Who said being a cat lady was a bad thing?

As an out cat lover and closet cat lady, this recent example of questionable research was sure to delight. Apparently, exposure to cats can change your personality. Nearly all cats carry the toxoplasma gondii parasite, which may be infecting up to half the human population in interesting ways, perhaps by destroying natural inhibitions:

Infected women... "appear to exhibit the "sex kitten" effect,
becoming less trustworthy, more desirable, fun-loving and possibly more
promiscuous."

They also:

• were rated more attractive
• had higher intelligence
• were more easygoing
• were more warm-hearted
• were more accepting and tolerant
• were more worldly and polished
• had more friends
• cared more about how they looked (and bought more clothes)

Ok, I don't ever want to hear a man bitch about a girl being a cat lady again -- chances are, her cats have made her exactly the sort of girl you'd like to go out with -- not a bookish librarian with poor social skills. A man's only challenge is hanging on! As I share my home with 5 animals of the feline persuasion, I'm pretty sure I'm infected. And I'm tickled pink by that.

Now, by contrast, infected men present the "alley cat" effect, and... "tend to become more aggressive, scruffy, antisocial and are less attractive."

Indeed, they:

• are less well groomed
• have lower IQs and lower education levels
• are undesireable loners
• are pugilistic and critical
• are less trusting and tolerant
• are suspicious and jealous
• are detached
• are guilt prone
• are impulsive and yet have lower levels of novelty seeking
• flout the rules

Jesus, and here I'd just thought of cat-owning men as disturbingly effeminate!

(In my eyes, a man should definitely be an animal lover, and he should adore my cats, but he shouldn't come with his own feline baggage)

Now there is always a downside... Unfortunately, infected people are also at greater risk for developing schizophrenia and manic depression, have delayed reaction times and were more likely to get in car accidents. We shall gloss over that. (I'm sane and my driving record is perfect thankyouverymuch)

This science may indeed be questionable. However, in the interest of defending my own cat lady status (it somehow sounds worse to describe myself as a "cat enthusiast"), I will choose to accentuate the positive. My cats have infected me with a brain parasite that brings out the best in me, dammit!