Cats can be wonderful companions. They love to snuggle beside you on the couch and are always looking for attention. You want to keep them healthy, but sometimes illnesses occur. Feline toxoplasmosis is a dangerous disease that attacks a cat's heart, lungs and central nervous system. There are ways to prevent this illness and there are symptoms to watch for, so you can treat your cat before it's too late.
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Identification
Toxoplasma is a parasite that causes the disease, feline toxoplasmosis. The parasite is common in animals and rarely causes any problems. However, it can produce eggs in cats. When a cat eats infected meat, the parasite multiplies in the walls of the cat's intestines. Usually the cat eliminates the eggs, or oocysts, in their feces, so there is no problem.
Significance
Sometimes the parasite organisms dig deeper into the cat's intestine walls. From there, they spread to other parts of the body. The cat's immune system can normally take care of the infection that occurs, but when the immune system cannot fight the spreading of the organisms, toxoplasmosis occurs.
Function
When the immune system weakens, the cat will lose its appetite, run a fever and become lethargic. Pneumonia can occur. There may be vomiting and diarrhea. The cat's central nervous system can become infected, causing seizures. Also, its eyes swell and its heart weakens.
Prevention/Solution
Treatments for toxoplasmosis are antibiotics such as clindamycin, pyrimethamine and tribrissen. Recovery is quick for cats that have a good immune system. Kittens are less likely to recover, as well as cats with weakened immune systems or animals that do not receive treatment before the conditions worsen.
Warning
To prevent feline toxoplasmosis, do not let your cats ingest raw meat or wander outside where they can eat birds or mice. Remove the feces from the litter box every day and disinfect the litter box regularly. Keep the garbage out of the cat's reach, so it does not ingest bones. Toxoplasma can infect humans through cat feces, raw meat and contaminated soil. Pregnant women should not empty or clean litter boxes because the infection can transmit to the unborn child.
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