Diagnosis: Crazy Cat Lady

Crazy Cat Lady - cra·zy cat  la·dy - /ˈkrāzē/kat//ˈlādē/  
Definition: A mentally-ill woman who always surrounds herself with a large number of cats. She usually screams gibberish and/or throws her cats at passersby.

We all know the type. We've all been victims of the overused cat lady joke at Christmas (when you are single yet again). Here is the kicker, being a crazy cat lady may be attributed to a common and stealthy parasite making itself at home in your brain.

Evolutionary biologist Jaroslav Flegr and colleagues at Charles University in Prague suggests these wild-eyed, messy haired ladies making youtube videos of their cats may not just be obsessed, they may be victims of a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo). This nasty little feline accessory is carried by cats and can be transmitted to humans through contaminated water or litters.

It is said that the presence of Toxo in the brain causes an increase in the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which results in behavioral modifications. Flegr discovered that the Toxo-provoked behaviors developed in rats included greater attraction to cats, slowed reaction times, lethargy, and a reduction in fear, all of which also showed up in infected humans along with a demonstrated increase in car crashes and a high likelihood of mental disorders. It is thought that there could be a correlation between this sneaky toxin, which hitchhikes on your white blood cells, and the token wacky cat lady who coughs up fur balls in the frozen fish section of your local grocery.

More research into this controversial topic is needed. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the general population is not at high risk for Toxo, and if it is found in a healthy person, it is generally not treated. As for myself, I interpret this as a golden ticket to skip off into the sunset to crazy town, my pockets brimming with kitty kibble. To each their own. See you there. 

Eau de Wet Dog

Your dog's happiness is inversely proportional to your nostril's happiness.

Wet dog smell is underrated to say the least.  Upon first sniff it can be confused with something revolting, but further consideration should be put into this blatant scent stereotyping. A wet dog smell is a small price to pay for the confusingly happy look on your mutt's face while he festers away on your new and overpriced couch that you swore Fido wouldn't be allowed on.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the science of wet pup whiffs. Dr David Williams from the Veterinary School at the University of Cambridge explained to The Naked Scientists what exactly is going on to cause that post-puddle-jump aroma we all know and [don’t] love.

Wet dog smell molecules are called volatile organic acids, and they are small and easily evaporated. They are produced by the bacteria on the dog's skin that comes from fats that are breaking down the dog's sweat. Your furry friend’s skin harbors a host of bacteria, and some yeast compounds, which can be especially stink-enhancing. The smell grows when the dog is wet because the amount of substance that is evaporated into the air we breathe is related to the concentration on the dog’s skin and the air surrounding the skin. When the dog is wet, evaporation rate increases, and more particles infiltrate our unassuming nostrils!

↑ happy dog = ↑ wet dog = ↑ evaporation = ↓ nostril happiness

Embrace the smell! 

 (Check out a fabulous April Fools joke that likely had the diehard dog people fuming.... Eau de Mutt) 

To read more about this...

The Naked Scientist - Wet Dog Smell

Until next time creature lovers!