Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, that is it can be transmitted from animals to people. It is caused by a protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and immune compromised people.
The organisms that cause Toxoplasmosis are shed in a cat’s feces or ingested when eating undercooked or raw infected meat. The life cycle of the infectious period of the organism lasts a few days. Keeping your cat indoors and avoiding feeding raw meats will help prevent exposure.
There’s no need to get rid of the cat. Just practice simple hygiene. When cleaning the cat’s litter box, wear gloves or follow with a thorough hand washing.
Wash your hands before and after handling food. Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them. Bag up cat litter and dispose of it in sealed garbage cans.
Children’s sandboxes should be covered when not in use so that cats won’t use them as an outdoor litter box.
By practicing good hygiene, your chances of getting toxoplasmosis are pretty slim. I’ve had cats since I’m 6 years old and more years have passed than I care to remember. I’ve cleaned many litter boxes. Simply washing hands well with soap and water does wonders.
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