Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection carried by cats that affects human and animal health, with welfare implications for the cats themselves and complex public health considerations.
The welfare implications of toxoplasmosis primarily relate to the broader ecosystem rather than individual cats, who usually show no illness. However, the behavioral manipulation that toxoplasmosis appears to cause in rodents - reducing their innate fear of cats - raises profound questions about parasite-host relationships and welfare. Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals face serious health risks from cat-related toxoplasmosis exposure, creating welfare tensions between cat ownership and human health protection.