanation.But research so far has delivered mixed conclusions.In their 2023 review and meta-analysis, psychiatrist John McGrath and colleagues examined studies published over the last 44 years across 11 countries, including the US and the UK.They found "a significant positive association between broadly defined cat ownership and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders."

As a cat mom, can confirm

Woah

correlation does not imply causation.

So just the usual poorly controlled studies that have not been replicated by peer review & emphasise correlation over causation.

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/21/health/cat-ownership-mental-health-study

Can confirm I was cat

Objectively cats are strange and not good companions. I don't think it's cats causing schizophrenia, it's that schizos are more likely to prefer cats as pets because they are mentally unhinged.

dog owners have sex with their dogs tho

Fixed