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" Research from\u00A0the\u00A0Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine\u00A0may have some cat owners ready to stick up for their furry friends.\u00A0 A recent study\u00A0in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica\u00A0links owning a cat to developing\u00A0mental illness later on in life. The link is based on a parasite found in cat feces\u00A0called Toxoplasma gondii, which\u00A0researchers say\u00A0can lead to toxoplasmosis, a\u00A0condition that could cause\u00A0bipolar disorder,\u00A0schizophrenia or &amp;quot;sudden rage.&amp;quot;\u00A0 &amp;quot;Cat ownership in childhood has now been reported in three studies to be significantly more common in families in which the child is later diagnosed with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness,&amp;quot; said the study authors\u00A0in a statement. While the\u00A0study originally\u00A0published in 2015, it&amp;#039;s making headlines again.\u00A0Another recent\u00A0study linked\u00A0T. gondii to poor school performance in children.\u00A0 For years, doctors have warned\u00A0pregnant women\u00A0to avoid cleaning litter boxes because\u00A0the\u00A0parasite can cause\u00A0birth defects.\u00A0 Yet the dangers of the parasite\u00A0shouldn&amp;#039;t influence your decision (not) to get\u00A0a pet\u00A0feline or, heaven forbid, get rid of the cat you already own. Why? It&amp;#039;s important to note that the \u00A0toxoplasmosis-causing parasite can also come from\u00A0&amp;quot;eating undercooked meat, poultry, seafood and unwashed fruits and vegetables,&amp;quot; reports FOX 13.\u00A0 Also, indoor cats have a very,very remote chance of contracting the parasite in the first place. Hunting cats are much more likely to become carriers of toxoplasmosis because of their interaction with wild animals.\u00A0 To stay on the safe side, opt for an indoor cat, clean the litter box every single\u00A0day, and\u00A0wash your hands immediately after handling the box.\u00A0 Follow Woman&amp;#039;s Day on Instagram.\u00A0 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/pet-care/news/a54339/cats-linked-to-mental-illness/>