r/sciences • u/FreeHugs23 • 12d ago
Research Study of 93 Countries Finds Happiness Is Positively Associated With Cat Density and Negatively Associated With Toxoplasma gondii Exposure, Even After Accounting for Wealth and Health Factors
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-find-a-surprising-link-between-cats-and-happiness-across-93-countries15
u/FreeHugs23 12d ago
-If you're looking for a boost of household happiness, then you might want to consider getting yourself a cat.
In a new study published in PLOS One, an international team of researchers analyzed publicly available data across 93 countries to examine the relationship between happiness scores, domestic cat density, and infection rates of Toxoplasma gondii – the parasite that affects as many as 1 in 3 people and which felines are the primary host of.
The researchers wanted to see if having a cat made a difference to happiness, and whether the risk of parasite infection affected that in any way.
While T. gondii is usually harmless and symptomless for most people, it can cause problems in more vulnerable groups, and has been linked to anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
Wealth was also included as it's often one of the first factors people consider when it comes to leading a happy and comfortable life.
"What we found is that countries with more cats tended to report higher levels of happiness, while countries with higher exposure to Toxoplasma gondii tended to report lower levels of happiness," say the study authors in a press release.
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u/aBunchOfSpiders 12d ago
I don’t understand. Maybe because I woke up 2 hours before my alarm and my brain isn’t working yet but…
More cats = happier people.
Cats carry TG.
Higher TG exposure = less happy people.Aren’t both result directly tied to cat population? Or do some countries simply have more people vulnerable to TG? I feel like something is missing or worded incorrectly.
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u/Nkingsy 12d ago
Just get two cats
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u/Swimmming-ln-Circles 12d ago edited 12d ago
Instructions unclear. I have 47 cats now and I cant tell if im happier or not.
And I should considering im surrounded by pussy..
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u/User1539 12d ago
They mention it because they are correcting for that factor.
They also mention 'money', as a factor they corrected for.
The study is trying to figure out if cats are, overall, good for mental health. The study seems to suggest that, in spite of possible infection, and the possible adverse mental health effects associated with infection, overall people are still more happy with more cats around.
So, if it were a 'score', you could say that cats can bring your happiness level down by 1, because you might get an infection, but in general, they bring your happiness up by 2, which means overall you're better off having a cat.
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u/behemothpanzer 12d ago
TG exposure is not exclusively linked to number of cats.
Humans generally get the parasite from consuming contaminated food or water. Warm humid climates (which allowed the parasite to survive longer), and a culture of consuming raw or undercooked meat leads to higher levels of TG infection.
North America has very low TG infection rates, despite extremely high cat ownership.
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u/Shiranui42 12d ago
Not all cats carry the parasite
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u/aBunchOfSpiders 12d ago
Right but then what exactly is the point of this study? Pets make people happy. TG is linked to anxiety and depression. Is sounds like they’re trying to link TG to cats but they’re just stating the obvious that was known all along.
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u/Shiranui42 12d ago edited 12d ago
The point of the study is to examine the link, and the link is not always A=B, it’s sometimes not a direct link. Basically, it’s complicated. If you have a cat that is healthy, you’re more likely to be happy. If you have a cat that has toxoplasma, you’re more likely to be depressed. So if your cat has toxoplasma, bring it to the vet and get it treated, and also get treatment for yourself. Take the medications, clean your house thoroughly, no more toxoplasma, everyone is healthy and happy.
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u/stewarthull 12d ago
I know what “cat” means but toxopla-whaaat?
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u/VampArcher 12d ago
It's a parasite. It's the reason why people tell people to keep any litter boxes they have clean.
Cats are the primary carrier and it can spread to humans. And it does so often. A giant chunk of the world's population unknowingly has the parasite and most don't know it. There's some crazy studies out there on how the parasite may affect humans.
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u/FantasticPrice5219 11d ago
I wonder if more pet cats being kept indoors is associated with higher happiness, since indoor cats are less likely to become exposed to parasites and spread infection.
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u/zarnov 8d ago
I have 4 indoor cats and feel happier having read your comment
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u/Melinoe2016 12d ago
This seems extremely confusing. Wouldn’t more cats equal more Toxoplasma gondii??