Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Cats are the only species of animal to shed the infectious stage in their feces. Other animals, however, can disseminate Toxoplasma if their infected meat is eaten without proper cooking. Cats acquire Toxoplasmosis by eating rodents, undercooked meat, the feces of other cats, or contaminated soil. Cats can acquire the infection easily if they are allowed to hunt or are fed raw or undercooked meat.
Most infected cats show no symptoms of the disease.
Sometimes there is a short episode of diarrhea, pneumonia, or ongoing neurologic or eye problems. Healthy cats only pass the infectious stage during the first two weeks after they are exposed. After that time, the cat's immune system will usually prevent passing of the organism. To minimize your cat's chance of infection, don't feed your cat undercooked meat, prevent your cat from hunting, and keep your cat indoors. Humans will only rarely acquire toxoplasmosis from an infected cat.