Cat Toxoplasmosis: Risks and Prevention

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection in cats with implications for feline health and zoonotic transmission to humans.

Key Facts

Cats are the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii, shedding oocysts in feces
Most cats show no clinical signs but immunocompromised cats can develop serious illness
Oocysts become infectious 1-5 days after shedding - daily litter box cleaning reduces risk
Infection spreads to cats primarily through eating infected prey or raw meat
Clinical toxoplasmosis causes neurological signs, respiratory disease, and uveitis
Serology can confirm past exposure but does not predict current oocyst shedding
Indoor cats that don't hunt or eat raw meat have very low infection risk

Welfare Considerations

While most cats with toxoplasmosis remain healthy, immunocompromised cats can suffer severe neurological and systemic illness. The welfare concern extends to preventing zoonotic transmission while maintaining cats' needs for enrichment and natural behaviors. Restricting outdoor access or raw meat feeding can reduce risk without eliminating feline wellbeing.

What You Can Do

Clean litter boxes daily wearing gloves to prevent oocyst sporulation and exposure
Feed cats commercial cooked food rather than raw meat to reduce infection risk
Keep cats indoors or supervise outdoor time to limit hunting of infected prey
Have immunocompromised cats tested if clinical signs of toxoplasmosis appear
Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals should have others handle litter boxes
Discuss testing and prevention with your veterinarian, especially for hunting cats