If you have a cat, you need to know about Toxoplasmosis. It can have a serious impact on your health.
That is why today we will be taking a look at what it is and also what steps you can take to help prevent toxoplasmosis
Table of Contents
What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis, more commonly referred to as “T. gondii”, is a disease caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that is spread by cat feces. The parasite normally does not affect cats but can infect people in two ways: through consumption of raw or undercooked meat that was contaminated with cat feces or by coming into contact with cat saliva. The illness can result in eye infections, seizures, and blindness, or cause heart disease and death.
Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis in Cats
One of the most common and serious diseases of cats is toxoplasmosis. It is often overlooked by cat owners, who also may not realize the symptoms. The lack of knowledge about the infection has even made it difficult for veterinarians to diagnose it, and the disease has been misdiagnosed as a number of other illnesses in cats.
Some cats will have only mild symptoms, while others will suffer from severe vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.
Can Indoor Cats Get Toxoplasmosis?
Although rare, some cat food could contain the parasite, so even though indoor cats are rarely exposed to toxoplasmosis, it is still a concern. Unfortunately, most people do not even know what the parasite looks like, let alone that some of the foods they eat contain it.
Risk of Getting Toxoplasmosis From My Cat
The risk of a human getting a Toxoplasmosis infection from their cat is very small but is slightly increased if a cat does get the disease. The risk is significantly higher for pregnant women because toxoplasmosis can cause severe damage to the unborn child.
The risk is even smaller when you only have a house cat, as they are less likely to contract the disease due to not being able to interact with other cats, that may be infected.
Can Having Cats in the House Affect Your Pregnancy?
This is a serious concern for many cat owners because Toxoplasmosis can cause serious health problems in humans such as miscarriages and birth defects. If you are pregnant or are thinking about having children in the future, you should be very careful about Toxoplasmosis.
What steps can I take to make sure I’m not infected?
To prevent toxoplasmosis and avoid a potentially serious health problem, make sure your cat is vaccinated against Toxoplasmosis and keep Toxoplasma-free water and food bowls in your home.
Be sure that domestic cats are not let outside, where they can interact with other cats that may be carrying the infection.
My name is Ben and I am a cat lover. I’m not a professional writer or a doctor or an expert of any kind on anything. But I am a guy who likes to share what little knowledge and experience I have with others.
