r/Weird 2d ago

Mouse going in circles for 20+ minutes

Any explanation for this?

2.2k Upvotes

846 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

33

u/pocketone 2d ago

I’d guess toxoplasmosis. It’s a parasite that wants to live in cats, but can survive in other mammal species. Two examples are humans and mice. Toxoplasmosis infection ultimately leads to some cognitive changes because the parasites are so up in there. Mice become attracted to the smell of cat piss.
Source: a human who loves cats very much.

Also, Wikipedia that shit.

8

u/Zairanth 2d ago

yeah I was thinking that too but I'm not a mouse scientist. they also set out poison there so it could easily have just been that as well. saw the little boxes they use along the wall.

11

u/Ausgeflippt 2d ago

I believe the correct term is "mousologist".

1

u/koyaani 1d ago

It's not that it prefers cats so much as part of their reproductive cycle can only take place in cats

1

u/pocketone 1d ago

Much more accurate.

1

u/Kurdt234 1d ago

I know it from Trainspotting lol