Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease affecting cats and many other species, with welfare implications for infected animals and public health implications for their owners.
Most cats infected with Toxoplasma remain asymptomatic, but immune-compromised cats, including those with FIV or FeLV infection, can develop severe generalised toxoplasmosis causing neurological disease, respiratory distress, and eye inflammation. Clinical toxoplasmosis in a compromised cat causes significant suffering and carries a guarded prognosis. The welfare management of toxoplasmosis in cats centres on preventing primary infection through reducing hunting opportunities and ensuring immune health. The public health implications for cat owners, particularly pregnant women, require litter hygiene awareness. The parasite potentially manipulates rodent behaviour to increase predation risk, raising interesting questions about parasite-induced welfare changes in prey species.