Women who keep cats are more likely to be infected with toxoplasmosis and those with this infection are 1.5 times more likely to attempt suicide. The T. gondii parasite can hide in brain cells in oocysts, and may thus be able to influence mental health.
Actually what has been found is a correlation. It could be that there is something about being predisposed to suicide that makes women want to keep cats. The possibilities are endless and fascinating. The article mentions as though in passing the following:
The infection, which is called toxoplasmosis, has been linked to mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and changes in behaviour.Seems to me suicide attempts constitute a significant "change in behavior."
