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News headlines over the past few years have linked cat ownership to everything from cancer to craziness, but new studies suggest that cats are actually beneficial to human health, and may even reduce our risk for cancer and other diseases.
Reports in this week's issue of Biology Letters, for example, counter the tabloid-suggested link between cats and human brain cancer.
Marion Vittecoq of the Tour du Valat research center and her colleagues conclude that cats should not be blamed for human cancer. In fact, studies show just the opposite.
Vittecoq told Discovery News that "according to our knowledge, studies that have focused on the link between cancer and cat ownership so far have found either no association at all or a reduced risk of cancer in cat owners."
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As an example, she and co-author Frédéric Thomas cite a National Institutes of Health Study by G.J. Tranah and colleagues. It found dog and cat owners have a reduced risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The longer the duration of pet ownership was, the less chance the individual would suffer from this type of cancer.
Why cats and dogs may benefit human health remains a mystery, but another study from earlier this month provides some intriguing clues. It found that infants having pets at home suffered from fewer respiratory tract illnesses.
"Our findings support the theory that during the first year of life, animal contacts are important, possibly leading to better resistance to infectious respiratory illnesses during childhood," wrote Eija Bergroth and colleagues in the paper, published in the journal Pediatrics.
Countless other studies demonstrate the mental health benefits of pet ownership, particularly for students, seniors and people with chronic illnesses. In such cases, pets can provide much needed comfort and companionship.
Cats have gotten a bad rap over the years, however, for a few different reasons. One is based on old ridiculous superstitions, such as how black cats are bad luck. The other, however, centers on a scientific debate concerning cancer and the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
In earlier research, Vittecoq and Thomas determined that there is a positive correlation between this parasite and incidence of brain cancer. Cats can host this bug, and therein lies the "felines are bad for you" media frenzy over the past several months.
But the authors themselves indicate that cats have been mistakenly maligned, due to the other studies supporting the health benefits of cats, the fact that the connection between the parasite and cancer has still not been firmly established.
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Thomas explained that "humans usually get infected through the consumption of undercooked meat, especially sheep, containing asexual stages of T. gondii" or through contact with contaminated soil (which good hygiene remedies). Other studies show that ingestion of the bug in contaminated water, fruit, vegetables, and raw goat milk can lead to infection. The parasite is therefore somewhat similar to E. coli, in terms of transmission routes.
Victoria Benson of Oxford University’s Cancer Epidemiology Unit, and her team also have a statement in the latest Biology Letters addressing this matter.
Benson and her team are conducting what's called the "Million Women Study," which investigates a tremendous amount of data concerning middle-aged women from the U.K. The scientists found zero association with incidence of brain cancer and women living with a cat.
"This, however, does not rule out the possibility that T. gondii infection from another source may be associated with brain cancer incidence," Benson and her team write.
If that other source, which may even be another parasite, is found, Thomas says it could "provide a means to reduce the risk of brain cancer, particularly in countries like France where the incidence of brain cancer andT. gondii are both high."
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The only way a cat is good for me is to give me something to stomp on.
Your a moron michaelusaf. Nothing but dead space between your ears. Go back to your cave.
Hopefully one will trip you down the stairs Michaelusaf. The fate trolls deserve.
Michaelusaf is a subhuman jerk. Total waste of space. Hope the "usaf" part doesn't imply this thing is a member of the Air Force. Would hate to think they harbor such a sick mother(half a word). Obviously this deranged moron had parents who hated him and failed him miserably when it came to teaching kindness and social skills. Fortunately, this idiot will always live the life of a loser loner. Shun him.
The truth about cats can be said in a nutshell. They carry toxoplasmosis, West Nile virus, hookworms, and other bad stuff... They will pick the woods clean of colorful songbirds and native reptiles... and look oh so cute.
My indoor cat does not carry West Nile virus (which is rarely dangerous to humans, so not the disease we should fret about the most), nor does she kill songbirds (who also carry West Nile virus, though it is only spread by blood contact via mosquitos). She does ensure that our house remains free of mice and roaches, which provably spread disease. She also gives us love; when my husband had a severe illness then was rendered disabled for months by medical malpractice, her concern and affection provided significant emotional support to both of us.
There's something very beneficial about having a loving relationship with an individual of another species; for one thing, it cures you of the delusion that only humans are capable of thinking or of feeling emotions. And a pet's affection is more reliable, if you treat her well, than that of most of the humans in your life. If you're a dog person, as many Americans are, it's equally good to keep a dog. But don't kid yourself that they carry fewer diseases and parasites than cats do.
Michalusaf your stupidity about cats is overwhelming. It must suck to be you
We have to be very careful with people who dislike animals. Serial killers start mistreating animals, then children and elderly people and once they have mastered the easy way of killing they can kill anybody.
To be fair, there's a difference between disliking animals and murdering them. I dislike a lot of humans, but there are no fishy six-foot-long saggy spots in my backyard. - Edited, maybe your comment was aimed at michaelusaf above? Yeah, if I had kids he wouldn't be the babysitter I'd pick.
I knew a guy in high school who liked to run over animals with his car. He later went to work as a street cop for the Kansas City Police Dept. Maybe not a serial killer, but a sick, sadistic A hole none the less.
The "truth" is, Champhibian, that there are a whole lot more people who carry every disease imaginable and kill animals in the woods -- and they don't look so cute. Surely you're not a weak, wimpy, sissy germ freak, are you?
I don't think it has to do with cats in general, but it seems clear that people who care for pets and have compassion for animals suffer less stress - less stress means better overall health.
We are in this planet to enhance not to destroy. People who dislike animals are bad with humans. Serial killers start killing small animals, then children, elderly and finally when they have mastered the easy way of killing they can kill anybody.
thats what got dahmers juices flowin.
I only wish my story wasn't too long to tell in great detail but I can say this, don't ever underestimate the intelligence of an animal. We have 4 little kitty girls. The second one, a black haired, golden eyed little beauty appeared in our yard, yowling her little head off, one morning a few years ago. The past couple of years have been hell for us. My hubby is disabled, on lots of meds and he went through a period of time where try as he, I and the doctor may, we couldn't get his dosage regulated correctly so that meant lots of craziness from him and lots of sleeplessness for me. One day I was so wore out and furious at him I was literally ready to kill him. That little angel stepped in, let me know in no uncertain terms by grabbing my leg with her claws and biting my foot, neither hard enough to draw blood but certainly hard enough to feel, that I was not going to hurt her daddy. I finally got him into bed, told him he was going to stay there or else, apologized to her and she and I laid down beside him, her draped across my stomach, and we made sure he stayed in bed. Every time he would even move her head would shoot up and she would watch him until he was still again. We both love all 4 of our girls but we absolutely adore this precious baby for her love and wisdom. I was a horrid "pet mommy" in my younger years and oh how I regret that now.
Good luck to both of you! I know that when you're going through hard times with health, the love of a pet really helps. Once, when my husband had been hospitalized for several days, our little girl - who even in lovely weather almost never rushes the door - got herself shut in the front door when I was coming home about 11 PM, in a blizzard with several inches of snow already on the ground. I have no doubt at all that she was trying to get out to go looking for her daddy. When one of us is ill she will cuddle up beside us and purr, or if it's too hot for cuddling she will sit nearby to give us company.
I don't have to be told that cats are good for you! I have cats and they are my most comfortable & loving companions. They are clean (if someone's house smells, it's the fault of the owner, not the cat). Although people say that cats cannot be trained, if mine can figure out what I want them to do, they will do it. I have several cats who know how to open cabinet doors and how to turn a doorknob, so I think that cats are smart. I'd be lonely without them!
Just saw that I posted twice! OOPS!
That's silly. My cat is a good hunter and she is likely to catch 2 - 3 birds a year, along with perhaps a small rabbit or a chipper. The rest of her catches (perhaps a few dozen) are vermin--mice, moles, voles, etc. In order to make a dent on the bird population, everyone in my neighborhood would need to have several outside cats and even then I doubt that would do the trick.
Armpit Licking Cat, Psychologists & YouTube Commenters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4qLM32wOhw
I own 4 indoor cats, a mother and 3 of her kids. They are loving, intelligent, low maintenance, very attentive, and give unconditional love. What more could you ask for? The people here who have nothing good to say about animals should find another forum to vent their frustrations. They probably hate animals and people.
I always hated cats but wasn't mean to them then I moved in with a girlfriend and she said she wanted one..So I told her I would find one for her but said to her it must do her business outside..Can't stand a litter box..So I have trained two to go out and do their business outside and now I love one of the cats..CC but the other well he is a lazy one but ok it isn't my favorite and well now I am very glad I did they are a joy..CC always wants attention and I really love her to death so enjoy they are pretty great even the lazy one gunsmoke
You hated an entire species? Hated? Very destructive emotion. That's just strange.
But remember....very one has a right to their comments...Some are silly some are haters but well that is what makes life interesting
Haters make life interesting? Hardly. Haters, as you call them, I have other names, are the wimpy whiners, the backward bullies, the ignorant loudmouths, the know-it-alls, the picky sissies, just general pains that others must tolerate because it's against the law to rid the planet of them. Haters never make life interesting, they simply announce their ignorance and endlessly annoy those around them.
People who don't like cats MYSTIFY my husband and me! Our little fur babies are the cleanest, lowest-maintenance, sweetest, most affectionate pets anyone could ask for. If you don't like cats or cat hair, don't come to OUR house! They were here before you were!!!