WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOXOPLASMOSIS

Toxoplasmosis - the only downside to owning a cat!

… or so we thought. 

When it comes to toxoplasmosis in cats, you may immediately have some concerns. What are the toxoplasmosis symptoms? Are my toxoplasmosis pregnancy fears legitimate? Is toxoplasmosis in dogs real? And, what the heck happens when toxoplasmosis baby issues happen?!

We hear you, we do. You’re looking at Dr. Google’s number 1 patient, after all. Before we get all paws up in worry, Door Buddy is here to help. Keep on reading for everything you need to know about toxoplasmosis and how you can protect yourself and your furmily. 

WHAT IS TOXOPLASMOSIS IN CATS? 

Now, if this is the first time you’re hearing about toxoplasmosis, you may be thinking, “what the furball are these people talking about?” Don’t worry, we turned to one of Dr. Google’s best assets, Mayo Clinic, for the answers. 

Toxoplasmosis all comes down to a nasty parasite. Although very common, this parasite can be caused by eating undercooked contaminated meat or exposing yourself to infected cat feces - meow! 

For your cat, they can come into contact with this parasite by eating raw meat on their frequent hunting trips. Fur-tunately, in most cases, the symptoms are mild and even non-existent. The biggest issue is it getting transmitted to the litter box and infecting the rest of your furmily. 

Another essential point to note is that if your kitty contacts toxoplasmosis gondii (the technical term), they will probably remain infected for life. Thankfully, it will remain dormant and won’t interfere with your cat’s immune response.

WHAT ARE THE TOXOPLASMOSIS SYMPTOMS?

Parasite infections don’t sound fun. The good news is that if you’re healthy and not pregnant, then you shouldn’t have too much to worry about when it comes to your health. However, it’s vital to recognize the toxoplasmosis symptoms and seek the right treatment as soon as you can. 

Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is concerning because it has a 10-15% chance of affecting your baby. If your diagnosis has been confirmed via a blood test, you will need to have the amniotic fluid tested. Your OB/GYN may even do an ultrasound to see if your baby is experiencing any problems. 

The infection isn’t just a concern for pregnancy. If you’re breastfeeding, you will need to take toxoplasmosis baby precautions as they can be affected through your milk as well.

HOW TO PREVENT TOXOPLASMOSIS: 

Whether you’re pregnant or just trying to keep your furmily healthy, there are several things that you can do to prevent toxoplasmosis. Many of these solutions are simple lifestyle changes that we should be practicing for good hygiene. If you have a home full of cats, dogs, and little hoomans, then you may want to take more robust precautions. 

Here’s what you can do to prevent toxoplasmosis:

• Always cook your meat until it’s no longer pink. You can use a food thermometer to ensure it’s cooked properly. 
• Always wash all of your used cutting boards, dishes, counters, and utensils with hot soapy water after any contact with raw meat, seafood, or unwashed fruits or vegetables.
• Always wash your hands carefully after touching raw meat, fruit, vegetables, and soil.
• Always wash your fruits and vegetables. For extra precautions, peeling fruits and vegetables also helps to reduce the chance of exposure.
• Never touch cat tootsie rolls directly; wear gloves if changing cat litter and immediately get those hands clean. If you’re pregnant, stay clear of the litter box altogether! 
• Never feed cats raw meat.

Toxoplasmosis in cats is much easier to contain if you have effective litter box safety measures in place. The best part about The Door Buddy is that it even keeps fingers and tails safe with our foam door stopper - double win!