Life Imitates Early 80's Cheesecake Horror Films

Via Ann Althouse comes this Times Online article about a study on people infected by a cat-borne parasite that suggests this infection may cause them to become more cat-like themselves.

The startling figures emerge from studies into toxoplasma gondii, a parasite carried by almost all the country’s feline population. They show that half of Britain’s human population carry the parasite in their brains, and that infected people may undergo slow but crucial changes in their behaviour.

Infected men, suggests one new study, tend to become more aggressive, scruffy, antisocial and are less attractive. Women, on the other hand, appear to exhibit the “sex kitten” effect, becoming less trustworthy, more desirable, fun- loving and possibly more promiscuous.

Hmmmm...if the Butcher's cat ever infected us, I think the tell-tale physiological signs would be more along the lines of aggressive hair loss, incessant yowling in the middle of the night, napping in the laundry hamper and a propensity to try and eat the dining room table flower arrangements.

UPDATE: WWWSKD?