How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

[vt]

No wonder the world is going to the Dogs!


http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...#disqus_thread

[dcarrigg]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Hey, vt, this was a really good piece.

[mooncliff]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Never ever eat rare lamb (with mint sauce). I understand about 1,000,000 people in the UK are infected with toxoplasmosis by that.
Beef also seems to carry a virus that causes cancer. Basically, it would be better to eat chicken and fish and avoid mammals, but if you are going to eat pork, beef, or mutton/lamb, it really should be well done.

[vt]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Thanks! My reading comes up with a good one every so often. Happy to share:-)

[DSpencer]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Never ever eat rare lamb (with mint sauce). I understand about 1,000,000 people in the UK are infected with toxoplasmosis by that.
Beef also seems to carry a virus that causes cancer. Basically, it would be better to eat chicken and fish and avoid mammals, but if you are going to eat pork, beef, or mutton/lamb, it really should be well done.

But what's the point of living and being sane if you have to eat dry, overcooked steak?

[dcarrigg]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

They say if you freeze it for a day or so before you cook it, you can still have a steak medium-rare without the risk of this bug at least.

Only problem is, I think frozen steak sucks too...

[shiny!]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Great post, vt. I'd read a little about this over the years but this article put all the discoveries all together.. I disagree with one point, though, where it said that cats with toxo only shed the spores for three weeks. I would think that cats with active infections are fully contagious.

I lived with two toxoplasmosis cats for 11 years. Both of them died from it. My toxo titre test was positive.

The first cat walked with a staggering gait which we later learned was from toxo. She had always been sickly and wobbly. She was five years old when I moved into "her" house with my boyfriend. A year later we adopted a stray kitten. The kitten caught it, we assumed, from her. The disease was dormant in him until he was about eight years old, when a period of stress weakened his immune system. His infection then became active and he died from it within about six months.

In May of 1975 I began living with the first cat. That was the same month I was bitten by a Lone Star tick on my head. That summer I developed a glandular fever and "flu" that just wouldn't go away. I was sick for three months. After that I began to experience symptoms of what is now called Myalgic Encaphalitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This was before anyone knew about Lyme disease or ME/CFS.

Lyme that's been in one's system for decades doesn't show up in Lyme tests. If I got the bull's-eye rash it would've been hidden by my hair. I've never gotten a clear diagnosis as to the cause of what's wrong with me but suspect that biotoxin(s) are at the root of it. I've been largely disabled from ME/CFS for the last 23 years.

My boyfriend who owned the first cat, now my ex-husband, also tested positive for toxo. He fits the psychological and social description of a man with toxo to a "T". Even looks and dresses like the scientist who discovered this, pictured in the article.

[Adeptus]

Re: How Your Cat Is Making You Crazy!

Very interesting article. I exhibit all those male characteristics "males who had the parasite were more introverted, suspicious, oblivious to other people’s opinions of them, and inclined to disregard rules.". Although I believe I ignore other people's opinions of me by choice. I wasn't raised with cats in my own home, but there was always cats around as family or friends had them at their houses. Now I wonder... but on the other hand I like who I am. In fact, those 4 male characteristics I believe to be a very good thing, so long as not in the extreme.

1. My family is a large collection of very extroverted people. In most conversations I very rarely can even get a word in unless I'm asked a question, and even then they tend to interrupt me half way. I've been an introvert all my life; however, I'm not at all socially awkward and can carry on conversations for hours with people that can talk substance instead of small talk. Being an introvert also means that you are likely to be more calculating. Think before acting. Also a good trait for playing chess ;-)
2. Being suspicious is good to a degree. Questioning why about most things is very useful, not only to one's survival but also intellect. For instance, being suspicious of central banksters, BS we watch on TV, etc :P
3. Disregarding rules is also very useful to a degree. It means you are more likely to not be controlled and rather be in control. Further, it is likely to improve your life. Sane people who disregard rules do so for good reasons, mostly to do with morality. So long as that's the case, it's a very good thing.
4. Being "oblivious" to what other people think of you is only good in the sense that you are more likely to remain focused on what is important, but in a social world where we are highly dependent of each other (i.e. I depend on co-workers @ work, I depend on family to help when I'm feeling sick etc), perhaps it would be better if I cared a little more about what others think of me. From a spiritual perspective, it is also considered a good thing, as abolishing you Ego is entirely the point. I can safely say, since early childhood, I've always been the type that questions things and contemplates contrarian, and often even plausible fringe view points, especially the ones that others are illogically unwilling to delve into, whether due to fear or being ridiculed.