Is the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype a real thing?

Is the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype a real thing?

Owning a cat can help reduce loneliness and depression, and imbue you with positive feelings of responsibility and companionship. Far from a sign of being a ‘crazy cat lady,’ keeping a cat at home is more likely to signal an improvement in mental health.

The first time Nutan scooped her cat, Chica, into her arms, she realized she’d reached a stage in her life where she’d become responsible.

Hinting at the origins of the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype in the past medical researchers thought that owning a cat could actually cause schizophrenia.  This is because cat feces can carry a microorganism called Toxoplasma gondii, which infects a substantial minority of humans without them knowing it or showing any symptoms. Studies on rodents infected with T. gondii show it affects behavior, hence the connection between the same infection and schizophrenia in humans.

Caption:

Rianna with her cat, Okoye.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Nutan has herself been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but now new research rejects the schizophrenia link (and by extension the notion of the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype). Instead, there’s a growing body of literature that says owning a cat can have a positive effect on your mental health. Not only can a pet stave off loneliness, but also lower blood pressure and bring affection back into your life.

Nutan, a self-proclaimed “Londoner exiled in Glasgow,” supports this growing body of evidence. They say: “I’ve never had a child in my life and I hear people say it comes to a stage where if you can look after a pet and give it a loving home, you could bring a child into the world.

“The first time I held Chica, my cat, she was that barometer. I was a bachelorette living alone and managing a severe mental illness. My sister gave Chica to me as a present after one of quite a few hospital stays. I named my kitty Chica after a dear friend, and she brought me a lot of relief.”

Caption:

Holly with Phaedra.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The friend she refers to is me because she has always called me ‘Chica.’ But despite this, Nutan says, “I didn’t humanize her. If a cat came in with a dead mouse, I’d say bravo! I love Chica’s wild instincts and her mysterious ways.”

The benefits of being responsible

Nutan believes Chica is good for her in several ways, not just because the frequency of her purring – is on a similar frequency to ‘Om,’ the Hindu mantra Nutan grew up with – lowers Nutan’s heart rate.

“In terms of my mental health, being a cat owner gives me another persona to the different diagnoses psychiatrists label me with. I own a cat, and it’s become a part of my identity. It feels like the psychiatric diagnoses can be left behind. But Chica gives me responsibility too. I’ve got a degree, but I’ve never been a department manager because I’ve been in and out of hospital. The idea of being a cat owner and having the responsibility that brings is an honor,” says Nutan.

Caption:

Robyn with Toulouse.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Nutan is not alone in feeling that the responsibility of owning a cat is a force for good when it comes to managing not just a severe mental illness but also life in general. Alice Evans is a Ph.D. researcher at Chelsea College of Art and says: “The responsibility of looking after Jeff, my cat, benefits me because I have another creature to think about when I get low. He gives great cuddles when I’m unwell. He also chases mice, so I don’t have to worry about that at my house.”

Alice adds that: “Jeff helps me with my mental health by making me laugh when he does silly things. He is also good company if I feel lonely.”

My cats have proved valuable in combating the feelings of loneliness and isolation mental illness brings.

Caption:

Rosalind with Anthea and Augustus.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Indeed, the inspiration for this article on the myth of the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype came after I adopted two large tomcats myself, from Cats Protection – tabbies Caspar and Winter. Living alone at 38, I find that my cats have proved valuable in combating the feelings of loneliness and isolation mental illness brings.

A practical example of this is when I’ve not left the house for two days, but Caspar is always paws-to-the-ready to make sure I am up at dawn to feed him. There have been tough days with my grandmother passing recently, and both Caspar and Winter have been once again ready with cuddles and affection. They have softened life’s blows, and I think life is a lot better and happier, with them by my side

Caption:

George with Molly.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Stephanie Allen is a peer researcher from Glasgow, and, like Nutan, Alice, and myself, is managing a mental illness. She says that having a cat motivates her to continue going to work to keep them in the popular cat treat ‘Dreamies’ and catnip. She says: “Cats are pure comedy – my partner and I bond over their daft escapades. Your cat does not care if peer-review were harsh about your paper; they feel the same about you anyway, the person who should feed them on command.”

Debunking the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype

But why do we have the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype but no Crazy Cat Gentlemen?

Nutan feels the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype is a matter of historical inequality and gender bias against women when it comes to healthcare. Dr. Audrey Tang is a chartered psychologist and agrees that there is possibly a lingering gender stereotype connecting the historical (usually female) ‘witch’ with cats. She has also examined out-of-control pet-owning: hoarding animals. Tang says that there could be some gender leaning, though it’s never wholly straightforward.

The Crazy Cat Lady stereotype is a matter of historical inequality and gender bias against women when it comes to healthcare. Click To Tweet

Caption:

Jean with Molly.

Credit:

©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

“Research conducted by PUCRS [Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul], Brazil into hoarding behaviors shows that more women than men are likely to hoard animals. However, the findings within what has been done are of interest. Of the female animal hoarders, Ferreira et al notes that more were also classed as “elderly” and “weren’t married.” With hoarding classified as a mental illness, the idea of the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype, unfortunately, becomes a thoughtless and unhelpful moniker.

“It is also possible that more women are instinctively moved to ‘protect’ or form emotional bonds, and if these are lacking in their lives, an animal can be a very positive alternative.”

Caption:

Ruben with Arthur.

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©Camilla Greenwell / Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Animal hoarders are, of course, extreme examples of a certain kind of mental illness. This should not detract from the fact that keeping just one or two cats is a positive and therapeutic experience for many. And in any case, the ableist label of ‘crazy cat lady,’ does not apply to animal hoarders.

Stephanie, Nutan, and Alice are three case studies that back up the growing research showing that our furry friends help combat loneliness and depression. On top of that, they also motivate, entertain, and bless us with responsibility.

While the verdict is out on whether women enjoy feline companions more than men, it’s good to know that these lovable creatures are helping people stay mentally healthy and happier… and far from crazy!