Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that uses cats as definitive hosts. While most cats remain healthy, some immunocompromised cats develop clinical toxoplasmosis with significant welfare implications.
Clinical toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised cats causes serious suffering through pneumonia, uveitis causing pain and blindness, and neurological signs. Prevention through keeping cats indoors to reduce exposure, combined with appropriate management of immunosuppressive therapy, significantly reduces the risk of clinical disease and associated welfare suffering.