However, shedding oocysts is not a continuous feature of being a cat. It usually occurs during a short period after infection, and even a cat with symptoms may not shed them. Owning or stroking a cat alone does not mean a person will become infected.
When to see a vet urgently
Contact an emergency vet immediately if your cat has any of the following:
- Laboured or open-mouth breathing.
- A seizure, reduced consciousness or sudden severe balance problems.
- Sudden loss of vision or an obviously painful, cloudy eye.
- Collapse or rapidly deteriorating general condition.
You can find a vet near you. Many diseases can cause these signs, so do not delay care while waiting for a Toxoplasma test.
Overview
Toxoplasma gondii reproduces in the cat's intestine and enters the environment as oocysts in faeces. Most infected cats have no symptoms, but young or debilitated cats may develop severe disease damaging the central nervous system, eyes and internal organs. People acquire infection from cat faeces, raw meat or contaminated foods.
A definitive host is an animal in which the parasite can form the infective stage shed into the environment. In people and other intermediate hosts, the parasite can instead multiply in tissues and form tissue cysts, small dormant deposits. Cats can also host these tissue stages.
Clinical illness in cats develops particularly when rapidly multiplying parasites damage tissues. The immune system usually limits multiplication, but tissue cysts may remain. Later weakening of immunity can allow reactivation. This distinguishes latent infection from toxoplasmosis causing actual symptoms.
Causes
- Eating raw meat or infected rodents.
- Contact with soil or objects contaminated by oocysts.
- Infection of kittens in the uterus.
- Weakened immunity allowing infection to reactivate.
Touching contaminated soil alone is insufficient: infective material must enter the body by mouth. A cat may swallow it in contaminated food or water, for example. A tissue cyst in raw meat can also transmit infection without contact with another cat's faeces.
An oocyst is different from an intestinal worm. Ordinary worming therefore does not solve Toxoplasma prevention. Preventing dietary exposure and restricting hunting are central; no protective Toxoplasma vaccine is available for cats.
Risk factors
- Kittens and young cats.
- Viral infection with FeLV or FIV.
- Weakened immunity.
- Raw meat feeding or hunting.
The risk of acquiring infection and the risk of severe disease are different. Hunting and raw feeding increase exposure opportunities, but most infected cats do not develop clinical disease. Immune function affects whether the body can keep tissue stages controlled. Tell the vet about medicines affecting immunity too.
Typical symptoms
Infection is latent in most cats, but possible symptoms include:
- Fever, lethargy and loss of appetite.
- Jaundice and enlargement of the liver and spleen.
- Neurological signs: ataxia, seizures and confusion.
- Eye changes: uveitis, retinal inflammation and cloudiness.
- Pneumonia, coughing and breathlessness.
Symptoms depend on the affected organ, and not every listed change occurs in one cat. Ataxia means impaired coordination: walking may be unsteady or limb placement imprecise. Uveitis is inflammation of internal eye structures that may change pupil size and impair vision.
Disease affecting the lungs may gradually worsen breathing. Eye and neurological signs may resemble other infections, inflammation or neurological diseases. Fever or a positive antibody result alone therefore does not establish Toxoplasma as the cause of every symptom.
Complications and consequences
- Chronic inflammatory eye disease.
- Brain damage and neurological deficits.
- Death in kittens and debilitated cats.
- Infection risk to people, particularly during pregnancy, with congenital toxoplasmosis in the foetus.
Human transmission depends on swallowing an infective stage, rather than how ill the cat looks. A recently infected cat without symptoms may shed oocysts, while a clinically ill cat may not. Household hygiene advice must therefore not rest on appearance alone.
The prognosis depends on affected organs, symptom severity and treatment response. Eye and neurological signs may resolve slowly or leave lasting effects. Severe lung or liver disease makes the situation serious, but not every infected cat is expected to develop such illness.
Diagnosis at the vet
- Antibody tests for Toxoplasma IgM and IgG.
- PCR to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in blood or tissues.
- Examination of the back of the eye when eye signs are present.
- Blood biochemistry for liver and kidney changes.
- X-rays and ultrasound to assess internal organs.
IgG antibodies may indicate previous infection, whereas IgM and changing antibody levels may support suspected recent or active infection. Results are interpreted alongside symptoms. One positive antibody test does not confirm clinical toxoplasmosis, and a negative early result does not establish that a cat is definitely non-infectious.
PCR looks for the parasite's genetic material in a sample. The sample is chosen according to the site of symptoms: tissue or fluid, for example, may be more useful than blood alone. Cytology and tissue examination may also look for the parasite or its components. Sampling safety determines what can be investigated.
Routine faecal parasite testing cannot reliably rule out previous infection or assess the whole disease state. Shedding is brief, and similar-looking oocysts from other protozoa complicate identification. Blood tests and imaging help assess organ damage and other causes of symptoms, but do not identify Toxoplasma alone.
Treatment
The vet treats symptomatic toxoplasmosis with an antimicrobial active against the parasite. Treatment may need to begin on strong overall suspicion if a confirmatory sample cannot be collected safely. Changes in condition and test results are monitored so the diagnosis can be reviewed if there is no response.
Eye signs may need additional topical treatment, while severe respiratory or neurological disease may require hospital care. Anti-inflammatory medication is considered separately; do not start old eye drops yourself. Any illness weakening immunity is investigated at the same time.
Medication can suppress active multiplication but does not usually remove every tissue cyst. An asymptomatic positive antibody result alone is therefore no reason to medicate the cat or every animal living with it. Treatment is planned according to disease and the individual cat's situation.
Monitoring recovery at home
Monitor appetite, breathing, movement and vision, and give prescribed medicines as directed. Do not stop simply because fever falls or your cat seems brighter. Tell the vet about new symptoms and difficulties giving medicine.
Offer a quiet eating area and palatable food suited to the care instructions. Pain and nausea may reduce eating even after parasite treatment starts. Inadequate intake needs separate attention. Do not force food into the mouth with a syringe; the vet plans nutritional support when needed.
Prevention
- Do not feed raw meat or offal.
- Prevent hunting of rodents and birds.
- Clean the litter tray daily: oocysts become infectious only after one to two days.
- Wear gloves for gardening and litter tray cleaning.
- Arrange regular veterinary check-ups.
Oocyst maturation depends on conditions and usually takes one to five days, so the one- to two-day period mentioned is not the only possible interval. Prompt faeces removal reduces risk. Mature oocysts can survive in the environment for a long time, so handwashing is also needed after handling soil.
Human prevention also includes food hygiene: cook meat thoroughly, wash vegetables and clean equipment used for raw meat before handling other foods. Cover children's outdoor sandpits to prevent cats defecating in them. Feeding cooked complete cat food and preventing hunting reduce opportunities for new infections.
Important for cat owners
Toxoplasmosis is more than a veterinary issue; it also matters for public health. Remember that a cat can be a source of human infection, particularly during pregnancy and for immunocompromised people. With appropriate care and good hygiene, however, the risk is very low. If you are pregnant, have another household member clean the litter tray where possible.
Pregnancy itself does not require giving up your cat. If nobody else can clean the tray, use disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Ask a healthcare professional about personal pregnancy-related or immunodeficiency-related infection risks; a cat's test result does not replace human assessment.
This article provides general information and does not replace veterinary care. Contact a vet if you notice signs of illness in your cat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I catch Toxoplasma by stroking a cat?
Ordinary stroking is not a typical transmission route. Infection requires the infective stage to enter the mouth, for example through contaminated food or soil. Handwashing and food hygiene are therefore central.
Is a cat with a positive antibody test continuously infectious?
No. Antibodies alone do not indicate current oocyst shedding. Most previously infected cats are not shedding, while antibodies may not yet be detectable in very early infection.
Can an indoor cat acquire Toxoplasma?
Yes, through raw infected meat, for example. Staying indoors reduces hunting-related exposure, but feeding matters too. Cooked complete food helps reduce this route of infection.
This article is for general information only and is not a guide to treatment. If you notice the first signs of illness, contact your vet.
Paw4care editorial team
Sources
- Toxoplasma (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, accessed 2026-11-05.
- 2022 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on Management of the Inappetent Hospitalised Cat, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Toxoplasma gondii, Companion Animal Parasite Council, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Toxoplasmosis in Animals, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Guideline for Toxoplasma gondii Infection, ABCD, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Toxoplasmosis in Cats, Cornell Feline Health Centre, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Initial Triage and Resuscitation of Small Animal Emergency Patients, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.