2023 Review of 17 Studies Links Cat Ownership to 2x Schizophrenia Odds
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 3
2023 Review of 17 Studies Links Cat Ownership to 2x Schizophrenia Odds
3 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 3
Summary
A 2023 review in Schizophrenia Bulletin found people exposed to cats had about twice the odds of schizophrenia-related disorders after adjusting for covariates.
John McGrath's team analyzed 17 studies from 11 countries over 44 years, reviving a hypothesis that cat exposure may matter partly through Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite cats can shed.
Fifteen of the 17 studies were case-control studies, limiting any cause-and-effect claim, and the authors said several papers were low quality with inconsistent results.
Some studies pointed to higher risk from childhood exposure—or even cat bites—while others found no significant association, leaving any critical exposure window and mechanism unresolved.
The authors said larger, more representative studies are needed before treating cat ownership as a confirmed risk-modifying factor for mental disorders.