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1. What is Toxoplasma gondii?
-a protozoan parasite that is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis

2. What is Toxoplasmosis?
-one of the most common parasitic diseases and infects nearly all warm-blooded animals, including pets and humans.
-the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently identified toxoplasmosis as one of five neglected parasitic infections of people due to its high prevalence

3. What does this have to do with cats and why you should care?
-wild and domestic cats are the only definitive hosts for T. gondii
-spread to humans through cat feces, stray cats posed a risk too.

4. Why cats?
-Toxoplasma gondii exerts a strange sort of mind control on rodents: Once infected with the brain parasite, they seem to lose their fear of cats and become more likely to get eaten.

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Problem: High infection rate in the household, especially those with outdoor cats.

Solution: Ensure good hygienic practices.

1. Do not clean your cat litter box with bare hands. Use gloves and remember to wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly afterwards.

2. If you have an outdoor kitchen, make sure to clean the wok, spatula, knife and any utensils before using them. Stray cats may come foraging for food and these typically carry diseases.

3. Wear gloves when gardening and during any contact with soil or sand because it might be contaminated with cat feces that contain Toxoplasma. Wash hands with soap and water after gardening or contact with soil or sand.

4. Ensure that the cat litter box is changed daily. The Toxoplasma parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in a cat’s feces.

5. Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection. They tend to put everything in their mouth, be sure to sanitize their playing room whenever a cat has been in it. Teach them to wash their hands after playing with a cat too.

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Problem: Pregnant woman, infant and those with weakened immune systems are at high risk of developing severe toxoplasmosis.

Solution: Identify the high risks individuals in your household and take increased preventative measures

1. Do not adopt or handle stray cats, especially kittens. Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant or immunocompromised.

2. If you have a cat at home:

Keep cats indoors. This is because cats become infected with Toxoplasma through hunting and eating rodents, birds, or other small animals that are infected with the parasite.

Avoid changing cat litter if possible. If no one else can perform the task, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

Sanitize your living room area frequently and avoid letting your cats into your bedroom for the time being.

Feed cats only canned or dried commercial food or well-cooked table food, not raw or undercooked meats.

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Problem: Most people who become infected with Toxoplasma gondii are not aware of it because it is asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms at all.

Solution: Read up on the various symptoms this disease has. Knowledge is key.

If severe, can cause eye and brain damage

Keep on the lookout for signs of “flu” with swollen lymph glands or muscle aches and pains that may last for a month or more.

High risks individuals should contact a doctor and go for immediate blood tests.

Medication available.

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1. Hope that all cat owners or future cat owners are aware of this when deciding to adopt a cat.
2. They should be responsible pet owners.
3. Even though there are risks, one should never give up on your feline friends just like that, or be discouraged to adopt one.
4. Prevention is better than cure. As long as you know what to avoid, you can keep your household and your cat safe.