It may sound like science fiction but there’s actually a mind-controlling parasite that can infect your brain and alter your behavior in favor of your cat. This parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, infects rodents and makes them less fearful of cats, increasing their chances of being caught and eaten by cats.

Once inside a cat’s intestine, the parasite reproduces and comes out in the cat droppings. If a human touches the cat droppings, they could get infected as well. Infected men tend to be more suspicious, withdrawn, and prone to breaking rules, while infected women are more trusting, outgoing, and law-abiding.

In general, just wash your hands when you clean a litter box and keep your cat away from rodents to avoid infection. To read more about this mind-altering parasite, click here.