An Oxford University study has recently shown that the single celled parasite toxoplasma gondii can have a profound affect on the human brain, resulting in a distinct change to a persons personality.

The parasite is usually carried by domestic cats, who get toxoplasma from hunting rats. The parasite is then passed from cat to owner. Although virtually harmless to most humans, pregnant mothers, amongst others, are advised to keep away from cats because of the potential damage that toxoplasmosis can do to unborn babies. However, the implications of this study suggests that cat owners do undergo a psychological change.

Women can become “sex kittens”, more fun-loving, less trustworthy and possibly promiscuous. (Apparently they also spend more on clothes!). Men on the other hand, become “alley cats” - more aggressive, scruffy and anti-social (and, allegedly, less attractive to women!)

I used to own a cat a couple of years ago until I moved. Unfortunately my wife is allergic to them and, faced with the difficult choice of cat vs partner-for-life, I chose to give the cat away to a “good family”. During the 2/3 years I had my cat, I was extremely messy, anti-social, aggressive and scruffy. (Never had much problem with the ladeez though even if I do say so myself! ;-D Partly, I feel, because I showed a “sensitive” side by owning a cat!) So maybe there is something in the study!

But riddle me this, Batman! How do you explain the 20 plus years prior to that when I didn’ keep feline company but was still scruffy, aggressive and anti-social! In fact, I’m still scruffy and anti-social. And I don’t own a cat anymore!

Furthermore, several female cat owners I know certainly could not be described as “sex kittens!” They are prudish, uptight, dull and lacking in dress sense. And that’s just the good points!

You can tell some people who are cat owners because they do fit the descriptions above. But I personally feel that this is their character and it is because of their character that they own cats. I know a few outgoing, flirtatious and fun-loving women who own cats because cats are independent, graceful and slightly wild. They complemented each other perfectly (he types, narrowly avoiding a cheesy tabloid pun in the process!)

Somehow, I don’t think any of the scientists involved in this study owned cats themselves as they would have been more aware of this in the first place. This theory holds as much water as the Kabalarian name analysis thingy whatsit that people have been dissing.

(Read in the Metro but more info here