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A common parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may be contributing to declining male fertility rates. New research shows it can decapitate human sperm cells in a test tube with just 5 minutes of direct contact. A microbiologist explains: https://buff.ly/hHS84l5
Discussion
Domesticating cats may have made sense when we had granaries to protect. Keeping cats as pets is not justifiable now in the modern age, I would argue. (No, keeping pets as emotional slaves is not justifiable.) Cats are particularly a problem in Australia where they have sent many native species extinct.
Yes, I remember reading about this problem in Australia with cats. When I grew up, especially farmers in my hometown liked them. Kept the mice and rats away. We as children would get paid when we caught mice and rats. Now the farmers are gone and the cats are kept as pets. Times have changed.
Sorry, I got a bit ranty in that reply. Feelings are strong in Australia about cats.
But yes, natural for farmers to welcome the presence of a natural (in some parts of the world) pest predator.
Before I went a bit off-topic my point was that ppl sharing their homes with cats (as pets) has increased the incidence of toxoplasma infection and transmission in humans.
No worries. I was aware of cats and toxoplasma and that it is widely spread. The article caught my eye because it may be contributing to declining male fertility rates. That topic appeared several times recently in my feed. So I shared it. Your input was valuable as always and I didn't think of it as a rant.