Toxoplasmosis, Cats, and Wildlife Welfare

Toxoplasma gondii shed by cats into the environment causes disease and welfare harm in wildlife including sea otters, birds, and marine mammals.

Key Facts

Cats are the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii and the only animals that shed oocysts in faeces
Oocysts remain infective in the environment for over a year
Marine mammals including southern sea otters are dying from toxoplasmosis from land-based cat sources
Infected birds and rodents show altered behaviour making them more susceptible to predation
Indoor cats that do not hunt prey have much lower toxoplasmosis prevalence

Welfare Considerations

Toxoplasmosis shed by outdoor and feral cats enters water systems and affects marine and terrestrial wildlife welfare significantly. Infected sea otters develop encephalitis causing neurological deterioration and death. Rodents infected with Toxoplasma lose fear of cats, facilitating transmission but also causing welfare harm through altered risk behaviour. Keeping cats indoors, managing feral cat colonies responsibly, and preventing cat faeces entering waterways reduces wildlife welfare harm from this pathogen.

What You Can Do

Keep cats indoors or use catios to prevent faecal contamination of the environment
Dispose of cat litter in sealed bags in household waste, never in toilets
Support Trap-Neuter-Return programmes for feral cats combined with feeding site management
Advocate for feral cat management strategies that minimise environmental Toxoplasma contamination