Although raising cats seems much more leisurely than raising dogs, since cats prefer to stay at home without requiring their owners to take them out daily, some have found that cat ownership actually has a significant psychological impact on the owners. Some cats can make their owners feel happy and reduce stress, while others may cause irritability and loss of control?

　　If cat owners find themselves prone to anger, the culprit very likely could be their cat. A recent study in the UK found that cat feces contain parasites that make people susceptible to toxoplasmosis.

　　The study indicated that once infected, the chemicals in the brain change, affecting behavior — for example, making one prone to extreme anger and unable to control words and actions; medically, this is called "Intermittent Explosive Disorder." The research also found that the parasite’s eggs are expelled with cat feces, so cat owners who do not wash their hands immediately after cleaning the litter box have a very high chance of infection. Therefore, cat owners have twice the risk of developing Intermittent Explosive Disorder compared to the general population.

　　Dr. Cocaro, lead researcher at the University of Chicago, said that as the human immune system can fight off infection, not all people who test positive for toxoplasmosis will develop the disorder.

　　Nevertheless, Cocaro admits that if the parasite exists in the body, it does increase the risk of aggressive behavior. Additionally, pregnant women need to be extra careful, as their immune systems are relatively weakened during pregnancy, and they should minimize contact with cats.

　　It seems obvious that dog owners manage their emotions better than cat owners. A study published last weekend by researchers at Manhattanville College in New York concluded an interesting result: pet owners have higher life satisfaction compared to those without pets, and dog owners have a “higher happiness index, better emotional control, are more conscientious, extroverted, and easygoing” than cat owners.

　　Dogs are social animals, and generally dog owners are more active because they regularly take dogs outside and interact with people. On the other hand, cats tend to be more independent, often preferring solitude. Cat owners may be more introverted and sensitive, spending more time at home. Bao conducted an online questionnaire with 263 participants aged 19-68, finding some personality differences between dog and cat owners.

　　Of course, nothing is absolute. Changes in emotion caused by cat ownership do not only mean owners need more self-control; cats also have their benefits. For example, owning a cat can relieve stress, which may sound contradictory, but petting cats can reduce the secretion of stress-related hormones in humans, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by at least one-third. Researchers believe this makes people healthier.

　　So, what kind of cat owner you want to be depends on yourself. Timely emotional management and giving your cat more care and love are both beneficial!