The Secret Behind Human’s Infatuation With Cats

We can’t deny that the human-cat relationship has become omnipresent in our daily life. According to cat adopters, it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement; cats are provided with food and shelter, while humans enjoy all the company and affection they could get.

However, this may not be as simple as it seems.

   The Secret

The answer here lies in the Toxoplasmosis gondii parasite, one of the world’s most common parasites, affecting approximately one-third of the human population worldwide. Essentially, this single-celled parasite lives and reproduces in the cats’ intestines and may be transmitted into the human body through exposure to infected cat feces, eating undercooked contaminated meat, or several other means that you can check out here.

Nevertheless, in most cases, the host doesn’t even know they’ve been affected because no remarkable symptoms were exhibited and no changes were detected as well. Or so we thought until a study published in PLoS ONE in September 2013 stated that mice with Toxoplasma gondii infection not only lose their innate fear of cats but develop a certain attraction towards them instead.

This discovery could be so relatable since the pathogen targets most types of mammals among other living creatures. In fact, when the parasite enters the human digestive system, it travels and wonders and then settles in body tissues, including the brain. The most complicated yet prominent and exceptional organ we possess.

   The aftermath

The thing is, Toxoplasma doesn’t even consider the brain to be its main target nor its favorite place to be! But merely an intermediate that can get it to its original “home”, which is other cats’ intestines where it would be able to live and reproduce millions of new generations. But how is that possible?

Now in the mice condition, this is perfectly natural. If we take a look at the food chain, cats are expected to feed on mice, eat their brains and tissues and therefore end up with the Toxoplasmosis, especially when the mice are infected. In this case, the parasite would automatically make the latter magnetically warm up to the cat and, as a result, push it to fall an easy prey.

The conundrum

What about an infected human case?!
Well, maybe next time when you find yourself cuddling your beloved fluffy cat, help yourself not to wonder whether there is a hidden force bigger than your love and tenderness that moves you to go far and beyond to take care of it.

   Other sources:

Parasite makes mice lose fear of cats permanently: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2013.13777