Cat parasite linked to mental illness

You might want to think twice before snuggling up with a cuddly kitten. A parasite found in felines is being linked to debilitating mental illness and millions could be infected.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite common in developed nations and according to the Schizophrenia Bulletin is typically symptom free. The CDC estimates that nearly 60 million Americans are currently carrying it.

CBS is reporting that a recent study published in Schizophrenia Research linked "childhood cat ownership and the development of schizophrenia later in life."

Similar research conducted in Amsterdam analyzed data from 50 other studies and found that someone infected with the parasite was twice as likely to become schizophrenic.

Outdoor house cats and strays are more likely to be carriers of T.gondii so as a precaution it's recommended that cat lovers keep their kitties inside.

Now that you're afraid of your cat, take a look at these from the safety of your screen: