Toxoplasma – What Other People Are Not Telling You About These Intestinal Parasite

Many cats at some time acquire the intestinal parasite toxoplasma, a type of protozoa.

It can be passed from mothers to kittens, or picked up through hunting or by contact with feces from infected cats.

Most cats exhibit no symptoms, develop natural immunity, and are not threatened by the disease. Some, however, can become ill or even die, especially if infected before birth or if they have concurrent illnesses.

Many humans are exposed to toxoplasmosis, with the only symptom being a mild stomach upset. They, too, have developed immunity. The main danger of toxoplasmosis is to pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage and birth defects, but there is little danger if simple sanitary precautions are taken.

For a pregnant woman to become infected, she would have to handle cat feces and then touch her mouth or nose with dirty hands. Or she could catch the disease by handling raw meat without washing afterward, or by eating meat not thoroughly cooked.

To avoid any possibility of danger, use protective gloves when changing your cat’s litter pan. A female queen infected with roundworms will pass them on to her litter while nursing.

There is little you can do to prevent a recurrence of internal parasites if your cat ventures outdoors, but prompt treatment will minimize the damage. Your veterinarian might prescribe a course of pills or some worming paste to treat your cat. If you have trouble administering them, a pill popper may be of help for the pills and a syringe for the paste.