Cats are evil and science proves it. I ~TOLD~ you!

[GmanJoe]

http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060803_tgondii_culture.html

A parasitic microbe commonly found in cats might have helped shape entire human cultures by manipulating the personalities of infected individuals, according to a new study.

Infection by a Toxoplasma gondii could make some individuals more prone to some forms of [COLOR="Red"]neuroticism[/COLOR][/B] and could lead to differences among cultures if enough people are infected, says Kevin Lafferty, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

In a survey of different countries, Lafferty found that people living in those with higher rates of T. gondii infection scored higher on average for neuroticism, defined as an emotional or mental disorder characterized by high levels of anxiety, insecurity or depression.

Cat lovers.....you have been infected and you are now neurotic and skittish zombies. Get a dog instead.

[clips]

"T. gondii infects both wild and domestic cats, but it is carried by many warm-blooded mammals. One recent study showed that the parasite makes normally cautious rats outgoing and more prone to engage in reckless behavior, such as hanging around areas frequently marked by cat urine, making the rats easy targets"

^^^i thought that was funny!......it made the rats more outgoing? and engage in reckless behaviour?.......i don\'t think this would hold true in some parts of newark,nj tho....trust..i\'ve seen some rats as big as cats down there...and even in some cases the cat actually ends up getting that ass whooped...the cat won\'t be killed by it, but the rat will actually "Chase" the cat away!

[Titan]

That why you left Newark? Rats chase you away?