Toxoplasma gondii uses cats as its primary host. Understanding the parasite's life cycle is essential for protecting both cat welfare and human health.
From a cat welfare perspective, most healthy cats infected with Toxoplasma experience minimal or no illness. However, kittens and immunocompromised cats can suffer severe systemic disease including pneumonia, hepatitis, and encephalitis. Treatment with clindamycin can reduce symptoms but does not eliminate the parasite. Good hygiene (daily litter box cleaning, handwashing) protects humans without requiring cats to be rehomed, which would cause unnecessary stress.