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Publication #FAR8710

 

Your Cat, Toxoplasmosis, and You 1

Amarat Simonnne and Donna Davis2

Many families enjoy the companionship of pet cats. In addition to the love and affection your feline may share, they may also share something less desirable … toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 million people in the United States may be infected by this parasite. Of those who are infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system keeps the parasite in check. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious because Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems (Centers for Disease Control, 2004).

Toxoplasmosis can be spread by accidentally touching your hands to your mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat feces.

So do you need to get rid of your cat? Probably not! However, consider these steps to protect your family from Toxoplasma. Wear gloves when you garden or do anything outdoors that involves handling soil, as cats often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands well with soap and water after outdoor activities, especially before you eat or prepare any foods. Likewise, if your children play in a sandbox, make certain the box is covered when they're not in it to keep cats from using it as their litter box.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/261.mp3

http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/261.wav

Reference

Centers for Disease Control. (2004). Toxoplasmosis. Retrieved [June 27, 2011] from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR8710, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 261. Published April 2009. Revised April 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Amy Simonne, associate professor, and Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.