Toxoplasmosis
How likely is it that my cat has toxoplasmosis?
It’s fine for cats to use the toilet unless they have the parasite called Toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. People often get the infection from eating undercooked meat. You can also get it from contact with cat feces when cleaning out the cat box. Most people infected with the parasite do not have symptoms and it goes away in a matter of weeks. Only cats who ingest tissue cysts get infected. Within the feline population, this would be limited to outdoor cats who hunt and eat rodents, or raw meat. Typically a cat only excretes oocystsis when they are first exposed to it.
If you have an outdoor cat, please take them to the vet to make sure they are healthy and don’t carry this parasite. This is an infection that outdoor cats can get from eating raw or rotten meat. If you have an outdoor cat, you probably don’t have to worry about them using indoor plumbing. Toxoplasmosis is very rare, but regardless, everyone should make sure their cats are healthy and get them tested before training.
How likely is it that my cat has toxoplasmosis?
If you have an indoor house cat, there is no need to worry. Outdoor cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks.
How do you know if your cat has toxoplasmosis?
Blood tests will determine whether a cat has been exposed to the organism. These tests do not necessarily mean that Toxoplasma is the cause of any disease since most exposed cats do not develop disease; however, high levels of certain antibodies can suggest current infection.
Causes
The truth is, cats aren't even the primary cause of toxoplasmosis in human beings. It's much more common to contract toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked, contaminated meat or shellfish.
People often get a toxoplasma infection one of the following ways:
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Cat feces with the parasite. Cats that hunt or who are fed raw meat are more likely to carry toxoplasma parasites. You may get infected if you touch your mouth after touching anything that has been in contact with cat feces. This may be gardening or cleaning a litter box.
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Contaminated food or water. Undercooked beef, lamb, pork, venison, chicken and shellfish are all known carriers of the parasite. Unpasteurized goat milk and untreated drinking water also may be carriers.
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Unwashed fruits and vegetables. The surface of fruits and vegetables may have the parasite on them.
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Contaminated kitchen tool. Parasites may be on cutting boards, knives and other utensils that come into contact with raw meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
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Infected organ transplant or transfused blood. Rarely, toxoplasma parasites are passed through an organ transplant or blood transfusion.
Prevention
If you're pregnant or otherwise at risk of toxoplasmosis, take these steps to protect yourself:
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Help your cat stay healthy. Keep your cat indoors. Feed it dry or canned cat food, not raw or undercooked meat.
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Avoid stray cats. Avoid stray cats, especially kittens. Do not get a new cat when you're pregnant.
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The litter box. Clean the box daily, if possible. If someone else can't clean it, wear gloves and a face mask to change the litter. Then wash your hands well.
Treatment for Pregnant Women
Yes. There is treatment for toxoplasmosis. In an otherwise healthy person, mild symptoms typically go away within several weeks to months and treatment is not needed. However, treatment may be recommended for an otherwise healthy person with eye disease due to toxoplasmosis. A woman who becomes infected during pregnancy can be treated with medication that may protect her unborn baby from toxoplasmosis. Mother and baby should be monitored closely during the pregnancy and after the baby is born.
For more information on toxoplasmosis, visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis