Toxoplasmosis in cats

Toxoplasmosis in cats and its symptoms

If you're like many people, you are already immune to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. If you're a pregnant woman, however, or have a compromised immune system, or share your home with young children, you'll need to be extra careful of this disease that can be passed on from cats to humans. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, shortness of breath and neurological problems such as seizures and incoordination. If a mother-to-be contracts the disease in her first trimester, it can produce cysts in the brain of the fetus. This can lead to developmental abnormalities or even miscarriage.

Where do the cat parasites that cause toxoplasmosis come from?

The organism that causes toxoplasmosis is common in raw meat and gardening soil, and can also sometimes be found in cat feces. Felines most often become carriers of the disease by killing and eating live prey. If you are at risk for this disease, this is another good reason to keep your pet indoors and away from wild animals.

Cats begin shedding immature eggs in their feces about 3 to 10 days after ingesting infected tissues. This continues for a couple of weeks, at which point the cat has gained immunity. Experts believe that while many cats in the United States have been exposed to the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, most felines show few, if any, signs of the disease. Kittens exposed to the parasite while still in the womb, however, are more likely to show symptoms. Toxoplasmosis can affect a cat's central nervous system, eyes, lungs, muscles, and liver.

If you suspect that your cat is a carrier, take him to the veterinarian for a test. If you think your pet is actively shedding the eggs, PetDoc recommends that you keep him isolated. Once the eggs of this parasite are shed into feces, it takes at least 24 hours for them to become infective to humans.  Be sure to clean his litter and bedding twice daily, and don't forget to wear disposable gloves when doing so. If you are a pregnant woman, it is safest if you are able to have another person in the household clean out the litter box while you are pregnant.  Always wash your hands thoroughly after petting or playing with your cats.  If you are unable to have someone else clean the litter boxes, wear disposable gloves and face mask when you do it.  Wearing a mask will protect you from inhaling any dust and debris that is contaminated with toxoplasmosis.  If you are pregnant, avoid gardening, especially if it is in an area that local cats and other animals could defecate in the soil. 

Precautions for toxoplasmosis for at-risk individuals

If you are pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised or share your home with an at-risk individual, there are some very simple precautions that you can take to guard against toxoplasmosis. First, have all the cats in the household tested for the parasite. Keep in mind, however, that most felines have been exposed to toxoplasmosis in their lives  and most cats are not at risk for shedding the parasite.  And by all means, keep your companion felines inside. It's also a good idea to stock up on disposable rubber gloves. Pregnant moms should have someone else clean the litter box once or twice a day. Since the entire contents of the box must be discarded daily, it's fine to use only about an inch of litter at a time (if your cats are ok with this!). And as garden soil is now believed to be the primary source of exposure to the parasite for most people, be sure to don gloves and protective clothing whenever you garden.