By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most talked-about cat diseases, mostly because of its link with pregnancy. It is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled parasite that can infect nearly all warm-blooded animals, including people. Cats play a special role in its life cycle, yet the parasite rarely makes them sick. When it does, the illness can be serious, and there is a lot of confusion about the real risk to families. Here is what the evidence shows.
Key takeaways
- Cats usually catch Toxoplasma by eating infected prey or raw meat.
- Most infected cats show no signs. Illness is more likely in young kittens and cats with weakened immune systems, such as cats with FIV or FeLV.
- Signs of illness can include fever, poor appetite, lethargy, breathing trouble, jaundice, eye inflammation and neurological signs.
- A newly infected cat sheds the parasite in its faeces for only around 10 to 14 days, and the eggs need at least a day to become infective.
- Scooping the litter tray daily, feeding cooked or commercial food and keeping cats from hunting greatly reduce the risk.
How cats become infected
Cornell's Feline Health Center explains that wild and domestic cats are the only animals in which Toxoplasma completes its full life cycle and produces eggs, called oocysts. A cat is usually infected by eating the tissue of an infected animal, such as a mouse, rat or bird, or by eating raw meat that contains dormant cysts.
Once infected for the first time, a cat typically starts shedding oocysts in its faeces three to 10 days later and continues for around 10 to 14 days. After that, the cat's immune system usually stops further shedding. Oocysts are very hardy and can survive in soil for more than a year, which is why gardens and sandpits can be a source of infection for people and other animals.
Indoor cats that do not hunt and do not eat raw meat are unlikely to be infected.
Signs of toxoplasmosis in cats
Most infected cats show no signs at all. Cornell notes that disease is more likely in cats with suppressed immune systems, including young kittens and cats with FIV or FeLV. When illness does occur, the most common signs are:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
Other signs depend on where the parasite settles in the body:
- Lungs. Pneumonia, with breathing difficulty that gradually worsens.
- Liver. Jaundice, a yellow tinge to the gums, skin or whites of the eyes.
- Eyes. Inflammation inside the eye, unusual pupil size, or blindness.
- Brain and nerves. Wobbliness, circling, head pressing, personality changes, ear twitching, trouble chewing or swallowing, seizures, and loss of bladder or bowel control.
These signs are not specific to toxoplasmosis and can be caused by many other illnesses, which is why testing matters.
When to see a vet
Book a same-day vet visit if your cat:
- Has a fever, is very flat or has stopped eating
- Has yellow gums or eyes
- Has a red, cloudy or painful eye, or seems to have lost vision
Go to an emergency vet now if your cat is struggling to breathe, breathing with an open mouth, having a seizure, or suddenly circling, falling or unable to stand.
How vets diagnose toxoplasmosis
Your vet will consider your cat's history, signs and lifestyle, such as hunting or raw feeding. Blood tests that measure two types of antibody, IgG and IgM, help show whether an infection is recent or past. Cornell notes that high IgM suggests active infection, while high IgG in a healthy cat suggests a past infection and probable immunity. Checking faeces for oocysts is not reliable, because they look like other parasites and cats are often no longer shedding when they become ill. A definitive diagnosis may need tissue samples.
Treatment and outlook
Treatment usually involves a course of antibiotic chosen by your vet, sometimes with anti-inflammatory medicine if the eyes or nervous system are badly inflamed. Treatment is usually continued for a while after signs settle.
The outlook depends on which organs are involved and how quickly treatment starts. According to Cornell, cats with eye or nervous system signs tend to respond slowly but have a better outlook if they improve within two to three days of starting treatment. When the liver or lungs are affected, the prognosis is usually poor.
Prevention for your cat
- Feed commercial cat food or thoroughly cooked meat. Cooking inactivates any cysts in meat.
- Avoid feeding raw meat.
- Keep cats indoors or in an enclosure to stop hunting.
- Keep cats out of livestock sheds and food storage areas.
Protecting people at home
Cornell is clear that owning a cat does not mean you will catch Toxoplasma. People are more often infected by eating raw or undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables than by handling cat faeces. Healthdirect lists these ways people can catch it: undercooked meat, unwashed vegetables, gardening without washing hands, and contact with cat faeces in soil, sandpits or litter.
Practical steps:
- Scoop the litter tray every day. Oocysts need at least 24 hours to become infective, so daily cleaning removes them before they become a risk.
- If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system, ask someone else to clean the litter. If you must do it, wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.
- Wear gloves when gardening and wash your hands afterwards.
- Cover children's sandpits when not in use.
- Cook meat thoroughly and wash vegetables well.
Touching or patting your cat is unlikely to spread infection, as cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. Bites and scratches are also an unlikely route.
Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or harm the baby. If you are pregnant and concerned, speak with your doctor or midwife. There is no need to rehome your cat.
FAQ
Should I get rid of my cat if I am pregnant?
No. Sensible hygiene, especially having someone else clean the litter daily, keeps the risk very low. Talk with your doctor about your own situation.
Can my indoor cat have toxoplasmosis?
It is unlikely if your cat does not hunt or eat raw meat, but not impossible.
Can a cat shed Toxoplasma more than once?
Most cats shed only after their first infection, for about two weeks.
Can I catch toxoplasmosis by patting my cat?
It is unlikely. Cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur, so normal handling is not considered a significant risk. Washing hands after handling litter is still sensible.
Talk with a vet
If your cat has a fever, is off food or shows any eye or nervous system changes, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can talk through the signs and help you decide how urgently your cat needs to be seen. For breathing trouble or seizures, go straight to an emergency vet. Related reading: jaundice in cats. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Toxoplasmosis in Cats.
- Healthdirect Australia. Toxoplasmosis.
- Cornell Feline Health Center. Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cats.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.